FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY M.Sc. AND Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAMMES The postgraduate programmes of the Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology lead to the award of Master of Science and Doctorate degrees. The programmes are designed to impart advanced theoretical and sound practical knowledge of all aspects of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology to the student. The programmes therefore aim at producing the right calibre of manpower with specialized skill for the effective management and control of animal parasites, which are of both economic and zoonotic importance with particular reference to Nigeria. The Masters and Doctor of Philosophy programmes cover all the aspects of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, including immunology of parasitic infections, parasite zoonosis, clinical aspects, epizootiology and control. Masters students shall pursue their programmes either by coursework and research to be presented in a project report or by coursework and research dissertation. The doctorate degree programme is by comprehensive research to be embodied in a thesis. A postgraduate student may specialize in either the area of Veterinary Parasitology or Veterinary Entomology. Career opportunities exist for people who graduate from the programmes of the Department in teaching and research in the institutions of higher learning; research and development work in the Agricultural and Medical Research Institutes; in epidemiological livestock research and planning units of the Federal and State Government, Ministries of Agriculture and Health; in specialist advisory duties with medically and or agriculturally oriented companies; as consultants to private and sectors of the livestock industry; in the Police Force, Customs Department and Armed Forces.
LIST OF APPROVED SUPERVISORS PROFESSORS D. N. Onah; DVM (Nigeria), PhD (Edinburgh), MCVSN, FCVSN Immunoparasitology B. B. Fakae; DVM, Msc (Nigeria); PhD (Edinburgh), MCVSN. Veterinary Helminthology C. O. Nwosu; DVM (Nigeria), Msc, PhD (Ibadan), MCVSN, FCVSN Veterinary Helminthology READER R. C. Ezeokonkwo; DVM, Msc, PhD (Nigeria); MCVSN, FCVSN. Veterinary Protozoology DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY PROGRAMME STRUCTURE VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY (M.Sc) First semester Course No. Title Units VPE 711 Advanced Veterinary Helminthology 3 VPE 721 Advanced Veterinary Protozoology 3 VPE 761 Clinical Veterinary Parasitology 3 VPE 762 Research Techniques in Veterinary Parasitology 3 14 Second semester VPE 771 Epizootiology and Control of Parasites of Veterinary Importance 3 VPE 741 Parasites Zoonoses 3 VPE 742 Immunity in Parasitic infections 3 VPE 790 Parasite Physiology 3 VPE 791 Project Report 8 VPE 751 Dissertation 18 2
VETERINARY ENTOMOLGY (M.Sc) First semester Course No. Title Units VPE 731 Principles of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry 3 VPE 732 Systematic Entomology and Acarology 3 VPE 733 One elective from VPE 721, 762, 742 3 Second semester VPE 734 Chemistry of Pesticides 3 VPE 735 Insect Ecology 3 VPE 736 Principles and Methods of Entomology Research 3 VPE 790 Project Report 8 VPE 791 Dissertation 18 Elective courses may also be taken in Computer Science, Biostatistics and Veterinary Pathology, in the appropriate Department. Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology VPE 891 Thesis COURSE DESCRIPTION 1. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY (M.Sc.) VPE 711 Advanced Veterinary Helminthology Studies of systematics, distribution and diagnostic morphology of helminth parasites of veterinary importance. The bionomics of free living stages of helminthes and factors influencing transmission of infection. The dynamics of parasite populations in the host and external environments and relationship with disease causation, mechanism of pathogenicity, principles of treatment, prophylaxis and control. Heterologous and homologous parasite interactions (concurrent infections). The immunological and genetic aspects of host parasite relationship. 3
VPE 721 Advanced Veterinary Protozoology Studies of the systematic distribution, diagnostic morphology and biology of protozoan parasite of domestic animals, and birds; mechanisms of pathogenicity and principles of treatment, prophiaxis and control. Transmission and factors influencing transmission of infections. Role of vectors in transmission and pathogenicity of infection. Host-parasite relationships immunological and genetic aspects. Vaccinations; parasite-parasite interaction in the host. VPE 742 Immunity in Parasitic Infections The study of the basis of immunity: processes of immune recognition; antigen-antibody reaction; the complement system; antibody mediated immune response; cell-mediated immunity; immunopathology; immunity to parasitic infections; immunological tests. These are discussed within the concept of protozoan and helminth infections of domestic animals. VPE 790 Parasite Physiology Comparative study of the physiology of various groups of parasite. Metabolic pathway and possible therapeutic importance. Respiration, metabolism and growth. Encystations and excystation: environmental effect on free-living stages of parasites; transfer of parasites from host to host or from free-living to parasitic habitat, migration and site selection activity. Nutritional requirements and uptake of nutrients. Some physiological aspects of parasite-induced injury. VPE 741 Parasite Zoonoses A detailed study of the prevalence, incidence and distribution of parasites of zoonotic importance. Factors influencing their maintenance in nature and spread in animal and human populations with emphasis on socio-cultural habits, host nutrition, genotype and immunological responses; parasite species and strains. Various mechanisms contributing to their spread in humans. Diagnosis, principles and strategies for prophylaxis and control. (2 Units) VPE 761 Clinical Veterinary Parasitology 4
Special study of laboratory techniques for handling parasitological materials to aid clinical diagnosis of parasitic infections. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of pathological materials including histological preparation of tissues for the examination and diagnosis of protozoan and helminth diseases and infections. In vivo maintenance of parasites for diagnostic and research purposes, faecal culture methods for cultivation and identification of nematode larvae, postmortem worm counting techniques in the diagnosis and investigation of helminth and protozoal diseases and infections. VPE 762 Research Techniques in Veterinary Parasitology The collection, fixation, preservation and examination of parasite specimens by use of suitable staining and mounting techniques, postmortem collection of parasitological materials from different animals. Micrometry and photo-micrometry, preparation of museum specimens of parasites and parasitized tissues and organs. Some haematological and immunololgical techniques in Veterinary Parasitology research. In vitro maintenance and culture of parasites, parasite antigen preparation and analysis, techniques for laboratory and field evaluation of anthelmintics; and antiprotozoal efficacy. VPE 771 Epizootoology and Control of Parasites of Veterinary Importance The study of the various factors contributing to the maintenance, survival and spread of important parasites of domestic animals in West Africa in General and Nigeria in particular. Factors which determine seasonal prevalence, incidence and transmission of infection with emphasis on climatic, nutritional, immunological, genetic factors and livestock husbandry practices. The vector concept and epizootiological cycle of vectorborne parasitic disease. Reservoir hosts and helminth transmission cycles. The application of epizootiological knowledge in limiting the spread of infections. Survey methods/computer modeling, parasitic disease monitoring and surveillance. VPE 701 Seminar 2 Units 5
VPE 790 Project Report 8 Units VPE 791 Dissertation 18 Units VPE 891 Ph.D Thesis VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY (M.Sc.) VPE 731 Principles of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry Physiological and biochemical processes underlying insect function and behaviour. VPE 732 Systematic Entomology and Acarology Classification of insects, acarines, etc. Taxonomic categories and procedures, bibliographic methods and Museum practices. Theory and philosophy of systematic Entomology with emphasis on phylogeny, zoogeography and nomenclature. VPE 733 Advanced Veterinary Entomology and Acarology The genesis and epidemiology of arthropod borne diseases, bionomics and principles involved in the control of insects, mites and ticks of veterinary importance. Pest control programmes. VPE 734 Chemistry of Pesticides Chemical composition and reaction of pesticides; their physiological effect on animal tissues and environmental implications of pesticide usage. VPE 735 Insect Ecology Ecology with examples from insects, mites and ticks; insect behavior analysis of arthropod environment; population dynamics; regulation; theory of natural control. VPE 736 Principles and Methods of Entomology Research Techniques and purposes of the scientific Method in Entomology with emphasis on problem selection, design of experiments, collection evaluation and presentation of data. VPE 790 Project Report 8 Units VPE 791 Dissertation 18 Units VPE 891 Ph.D. Thesis 6
7