Parasitic Diseases I

The students of this discipline acquire a broad understanding of the causes, nature, mechanisms of transmission, pathogenic action, diagnosis, treatment and prevention and control of major parasitic processes affecting animals, both individually and collectively, especially in the latter case, since parasitic diseases are among the most common pathological processes in veterinary medicine. Moreover, the knowledge gained in the study of parasitic diseases are essential to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses) as well as for notifiable diseases. Similarly, the study of this discipline is essential to establish programs for Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health that the administration must develop and implement to maintain and improve the health status of Spanish livestock and human health.

General objectives of the discipline

Objective 1. To learn the basic concepts and scientific terminology used in parasitic diseases.

Objective 2. To identify the clinical signs and lesions of the major diseases caused by parasitic helminths (trematodes, cestodes and nematodes) of animals, the differential diagnosis based on data collected in the history, physical examination of the animal and regulated factors epidemiological impact on disease and laboratory results.

Objective 3. To identify risk factors associated with the appearance of parasites in the animal or group, including environmental and biosafety.

Objective 4. To decide based on what type of clinical samples must be taken and how to do. Appropriately refer samples to the laboratory and reports.

Objective 5. To apply basic biosecurity standards in sampling and handling suspicious, both in field and in the necropsy room, slaughterhouse and laboratory.

Objective 6. To know, select and prescribe treatments and, where appropriate immunizations for pest control, taking into account the interactions, contraindications and side effects of different treatment protocols, and the problem of drug resistance.

Thematic block I. Overview (3 hours)
The parasitic disease: nomenclature, economic and health importance
Clinical features, and diagnosis
Control and prevention

Thematic block II: Helminths (22 hours)
TREMATODOSES (4 hours)
Fasciolosis
Paranfistomosis
Dicroceliosis

CESTODOSES (3 hours)
Intestinal cestodosIs
Cysticercosis
Coenurosis
Hydatidosis

NEMATODOSES (15 hours)
Gastrointestinal estrongilidosis in ruminants and pigs
Equine strongilosis
Verminous bronchopneumonia of ruminants and carnivores
Carnivore Ancilostomatidosis
Ascaridiosis of mammals and birds
Canine and feline heartworm disease and other filariosis
Oxiurosis, habronemosis and thelaziosis
Tricurosis, capilariosis and trichinelosis

PRACTICAL PROGRAM
The practical sessions will consist of 5 sessions distributed as follows:

1.- EPAR I C1. Coprological exam I: Direct examination of fresh faecal samples. Concentration techniques for identification of parasitic formations: sedimentation and larval migration. New coprological procedures: FLOTAC. (3 hours). Location: Laboratory pavilion 1, First floor.

2.- EPAR I C2. Coprological exam II: Floatation method using saturated NaCl solution (quantitative examination: McMaster method). Floating in sucrose solution (qualitative test). Faecal cultures and identification of larvae 3 of Strongylidae. (3 hours). Location: Laboratory pavilion 1, First floor.

3.- EPAR I C3. Design of parasite control programs in domestic carnivores. (3 hours). Place: Laboratory pavilion 1, First floor.

4.- EPAR I C4. Muscle Tissue Examination: Artificial Digestion for the Diagnosis of Trichinella. Compressive method for the diagnosis of muscle parasites (Sarcocystis). (3 hours). Place: Laboratory pavilion 1, First floor.

5.- EPAR I C5. Monitoring and control of digestive parasite infections in cattle. Procedures for collecting and preserving samples. (4 hours). Location: Campus Terra Farm.


In each practice session (3 hours) the student will learn and perform the most common techniques used for parasitological diagnosis and its application to clinical cases. In the sampling session (EPAR I C5) the students will have an additional 60 minutes to move to the farm and change their clothes and shoes. Samplings will be performed, whenever possible, on live animals or their carcasses on farms or establishments in which students will develop an active work.

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.- BOWMAN, D. D (2011). Georgis Parasitología para veterinarios. (9ª edición). Editorial Elsevier España. Madrid.
2.- CORDERO, M. ROJO, F.A. y col. (1999). Parasitología Veterinaria. Ed. McGraw-Hill Interamericana.
3.- DEPLAZES, P., ECKERT, J., MATHIS, A., VON SAMSON-HIMMELSTJERNA, G., HORST ZAHNER, H. (2016). Parasitology in Veterinary Medicine. Wageningen Academic Publishers.
4.- GARIJO, M.; ORTEGA, J.; CARDELLS, J.; GÓMEZ, M.T. (2012). Atlas de patología parasitaria en rumiantes. Ed Merial Laboratorios SA, Barcelona. 400pp.
5.- KAUFFMAN, J. (1996). Parasitic Infections of Domestic Animals. Virkhäuser Verlag. Basel, Boston, Berlín.
6.- MEHLHORN, H., D. DÜWELL, W. RAETHER (1992). Altas de Parasitología Veterinaria. Grass Ed. Barcelona.
7.- SÁNCHEZ ACEDO, C. et al. (2003). Enfermedades parasitarias del ganado ovino y caprino. Ediciones GEA (Barcelona).
8.- TAYLOR, MA; COOP, RL; WALL, RL (2007). Veterinary Parasitology.(3ª edición). Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
9.- URQUHART, G.M., ARMOUR, J.L. DUNCAN, A.M. DUNN &F.W. JENNINIGS (2001). Parasitología Veterinaria. Ed. Acribia, Zaragoza.

COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.- ARIAS, S (2010). Trematodoses. Unidade didáctica . Vicerreitoría de Estudantes, cultura e formación continua.
https://www.usc.gal/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/snl/dina…
2.- DIAZ, P; PANADERO, R (2011). Cestodoses. Unidade didáctica 3. Vicerreitoría de Estudantes, cultura e formación continua.
https://www.usc.gal/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/snl/dina…
3.- MEANA, A.; ROJO, F. (2010). 87 Q6A sobre parasitología equina. Editorial Servet, Zaragoza. 248pp.
4.- MEANA, A.; ROJO, F. (2013). 60 Q6A sobre parasitología bovina. Editorial Servet, Zaragoza. 220pp.
5.- PANADERO, R; DÍAZ, P (2016). Estronxilidoses gastrointestinais de ruminantes e porcos. Unidade didáctica 4. Servizo de Normalización lingüística.USC.
6.- PANADERO, R; DÍAZ, P (2017). Estronxilidoses equinas. Unidade didáctica 5. Servizo de Normalización lingüística.USC.
7.- PANADERO, R; DÍAZ, P (2018). Dirofilariose canina e felina e outras filarioses. Unidade didáctica 8. Servizo de Normalización lingüística. USC.
8.- PANADERO, R.; REMESAR, S. (2022). Broncopneumonías parasitarias. Unidade didáctica 6. Servizo de Normalización lingüística. USC.

-Hidatidosis and coenurosis
http://www.ceresnet.com/ceresnet/esp/servicios/teleformacion/tecnologia…
-Dirofilariosis: guide for veterinarians and information and videos for owners and students
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/
-The Trichinella page: information, images and videos about the nematode
http://www.trichinella.org/index.htm
- ESCCAP guides for the control of worms in dogs, cats and horses
https://www.esccap.es/guias-esccap/

General skills:
GVUSC01. Ability to learn and adapt.
GVUSC02. Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC03. General knowledge of the work area.
GVUSC05. Ability to apply knowledge in practice.
GVUSC06. Ability to work independently and in teams.
GVUSC09. Ability to communicate in different areas.
GVUSC10. Ethical commitment and accountability.

Discipline specific competencies (knowledge)
CEDVUSC 05. Basic and applied principles of the immune response.
CEDVUSC 07. Knowledge of alterations in the structure and function of the animal organism.
CEDVUSC 08. Knowledge and diagnosis of various animal diseases, individual and collective, and its prevention, with special emphasis on zoonoses and notifiable diseases.
CEDVUSC 09. The general elements of medical and surgical treatments.
CEDVUSC 15. Know the rights and duties of the veterinarian, with special emphasis on ethical principles.

Specific professional Skills
D1VUSC 01. Make history and clinical examination of animals.
D1VUSC 02. Collect and send specimens with the corresponding reports.
D1VUSC 03. Perform basic analytical techniques and interpreting results of clinical, biological and chemical.
D1VUSC 04. Diagnose the most common diseases, using protocols and additional diagnostic techniques.
D1VUSC 07. Perform basic medical and surgical treatments in animals.
D1VUSC 08. Prescribe, manage and properly manage veterinary medicines.
D1VUSC 17. Perform technical reports specific to veterinary skills.

Specific Academic Skills
CEAVUSC 01. Analyze, synthesize, solve problems and make decisions in the professional field of the veterinarian.
CEAVUSC 02. Maintain ethical conduct in the exercise of its responsibilities to the veterinary profession and society.
CEAVUSC 03. Disclose information obtained during the work experience in a fluent , oral and written exposition with colleagues, authorities and society in general
CEAVUSC 04. Find and manage information related to the activity of the veterinarian.
CEAVUSC 05. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice including evidence-based medicine.
CEAVUSC 06. Knowing how to find professional advice and assistance.
CEAVUSC 08. Being aware of the need to maintain current knowledge, skills and attitudes of professional skills through a process of lifelong learning.

Transversal competences
CTVUSC01 capacity for reasoning and argumentation.
CTVUSC 02 Ability to obtain adequate information, diverse and updated by various means such as bibliographic information and the Internet, and analyze it critically.
CTVUSC 03 Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC 04 Ability to make a public display in a clear, coherent and concise.
CTVUSC 05 Skill in managing TICs.
CTVUSC 07 Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of knowledge.

The contents of this discipline include:

Lecture sessions:
Theoretical classes:
expository-interrogative master classes that, due to their mandatory nature, will be developed in the classroom to a complete group and will last approximately 50 minutes. Classes will be held based on multimedia presentations and will cover the contents of the program: original written content and graphic material will be screened. Students will have access to a summary of these topics through the virtual campus. Dispensation to class attendance does not proceed.

Seminars (EPAR I S1-S3):
They are complementary activities based on the resolution of clinical cases or exposition of a subject related to different aspects of special interest or topicality related to helminthosis that affect domestic and wild animals. They will be taught by academic staff, veterinary professionals or by students who voluntarily prepare a seminar. The seminars will be carried out in the classrooms with the hygiene and distance measures established by the USC.

Tutorials (EPAR I T).:
There is a group tutoring scheduled in the official calendar and which will be carried out at the beginning of the semester in the classroom of the Faculty. The aim of thsi sesion is to introduce the subject, to explain the contents, methodology and evaluation of the subject, as well as to solve the doubts that may arise. Individual unscheduled tutorials are also possible, they will be carried out at the request of the students at the established times, in which they will have the opportunity to consult and solve all the doubts that arise during the theoretical or practical sessions, they will also be dedicated to the supervision of works and / or tasks proposals. These tutorials will be held at the professor´s office . In addition, students will have a virtual tutoring service to ask questions and ask questions or make comments about the teaching provided.

Interactive sessions:
Clinical practices:
Practical contents of this subject will be developed in 5 sessions that will be carried out in the parasitological diagnosis laboratory (modules of 10 students/group) and in a cattle farm (Campus terra farm; modules 7 students/group). During these sessions the students will learn to make a correct taking of samples of faeces, on which they will carry out the protocols and techniques that must be used, in each case, to be able to diagnose the main parasitic diseases included in the program of the subject, within which they are expected to occur in affected animals. Then, once the case history has been evaluated, the students will interpret the results obtained and prepare the appropriate reports. They will also learn to analyze and interpret the resuls provided by the laboratory. Finally, treatment guidelines will be established, and where appropriate, control and prevention, appropriate for each type of farm and / or individual patients. In the case of parasitic diseases that carry a risk of transmission to humans, as many measures as necessary to prevent their presentation will also be proposed.
It´s recommended that the students prepare a memory of practices including the most important aspects of each practical session that will be used as study material to prepare the practical exam.
Attendance at all practical sessions is compulsory.
Students who, having completed all the practices, did not pass, or failed to take the practical exam will not be required to repeat the practices in successive calls.
On the basis of Instruction No. 1/2017 of the Secretary-General in this subject, no dispensation is granted, because assistance to all activities is required in person.

Theoric exam: The theoretical contents of the discipline is assessed by a final exam that will be presential and will be composed by 5-8 questions; each question can contain several subsections. Each question is scored on a maximum of 10 points. To pass the exam the minimum grade shall be 5 out of 10, provided that the number of questions with scores less or equal to 3 out of 10 do not involve the 40% (or more) of the questions.
The mark for the theoric exam will be kept during the following academic years as long as the qualification achieved is higher than 6/10.


Practical test: the evaluation of the practices will be made taking into account the attendance that is compulsory, as well as the participation and delivery of the tasks proposed by the teachers and through a written exam with 20 simple choice questions (5 options/one correct; three questions answered incorrectly subtract one well. To overcome the practical probe the minimum mark will be 5 out of 10. Attendance at all practice sessions is an essential requirement to pass the discipline.
In any case, to pass the practical test the mark will be equal to or greater than 50% of its value (5/10 points).
The mark for the practical exam will be kept during the following academic years as long as the qualification achieved is higher than 6/10.

Continuous evaluation: the continuous evaluation will include the average mark of the tests and tasks proposed by the teachers will be considered, as well as the student's participation in the activities programmed throughout the semester. At the end of each activity (theoretical classes, practical sessions, seminars) teachers can ask some questions or make probes to assess the learning progression of students on the content taught during the activities that will count on the final mark of the continuous evaluation. Number of continuous evaluation probes planned for the course 2024-25: overview (1 probe), trematodosis (1 probe), cestodosis (1 probe), nematodosis (3-4 probes), seminars (1 probe). All these activities will be done on-site in the classroom or in the laboratory coinciding with the subject class or exam schedule.
Additionally, students can perform and present a voluntary work, which will be finished by the end of April and presented during seminar hours. The contents included in seminar sesions will be assessed in a continuous assessment test that will be performed together with the theoretical and practical exams. The student who carries out this work will be able to add a maximum of 0.5 points to the final mark of the continuous assessment; the final mark of the continuous assessment will never exceed 2 points. The grade of the work will be retained in successive courses.

It is important to note that a minimum grade in the continuous assessment is not required to pass the subject. The grade of the continuous assessment will be kept during the following academic years.


Final qualification of the student

Once the theoretical and practical tests have been completed, the final qualification of the student will include, in addition to the results of the theoretical (70%) and practical (10%) exams, the continuous evaluation (20%).
Those students who have not attended all the practices or who have not passed the practical exam will have a maximum of 4 in the final grade for the subject.
For cases of fraudulent performing exercises or tests shall apply the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións "

On the basis of Instruction No. 1/2017 of the Secretary-General in this subject, no dispensation is granted, because assistance to all activities is required in person.

FACE-TO-FACE WORK IN THE CLASSROOM:
-Master classes: 25 hours
-Clinical practices: 16 hours
-Seminars: 3 hours
-Tutorials: 1 hour

TOTAL HOURS OF PERSONAL WORK: 45 hours


STUDENT´S PERSONAL WORK:
Individual study: 40 hours
Preparation of practice memories: 5 hours
Preparation of works: 20 hours
Literature review, library: 5 hours
Attendance at lectures or other activities recommended: 2 hours
Resolution of cases / problems: 2.5 hours
Oral presentations: 1
Examinations: 2 hours

TOTAL HOURS OF STUDENT PERSONAL WORK: 67.5 hours

TOTAL STUDENT HOURS: 112.5 hours

Our experience leads us to recommend continued study of the subject, as well as to make outlines and summaries to help compare the different parasitic processes. In this way the student able to consolidate knowledge and avoid the confusions that arise when memorizing contents quickly and for the sole purpose of passing the theoretical exam. The knowledge of the parasite life-cycle is very important to understand their epidemiology, pathogenesis as well as the optimal control measures.

It is essential to follow and participate actively in the practical sessions and the preparation of a report. The consultation of the works mentioned in the literature is recommended, with the aim of completing knowledge.

It also recommended that students expose their doubts arisen and use frequently the tutorial hours of the teachers responsible for this activity to become positive and complement their training.