This intensive course has a high practical content and is designed for medical officers, haematologists, pathologists and biomedical scientists. The course concentrates on the identification in the laboratory of those parasites of medical importance (both indigenous and imported) likely to be seen in Western Europe. Each course comprises a series of mini lectures by specialist staff, followed by extensive practical work.

Course Content:

• Examination of faeces for the diagnosis of protozoa and helminths*

• Malaria - recognition of parasites and other diagnostic approaches*
• Recognition and diagnosis of haemoflagellates and filarias*
• Diagnostic problems and other self assessment exercises
• Course evaluation

* Topics which may include optional activities, providing participants with some control over the balance of faecal and blood parasites studied.

Each session includes short presentations by specialist staff followed by practical work at the bench to provide experience in the identification of parasites. Laboratory sessions also provide opportunities for discussion with staff on points of interest to individual course participants.

TIMETABLE

DAY 1

• Course registration
• Introduction and safety
• Pre-course test
• Intestinal protozoa and coccidia
• Identification of intestinal protozoa
• Examination of coccidian parasites / test samples
• Nematodes
• Identification of nematode ova practical and demonstration

DAY 2

• Cestodes
• Identification of cestode ova practical and demonstration
• Trematodes
• Identification of trematode ova practical and demonstration
• Faecal / urine concentration and other methods
• Developments in molecular diagnostics for parasitic disease
• Spot test: faecal parasites / diagnostic parasitology 
• World trip

DAY 3

• Malaria morphology
• Malaria morphology practical
• Other techniques for malaria diagnosis
• RDT's practical and demonstration
• Diagnostic parasitology

DAY 4

• Haemoflagellates
• Haemoflagellates practical and demonstration
• Filariasis
• Filariasis practical and demonstration
• Spot test
• Post-course test
• Q&A session