Tropical Parasitology: Protozoans, Worms, Vectors and Human Diseases

About this course: This course provides students an understanding of important human parasitic diseases, including their life cycles, vectors of transmission, distribution and epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention and control. Tropical Parasitology is taught by faculty from an area highly impacted by tropical parasites- the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Moshi, Tanzania. The faculty include Drs. Frank Mosha and Mramba Nyindo (and two lecturers, Drs. Johnson Matowo and Jovin Kitau). Dr. John Bartlett, Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Nursing at Duke University, joins his faculty colleagues in this effort.

Who is this class for: This class is intended for health professions students who wish to expand their knowledge of tropical parasitology with practical lessons from the field, and other interested persons and travelers.

Created by:  Duke University, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College

• Taught by:  John A. Bartlett, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Nursing at Duke University Medical Center

  Duke Global Health Institute

• Taught by:  Franklin Mosha, Ph.D., Professor of Parasitology and Medical Entomology

• Taught by:  Mramba Nyindo, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMU Co.)

Level Intermediate Commitment 8 weeks, 3-7 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

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Duke University Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College trains health professionals of all cadres ranging from Diplomas, Ordinary Degrees, Post Graduate Degrees and Doctor of Philosophy. Besides Post doctoral training opportunities are availed apart from continuing Education programmes.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Welcome and Course Overview



Welcome to Tropical Parasitology: Protozoans, Worms, Vectors, and Human Diseases! In this course, students will develop an understanding of important human parasitic diseases, including their life cycles, vectors of transmission, distribution and epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention and control. Tropical Parasitology is taught by Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College faculty -- Drs. Frank Mosha and Mramba Nyindo (and two lecturers, Drs. Johnson Matowo and Jovin Kitau). They are joined by Dr. John Bartlett, Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Nursing at Duke University. To get started, view the video "Welcome to Tropical Parasitology," read the Course Overview, read about how the course is structured in Course Clusters, and review the Course Resources. Then move on to study the first cluster, Protozoans. Please note that the Protozoans cluster constitutes the largest content cluster in the course, and we have allocated 3 weeks to complete the work for this cluster. The other course clusters will take one week (each) to complete. We hope you enjoy the course, and we look forward to your contributions to our learning community.


1 video, 3 readings expand

1. Video: Welcome to Tropical Parasitology
2. Reading: Course Overview
3. Reading: Course Clusters (How the course is structured)
4. Reading: Feedback Survey Information

Protozoans



We are excited to begin our Protozoa cluster, focusing on malaria, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniasis. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, protozoal diseases contribute substantially to the global burden of morbidity and mortality. This cluster has a total of 153 minutes of video and 85 pages of reading spread out over the four lessons. Each lesson has all of the readings, lectures, and additional materials to help you understand the topic. You will have unlimited opportunities to take an untimed quiz after you’ve mastered the material in each lesson, and you have four quizzes to complete in this cluster. (Note: this cluster includes a case study practice quiz, ungraded, which is optional). This cluster kicks off with a close look at malaria vectors and the fascinating research being done on diagnosing, treating, and vaccinating against malaria. This is by far the largest cluster in the course, so you have up to 3 weeks to complete this cluster.


11 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Malaria Overview Reading
2. Video: Malaria: Vectors - Dr. Johnson Matowo
3. Video: Malaria: Vector Control - Dr. Johnson Matowo
4. Video: Malaria: Insecticide Resistance and Management - Dr. Johnson Matowo
5. Practice Quiz: Malaria Vectors and Vector Control
6. Video: Malaria: Epidemiology - Dr. Franklin Mosha
7. Video: Malaria: Mosquito Breeding Sites - Dr. Franklin Mosha
8. Video: Malaria: The Parasite in the Human Body - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
9. Video: Malaria: Invasion and Colonization of Red Blood Cells by Merozoites - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
10. Video: Malaria: The Parasite in the Mosquito - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
11. Video: Malaria: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
12. Video: Malaria: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
13. Video: Malaria: Interview with Dr. William Howlett
14. Practice Quiz: Case Study Practice (Optional)
15. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Malaria

WEEK 2


Protozoans



6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Trypanosomiasis Overview Reading
2. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Vectors/Epidemiology/Control - Dr. Franklin Mosha
3. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Sleeping Sickness - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
4. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Human African Trypanosomiasis - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
5. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
6. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
7. Video: Trypanosomiasis: Interview with Dr. William Howlett
8. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Trypanosomiasis

WEEK 3


Protozoans



6 videos, 3 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Toxoplasmosis Overview Reading
2. Video: Toxoplasmosis: Vectors/Transmission - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
3. Video: Toxoplasmosis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
4. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz
5. Video: Toxoplasmosis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
6. Video: Toxoplasmosis: Interview with Dr. William Howlett
7. Reading: Leishmaniasis Overview Reading
8. Video: Leishmaniasis: Parasites and Vectors - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
9. Video: Leishmaniasis: Pathophysiology & Treatment - Dr. John Bartlett
10. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Toxoplasmosis
Graded: Leishmaniasis

WEEK 4


Cestodes



The Cestodes cluster focuses on taeniasis and echinococcosis. One example of their impact is neurocysticercosis, which is estimated as the leading cause of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries. This cluster has a total of 41 minutes of video and 31 pages of reading spread out over two lessons. You will have unlimited opportunities to take an untimed quiz after you’ve mastered the material, and you have two quizzes to complete for this cluster. This cluster begins by looking at the acquisition, manifestation, diagnosis, and treatment of neurocysticercosis, a helminthic infection of the nervous system caused by Taenia solium.


9 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Taeniasis Overview Reading
2. Video: Taeniasis: Due to Taenia Saginatum - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
3. Video: Taeniasis: Pathophysiology of Taenia Saginatum - Dr. John Bartlett
4. Video: Taeniasis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
5. Video: Taeniasis: Due to Taenia Solium - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
6. Video: Taeniasis: Pathophysiology of Taenia Solium - Dr. John Bartlett
7. Reading: Echinococcosis Overview Reading
8. Video: Echinococcosis: Hydatid Disease - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
9. Video: Echinococcosis: Alveolar Disease - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
10. Video: Echinococcosis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
11. Video: Echinococcosis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
12. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Taeniasis
Graded: Echinococcosis

WEEK 5


Trematodes



The Trematodes cluster focuses on schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. It is estimated that almost 60 million people are infested with trematodes globally. This cluster has a total of 79 minutes of video and 31 pages of reading spread out over the two lessons. You will have unlimited opportunities to take an untimed quiz after you’ve mastered the material in each lesson, and you have two quizzes to complete for this cluster. This cluster begins by looking at schistosomiasis, a common intravascular infection caused by parasitic trematode worms in contaminated water.


10 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Schistosomiasis Overview Reading
2. Video: Schistosomiasis: Epidemiology - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
3. Video: Schistosomiasis: Vector - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
4. Video: Schistosomiasis: Biology and Ecology - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
5. Video: Schistosomiasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
6. Video: Schistosomiasis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
7. Video: Schistosomiasis: Interview with Dr. William Howlett
8. Video: Schistosomiasis: Patient Diagnosis I - Dr. William Howlett
9. Video: Schistosomiasis: Patient Diagnosis II - Dr. William Howlett
10. Reading: Fascioliasis Overview Reading
11. Video: Fascioliasis: Biology of parasites - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
12. Video: Fascioliasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
13. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Schistosomiasis
Graded: Fascioliasis

WEEK 6


Nematodes



The Nematodes cluster focuses on filariasis, ascariasis, hookworm, and strongyloidiasis. Nematode infestations may impact up to 185 million people in recent estimates of the global burden of disease. This cluster has a total of 90 minutes of video and 8 pages of reading spread out over four lessons. You will have unlimited opportunities to take an untimed quiz after you’ve mastered the material in each lesson, and you have four quizzes to complete for this cluster. This cluster kicks off by examining lymphatic filariasis and the fundamental need for compassion as a core value in global health practice.


15 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Reading: Hookworm Overview Reading
2. Video: Hookworm: Infection - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
3. Video: Hookworm: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
4. Video: Hookworm: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
5. Video: Hookworm: Interview with Dr. William Howlett **also addresses Ascaris
6. Reading: Filariasis Overview Reading
7. Video: Filariasis: Introduction - Dr. Franklin Mosha
8. Video: Filariasis: Lymphatic Filariasis - Dr. Franklin Mosha
9. Video: Filariasis: Onchocerciasis - Dr. Franklin Mosha
10. Video: Filariasis: Black Fly Vectors - Dr. Franklin Mosha
11. Video: Filariasis: Black Fly Breeding Sites - Dr. Franklin Mosha
12. Video: Filariasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
13. Reading: Strongyloidiasis Overview Reading
14. Video: Strongyloidiasis: Infection - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
15. Video: Strongyloidiasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
16. Reading: Ascariasis Overview Reading
17. Video: Ascariasis: Vector and Epidemiology - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
18. Video: Ascariasis: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
19. Video: Ascariasis: Interview with Dr. Venance Maro
20. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Hookworm
Graded: Filariasis
Graded: Strongyloidiasis
Graded: Ascariasis

WEEK 7


Ectoparasites



We are now into our final cluster, Ectoparasites, focusing on fleas, ticks and mites, lice, and pathophysiology of infestation with ectoparasites. In addition to causing annoying symptoms on their own, ectoparasites may be important vectors of human disease. This cluster only contains one lesson (Ectoparasites) and has 30 minutes of video and 33 pages of reading. You will have unlimited opportunities to take an untimed quiz after you’ve mastered the material, and you have one quiz to complete for this cluster We begin by looking at how to prevent Lyme disease through protective measures, tick reduction, and various vaccines for humans, ticks, and even reservoirs.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Ectoparasites Overview Reading
2. Video: Ectoparasites: Fleas - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
3. Video: Ectoparasites: Ticks and Mites - Dr. Mramba Nyindo
4. Video: Ectoparasites: Lice - Dr. Jovin Kitau
5. Video: Ectoparasites: Pathophysiology - Dr. John Bartlett
6. Reading: Module feedback survey

Graded: Ectoparasites

WEEK 8


Final Exam



The final exam is a graded 3-part exam, and each part includes information from all of the disease clusters covered throughout the course. The final exam consists of 45 questions, in total. You will have unlimited attempts for each part of the final exam, with the highest scoring attempt counting toward the course grade. The final exam will contribute 60% to your total course grade (with each part of the exam having a weight of 20%).

Graded: Final Exam, Part 1
Graded: Final Exam, Part 2
Graded: Final Exam, Part 3