Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (778-782-3112 or csdo@sfu.ca).

 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 418

 

PARASITOLOGY

 

Spring 2008 (1081)

 

Instructor
Office
Phone
E-mail
Carl Lowenberger
SSB 6121, Lab: SSB 6151
Phone: 778.782.3985/4391

 

 

Prerequisites: Bisc 204. (Recommanded: Bisc 300 & 306)

 

Texts:  (Optional) Parasitology & Vector Biology (Marquardt, Demaree, and Grieve)

               (Optional) Parasitic Diseases (Despommier, Gwadz, Hotez, Knirsch)

               (Optional) Foundations of Parasitological (Roberts and Janovy)

 

Outline:

 

Parasitology is one biological discipline that encompasses all aspects of biology: taxonomy, morphology, epidemiology, behavioural ecology, immunology, host-parasite interactions, comparative physiology, gene regulation, molecular biology etc. This course is geared to upper level undergraduate students.

 

This will be a broad-based lecture course covering major aspects of general parasitology. Students will be exposed to the ecology and phylogeny of animal parasites, including those of humans, domestic animals and wildlife. The course will follow taxonomic guidelines: from protozoa to helminths. The success of parasitism will be presented in terms of host-parasite interactions; general epidemiological principles of parasitic infections, structure function comparisons and reproductive strategies used by parasites to increase the likelihood of transmission. The host response to parasites will be presented including options such as vaccines and drugs available for some parasites and why this is not available for others. The course will try and look at current problems in the world and will pick current events involving parasites for discussion.

 

There will be a 3 hour laboratory session/week. In this period students will become more familiar with parasite structure function, and will be required recognize groups of parasites and to make permanent mounts of fresh parasite material.

 

Evaluation: Midterm I- 20%, Midterm II -25 %, Final exam- 30%, Laboratory -25%