Parasitologie et mycologie [ LVET1311 ]

Notions in general biology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology

The course focuses on the morphology and the biology of protozoan, animal and mycotic parasites of domestic and wild animals from different bioclimatic regions.  The course covers all eukaryotic biological groups causing diseases in domestic and wild animals and zoonotic infections.  As such, fungi, protozoans, helminths and arthropods are studied.

The relationship between the host, the parasite and the environment is emphasized.

At the end of this activity, the student:

-       Acquired a global view of the different biological groups causing parasitic diseases in wild and domestic animals

-       Knows the main morphological, biological and epidemiological characteristics of the principal parasites of human and domestic animals 

-       Understands de basic principles contributing to the equilibrium between the parasite and its host

-       Is able to explain the circumstances in which parasites affect human or animal health

-       Knows the main zoonotic parasites

-       Understands how to diagnose the presence of a parasite in humans or animals and how to identify it

-       Is able to follow the Master 1 course on parasitic diseases of animals.

Students are evaluated through individual oral exams. The interview, which lasts 15 to 20 minutes, is preceded by 30 minutes of preparation. The questions, which cover the whole course, are randomly selected by the students. The evaluation is essentially based on the knowledge of the parasites and the capacity of the student to use parasitological principles in his reflexion. Practical sessions weight for 20% in the final score.

1.    Lectures.  Concrete examples are studied in details for each biological group during the lectures and illustrated using audio-visual supports (power-point, photos, videos')

2.    Practical sessions take place in the laboratory. Theoretical and clinical aspects are reminded in a power-point presentation at the beginning of each session.  Each session proposes then a diagnostic part during which the student learns how to isolate and identify parasites and a morphology part during which the student has a chance to observe under the microscope parasites presented during the lectures.

1.    Course content: the course is made of 6 parts: a general introduction to parasitology and the used terminology, mycology, protozoology, helminthology, entomology and acarology. The abbreviated systematics, the morphology, the biology, the physiology and some biochemical and immunological aspects of the host-parasite relationship are presented for each parasite group as they are a prerequisite for the study of parasitic and fungal diseases of animals.  

2.    Content of practical sessions: three  practical sessions are organised, each of them focusing on a specific theme :

·       Arthropods: observation of ticks and diptera; observation of different biological stages of ticks; skin scraping.

·       Protozoans: observation of smears containing Theileria, Babesia, Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites at various biological stages; observation and smear of live  Trypanosoma theileri.

·       Helminths : observation of adult worms; coprology using preserved (formaldehyde) stools from different species of domestic animals; observation and identification of eggs of helminths