Course Description
An introduction to the diversity of metazoans that parasitize humans, livestock, and other animals (both vertebrate and invertebrate). Lectures emphasize the morphology, form and function, physiology, systematics and evolution, lifecycles and pathogenesis of several major parasitic groups. Our efforts will focus on five taxa (Platyhelminthes, Acanthocephala, Nematomorpha, Nematoda, and Arthropoda) - members of each of these taxa display unique adaptations to the parasitic lifestyle, and in many cases, have converged in anatomy and lifecycle. Some of these animals are of minor consequence to human welfare, but are fascinating in their own right. Others are major threats to human health, agriculture, and/or have widespread socioeconomic impacts. In addition to these avenues of exploration, we will explore the intra- and interphyletic relationships of each major taxon and attempt to discern trends in anatomies, lifestyles, and ecologies that have evolved over the millenia.

Offered: Spring semesters only

General Topics
Vertebrate Innate and Aquired Immunity
Invertebrate Innate Immunity
Mosquito Biology (Ectoparasitism and Vector dynamics)
Botfly Biology and Disease (Myiasis)
Triatomine bug biology (Chagas Disease)
Tick Biology and Disease (Lyme disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis)
Nematode Biology (Hookworms, Onchocerciasis, Pinworms, Lymphatic Filariasis, Heartworms, Dracunculiasis)
Platyhelminth Biology (Trematoda: Dicrocoeliasis, Leucochloridium paradoxum, Fascioliasis, Schistosomiasis; Cestoda: Diphyllobothriasis, Sparganosis, Dipylidiasis, Echinococcosus)
Acanthocephala Biology (parasitic manipulation)
Nematomorpha Biology (parasitic manipulation)

Learning Outcomes

• Be able to define parasitism is the broadest context, from ecological, anatomical and physiological perspectives;
• Be able to identify the major parasitic taxa and describe their anatomies;
• Understand the life cycle dynamics of representative species;
• Understand the evolutionary relationships among parasitic taxa and to their free-living relatives;
• Understand the various theories that explain the evolution of specific parasitic lifestyles (e.g., Cercomeria);
• And appreciate the varied pathologies associated with parasitic infections.