Helminth Infections – Wildlife

Purpose

To provide candidates with knowledge of the epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnosis and control/eradication of economically important helminth infections of domestic animals and wildlife.

Entry requirements

Candidates with a Veterinary, Animal Science (e.g. Agriculture, Zoology, Entomology), or Microbiology degree may enrol for degree purposes.

Coordinator

Prof Joop Boomker

Module structure

Number of candidates allowed

15

Learning outcomes

The following conditions will be dealt with:

Ruminants:

• Infections of the lungs and trachea:
  • Dictyocaulus, Pneumostorngylus, Protostrongylus, Bronchonema
• Infections of the gastro-intestinal tract:
  • Gongylonema, Parabronema, Calicophoron
  • Haemonchus, Teladorsagia/Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Longistrongylus
  • Nematodirus, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Cooperiodes, Paracoperia, immature Calicophoron, Bunostomum, Gaigeria, minor infections
  • Agriostomum, Oesophagostomum, Chabertia, Trichuris
• Infections of the liver:
  • Monodontus, Filaria, Fasciola, Dicrocoelium, Stilesia, Taenia hydatigena metacestodes
• Infetions of the cardiovascular system:
  • Elaeophora, Schistosoma
• Infections of the skin and adnexa:
  • Parafilaria, Taenia multiceps
• Infections of the musculature:
  • Taenia species metacestodes
• Specific infection of the viscera:
  • Echinococcus infection

Equids:

• Infections of the gastro-intestinal tract:
  • Parascaris, Draschia, Habronema, Strongylus spp., cyathostomins, Anoplocaphala, Anoplocaphaloides, Gastrodiscus
• Infections of the skin and adnexa:
  • Habronema
• Specific infection of the viscera:
  • Echinococcus infection

Suids:

• Infections of the musculature:
  • Trichinella, Taenia spp. metacestodes
• Infections of the gastro-intestinal tract:
  • Physocephalus, Oesophagostomum, Murshidia, Ascaris, Moniezia, Gastrodiscus
• Specific infection of the viscera:
  • Echinococcus infection

Carnivores:

• Infections of the gastro-intestinal tract:
  • Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Taenia spp. Echinococcus, Joyeuxiella, Mesocestoides, Dipylidium, Spirocerca
• Infections of the skin and adnexa:
  • Dirofilaria

On completion of this module, you will:

• Know the morphological characteristics of the causative organisms of the respective conditions
• Know and understand the epidemiology of the causative organisms of the respective conditions
• Know and understand the pathogenesis of the respective conditions
• Know the clinical signs and macropathology of the respective conditions in order to make a provisional diagnosis and to list the differential diagnoses
• Know how to diagnose the listed conditions in the live animal
• Know how to diagnose the listed conditions in the dead animal
• Apply knowledge of the aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs and pathology to formulate control strategies for the respective conditions
• Know and understand control strategies that can be used at the domesticated ruminant/ free-living ruminant interface
• Know and evaluate the socio-economic importance of the respective conditions where relevant

Learning resources

• References to relevant publications (textbooks, articles, websites)
• Course notes in PDF format