Parasitism has evolved as a lifestyle in different classes of organisms and is considered the most successful life strategy on our planet. Every living organism is used as a host by a parasite at least once during its life cycle. In aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, a great variety of different parasite species can be found, and thus parasites form a decisive part of biodiversity.
The influence of abiotic/biotic factors on the diversity, distribution and abundance of parasites also has direct/indirect effects on the health of humans, livestock and wildlife, with sometimes dramatic humanitarian, ecological and economic consequences.
Depending on the animal group and the geographical region, the current state of knowledge on the global diversity of parasites varies greatly. Therefore, the core topics explored in the practical course are accordingly broad. They range from the identification/description of parasites and vectors to determine their current distribution to the clarification of the phenotypic/genetic evolution of their dispersal ability and the experimental/field-based analysis of pathogenicity factors and transmission abilities (e.g. life cycles).
Upon completion of the module, students will have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the globally important parasites (parasitoses) of humans as well as livestock and wildlife, with a particular focus on host-parasite interaction, their life cycles and transmission mechanisms.
