Why study parasites?

Parasites are more abundant than free-living organisms Parasites may be found in nearly every phylum of animals, from protistan phyla to chordates Parasites exhibit marvelous strategies for adaptation to their hosts Parasitic diseases are continue to be major threats to health for the world's population Parasites have strong negative impacts on animal welfare and modern agriculture Parasites are considered as biological indicators of environmental pollution Parasites rule human and animal behavior, and affect a world history Parasites will give you most cool topics to discuss at your shrimp cocktail and sushi parties

PARASITOLOGY (BIOL 588/588L) is a 4 unit course that fulfills the departmental requirement for an organismal biology course. We will meet twice a week for about one hour of lecture with 2 hours 40 minutes of laboratory following. You may optionally take 2 unit lecture course (BIOL 588) but we strongly recommend you to take both lecture (BIOL 588) + laboratory (BIOL 588L). Your knowledge of Parasitology will never be comprehensiveand your grades will be not so high if you will limit yourself with BIOL 588.
 

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students have completed BIOL 201 and BIOL 202.

GOALS	To present a comprehensive course on parasitic organisms from Protozoa to Arthropoda. Parasites of medical and veterinary importance, and parasitic diseases and disorders are the focus of this course. To provide practical experience in basic parasitological methods and approaches. To give experience in more specialized subfields by means of an assigned Special Project.
LECTURES:	Will give your a basic knowledge in biology, morphology, ecology, systematics, and evolution of the major groups of parasites.
TEXT:	Foundations of Parasitology (6th Ed.). Larry S. Roberts & John Janovy, Jr. 1999. WCB. McGraw. Available at Campus Bookstore. The 5th edition of the same textbook could be used for this class
	Note: Outlines and handouts will be provided before each lecture.
LABORATORY:	Will introduce you to practical parasitology. You will do dissections and full parasitological examinations of mollusks, fish, amphibians, and mammals. You will be trained in microscopic examination and identification of common human parasites, and collection, preservation, preparation,  and identification of animal parasites. Working in- small groups, you will do a Special Project based on the extensive literature search.
TEXT:	Meyer, Olsen & Schmidt's Essential of Parasitology. 6th edition. Murray D. Dailey.1996. Wm.C. Brown Publishers. Available at campus bookstore.
FIELD TRIPS AND TOURS:	(1) In the trip to Santa Margarita River or other Ecological Reserves you will get an experience in field parasitology. You will participate in fishing, and do parasitological examination of fish . (2) You will tour the Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the local hospitals. (3) You will tour the SDSU Electron Microscopy Facility. (4) There will be a special lab session at the SDSU Love Library.
Grading: Total 600 Points
Lectures:      Labs:   Special Project: Midterms (2)  Final exam (cumulative)  200  150   Practical quizzes (3)   Lab notebook  Written lab report                         90 40 20     Oral presentation   Written report      40   60
Grading Policy
A= 90% to 100% ; B= 80% to 89.9%; C= 70% to 79.9%; D= 60% to 69.9% (passing grade); F< 60%.

Lecture Schedule

Lab Schedule

Our exhibition

Invertebrates of the Salton Sea: A SEM Portfolio

Ectoparasites of Fish and Invertebrates

Dr. Boris Kuperman Homepage

Dr. Victoria Matey Homepage

Parasitology on the World Wide Web:

http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~zoology/parasite/home.html

http://martin.parasitology.mcgill.ca

http://www-museum.unl.edu/asp/

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