General Parasitology: from Viruses to Animals - MB160P80E

• Anglický název: General Parasitology: from Viruses to Animals
• Český název: Obecná parazitologie - od virů po živočichy
• Zajišťuje: Katedra parazitologie (31-161)
• Fakulta: Přírodovědecká fakulta
• Platnost: od 2024
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 4
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:3/0, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: neomezen
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Vysvětlení: Please watch your email and syllabus.Individual lessons will be taught on different days, times and classrooms.
• Poznámka: při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: RNDr. Vít Dvořák, Ph.D.; Mgr. Iva Hammerbauerová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Roman Leontovyč, Ph.D.; RNDr. Martina Saláková, Ph.D.; prof. RNDr. Jan Tachezy, Ph.D.; doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D.

Anotace

čeština

Předmět poskytuje komplexní přehled o fenoménu parazitického způsobu života ve širokém biologickém smyslu, zahrnujícím všechny úrovně organizace – od virů a bakterií, přes houbové organismy a protisty, až po parazitické helminty a členovce. Předmět kombinuje pohledy humánní a veterinární medicíny, ekologické perspektivy (parazitismus jako biologický fenomén a jeho role v interakcích mezi organismy) a zoologické/biologické aspekty (biologie, morfologie a životní strategie parazitů).
Důraz je kladen na základní životní cykly a strategie parazitických patogenů, včetně vztahů mezi parazitem či patogenem a hostitelem, stejně jako mezi parazitem/patogenem a přenašečem. Studenti se seznámí s principy přenosu infekčních agens, jejich adaptacemi k přežití a reprodukci, a s ekologickými a epidemiologickými aspekty parazitismu.
Systematická část předmětu se zaměřuje zejména na nejdůležitější původce infekčních onemocnění lidí a hospodářských zvířat a zahrnuje také významná nově se objevující infekční onemocnění v Evropě i ve světě. Po úvodních přednáškách, které objasňují fenomén parazitismu a principy vzniku infekčních onemocnění, následuje taxonomicky strukturovaná část, členěná podle skupin infekčních agens: viry, bakterie, houbové organismy, parazitičtí prvoci, parazitičtí helminti (motolice, tasemnice, hlístice) a členovci, kteří mohou působit jak jako přímí paraziti, tak jako přenašeči infekčních onemocnění.
Předmět klade důraz nejen na teoretické znalosti, ale i na praktické dovednosti v oblasti identifikace parazitů a pochopení jejich životních cyklů, interakcí s hostiteli a přenašeči, a interpretaci jejich významu pro humánní a veterinární medicínu, ekologii a biologii.

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.01.2026)

angličtina

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the phenomenon of parasitic life in a broad biological sense, encompassing all levels of organization – from viruses and bacteria, through fungi and protists, to parasitic helminths and arthropods. It integrates perspectives from human and veterinary medicine, ecological viewpoints (parasitism as a biological phenomenon and its role in interactions between organisms), and zoological/biological aspects (biology, morphology, and life strategies of parasites).
Emphasis is placed on the fundamental life cycles and strategies of parasitic pathogens, including relationships between parasites or pathogens and their hosts, as well as between parasites/pathogens and vectors. Students will become familiar with the principles of infectious agent transmission, their adaptations for survival and reproduction, and the ecological and epidemiological aspects of parasitism.
The systematic part of the course focuses primarily on the most important causative agents of infectious diseases in humans and livestock and also covers significant emerging infectious diseases in Europe and worldwide. Following introductory lectures explaining the phenomenon of parasitism and the principles of infectious disease development, the course proceeds to a taxonomically structured section, organized according to groups of infectious agents: viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasitic protozoa, parasitic helminths (trematodes, cestodes, nematodes), and arthropods, which can act both as direct parasites and as vectors of infectious diseases.
The course emphasizes not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills in parasite identification, understanding their life cycles, interactions with hosts and vectors, and interpreting their significance for human and veterinary medicine, ecology, and biology.

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.01.2026)

Literatura

Learning materials from practical sessions in PDF format: MOODLE
Foundations of Parasitology, Roberts, Janovy 
Essentila of Medical parasitology, Apurba, Sandhya

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.01.2026)

Požadavky ke zkoušce

The exam is conducted as an oral examination, primarily assessing the student’s understanding of fundamental concepts, principles, and interrelationships covered in the course. The student is expected to explain key phenomena of parasitism and infectious diseases, including interactions between pathogens and their hosts or vectors, across all types of pathogens – from viruses and bacteria, through fungi and protists, to parasitic helminths and arthropods.
The oral exam may also include discussion of visual and microscopic material, where the student identifies specific pathogens or parasites, describes their characteristic features, and explains the significance of these features from the perspective of human and veterinary medicine, ecology, and biology.
This format also allows assessment of the student’s critical thinking, independent reasoning, argumentation, and ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical examples, such as explaining mechanisms of pathogen transmission, life strategies of parasites, or interpreting ecological and epidemiological relationships. Evaluation is based not only on the accuracy of responses but also on the ability to integrate different aspects of knowledge and present them independently.

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.01.2026)

Sylabus

The course provides a comprehensive overview of parasitic life as a biological phenomenon across all levels of biological organization, from viruses and bacteria through fungi and protists to parasitic helminths and arthropods. It integrates perspectives from human and veterinary medicine, ecology, zoology, and general biology.

Emphasis is placed on fundamental life cycles and biological strategies of parasitic pathogens, including interactions between parasites and their hosts, as well as relationships between pathogens and their vectors. Students will become familiar with mechanisms of infectious agent transmission, adaptations for survival and reproduction, and ecological and epidemiological aspects of parasitism.

Following introductory lectures that explain the nature of parasitism and the principles of infectious disease development, the course proceeds to a taxonomically structured section organized according to major groups of infectious agents: viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasitic protozoa, parasitic helminths (trematodes, cestodes, nematodes), and arthropods, which may function both as direct parasites and as vectors of infectious diseases.

The systematic part of the course focuses primarily on the most important causative agents of infectious diseases in humans, pets, domestic animal and livestock and also addresses significant emerging infectious diseases in Europe and worldwide. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the course emphasizes practical skills in parasite identification, understanding of life cycles, interpretation of host–parasite–vector relationships, and evaluation of their medical, veterinary, ecological, and biological significance.

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (23.02.2026)

Výsledky učení

After completing the course, the student will have a comprehensive understanding of parasitism and infectious diseases across all types of pathogens, from viruses and bacteria, through fungi and protists, to parasitic helminths and arthropods. The student will be familiar with the life cycles, survival strategies, and ecological roles of parasites and pathogens, including their interactions with hosts and vectors, and will recognize the most important causative agents of human and veterinary infectious diseases, including emerging infections in Europe and worldwide.
The student will be able to identify and characterize pathogens and parasites based on morphological, anatomical, and life cycle features, analyze visual and microscopic materials to recognize specific organisms, and interpret their diagnostic and epidemiological significance. They will be able to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems, such as explaining transmission mechanisms, life strategies, and host–parasite–vector interactions, and to document and communicate observations clearly using appropriate scientific terminology.
Furthermore, the student will be able to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical analysis, critically evaluate and compare morphological, ecological, and epidemiological features of pathogens and parasites, and demonstrate logical reasoning and argumentation when explaining parasitological concepts. They will be competent in presenting complex information clearly and accurately, including oral discussion and interpretation of visual data, while adhering to ethical and safety principles in handling biological materials.

Poslední úprava: Votýpka Jan, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.01.2026)