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Summary

Course details

Course type:

Short Course

Director of studies:

MyLSTM

Mode of study:

Duration:

4 Weeks

Home fee:

£2,500

Overseas fee:

£2,500

Attachments

Parasite Epidemiology and Control _ V_21_22 - 07_10_2021.doc

3 good reasons to study

Tropical disease caused by parasites blights the lives of over a billion people globally. You will develop a deep understanding of the epidemiology, ecology, and biology of these organisms.

The programme is delivered by LSTM’s Departments of Parasitology and Vectors of Disease, which includes biologists, epidemiologist, clinicians, and leaders within WHO and global programmes to control neglected tropical disease. The research base works in countries throughout resource-limited tropical regions of the world.

Knowledge and skills developed in this programme provide experience of essential techniques, as well as significant theoretical and practical knowledge in key areas of the field of tropical disease epidemiology.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Course Outline

Tropical disease caused by parasites blights the lives of over a billion people globally, and the application of epidemiological methodology is key in the fight against these debilitating infections. The science of epidemiology integrates surveillance, statistical analyses, laboratory and field science, and clinical and public health information, in order to understand and manage health-related problems and disease in communities, areas, and regions.

This course aims to provide you with a knowledgeable and critical understanding of the principles of parasite ecology, epidemiology, control, and their practical application. In the course, you will learn about the major control programmes and approaches to combat malaria, trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and filarial nematodes. You will also look at the applicable aspects of surveys, sampling, modelling, education, and communication, and the impact of drug resistance on epidemiology.

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, laboratory practicals, and student-directed learning exercises. In the practical sessions, you will be introduced to diagnostic sample concentration methods, drug-sensitivity assays, use of ‘Rapid Diagnostic Tests’, and staining methods for blood and faecal parasites.

Course Outline

- Epidemiology and Control of Soil Transmitted Helminths;
- The Global Filariasis Programme (Control programmes) + Onchocerca Epidemiology & Control:
- Malaria diagnosis in individuals and communities;
- Trypanosomes - Epidemiology & control;
- Control, elimination and eradication- Guinea Worm - a case study in an eradication programme;
- Survey Structure & Sample size;
- Practical approach to Surveys;
- Schistosomiasis & control;
- Cestodes - epidemiology & control;
- Monitoring and evaluation;
- Malaria drug sensitivity;
- Modelling;
- Cryptosporidium;
- Molecular Epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis;
- Zoonoses;
- Information, Education & Communication Materials;
- Co-infections and their impact on parasitic infections

PRACTICALS:

- Cultures for diagnosis;
- Concentration techniques-blood parasites;
- Concentration techniques - faecal parasites;
- Staining stool smears;
- Faecal protozoal staining;
- Malaria drug sensitivity;
- Rapid-Diagnostic Tests for malaria.

20 Academic Credits at Masters Level

Two hour short answer question examination (50%) and the production and presentation of a poster summarising a mock epidemiological field-based survey based in a fictional region of Sub-Saharan Africa (50%).

For an additional fee of £95, you can be entered for full Academic Credits for this course. The assessments are coming soon.

Please note that assessments may change at the discretion of the Directors of Study. All students will be made aware of new assessment details. The academic credits are offered to provide choice and flexibility to all our students, and students who do not wish to be entered for academic credits will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance.

Entrance Requirements

Academic requirements:

A knowledge of either Parasitology & Vector Biology is required or knowledge of clinical tropical medicine.

English language requirements:

Attending course with Academic Credit:
The course is taught in English. Students whose first language is not English must provide evidence of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all learning components, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 88 for the Internet-based Test (iBT), with minimum scores of 21 for Listening and Writing, 22 for Reading and 23 for Speaking. Tests should be within their validity period of 2 years.

Attending course – Certificate of Attendance Only:
The course is taught in English and in a postgraduate setting. Students whose first language is not English should be aware that to benefit from the course participants should have English language proficiency at the equivalent of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5.

Aims

This course aims to:

Critically analyse and interpret ecological and epidemiological data

Apply techniques used in epidemiological surveys

Discuss the roles and effectiveness of chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis in control of parasites

Explain the meaning of key concepts in parasite epidemiology

Careers

Many different career options exist within the field of parasitology. Over many years, we have educated hundreds of students, many of whom have established successful careers in industry and research in the academic or private sectors, or who have gone on to work in development as part of government or NGO teams. Previous students have included medical doctors who want a grounding in parasite epidemiology, microbiology laboratory professionals who wish to strengthen their lab with wider skills, and PhD students who are researching this area.

Testimonials

I found that the lecturers were really good and their experience in the field was often brought up in lectures which I felt was useful and gave a good idea what to expect for parasite surveillance in the field.

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Start date	End date	Home fee	Overseas fee
10 January 2022	4 February 2022	£2,500	£2,500	Apply

Start date:
10 January 2022

End date:
4 February 2022

Home fee:
£2,500

Overseas fee:
£2,500

Apply

Parasite Epidemiology & Control

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Course details

Attachments

3 good reasons to study

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Course Outline

20 Academic Credits at Masters Level

I found that the lecturers were really good and their experience in the field was often brought up in lectures which I felt was useful and gave a good idea what to expect for parasite surveillance in the field.

Submit your enquiries here

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