MIC/VSC 195D Course Description: This Wormy World
Spring 2008: 10:00 to 10:50 AM Wednesdays

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Instructor:

Charles R. Sterling, PhD Professor

Veterinary Science and Microbiology

Office: 304 VSM, 621-4580

Email: csterlin@u.arizona.edu

Office hours by appointment

Description: This Wormy World is a one-credit course designed to introduce students to various types of parasites and other infectious agents that affect humans and animals around the world.

Time:10:00 to 10:50 am Wednesdays

Location:Room 129, Veterinary Science and Microbiology Building

Course Objectives:

1. To explore and learn the basic principles of parasitism

2. To explore the effects of parasites and other infectious agents on human and animal health

3. To understand the effects that parasites and other infectious agents have on the health, well-being and economics of different cultures of the world

4. To develop the necessary level of understanding of parasitology to enable the student to write a short, technical paper on a parasite or infectious agent of interest

Textbook:There is no textbook for this course. Students will receive written lecture notes, and/or case reports in class. Lecture materials will not be posted on the web. General parasitology and infectious disease texts found in the library may be used as references.

Grading:

Students will have four case report homework assignments during the semester. Each assignment will be worth 15 points (total = 60 points). There will be one 3 to 5 page paper due May 7th. This paper is worth 40 points.

The final grade will be based on a total of 100 points using the U. of A. grading scale.

> 90% = A
80 – 89% = B
70 – 79% = C
60 – 69% = D
< 60% = E

Technical Paper:

Students will write a 3 to 5 page technical paper on a parasite of their choice. This may be a factual or a fictitious paper. The content of this paper must answer some basic principles of parasitology including:

• Parasite or infectious disease name and its derivation

• Descriptive life cycle (diagram)

• Host(s) involved in life cycle and role(s), i.e., definitive, intermediate, etc.

• Biology and mode of replication

• Epidemiology including mode of transmission

• Effect(s) on definitive host – disease causing potential

• Available treatments

• Overall impact and consequences to society

Ethical Behavior:

University standards for ethical behavior are outlined under the Code of Academic Integrity on the U. of A. website. Outside assignments must be your own work.

DROP INFORMATION:

Last day to drop courses resulting in a deletion from record - February 12, 2008. March 11, 2008 is the deadline to drop with a grade of W (if passing) or change from regular grade to audit or visa versa requiring instructor’s signature. After this day the Dean’s signature as well as the instructor’s signature is required to drop and then only under extraordinary circumstances