How parasitology is taught in medical faculties in Europe? Parasitology, lost?

Bruschi, Fabrizio

doi:10.1007/s00436-009-1594-7

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Moreover, the globalisation phenomenon is bringing new threats including an increase in imported parasitic diseases, for example Taenia solium [2]. Despite this, the latest study indicating the current status of teaching of parasitology in different European countries was reported by Bruschi (2009) [3]. Different studies have documented a decrease of parasitology departments and the time dedicated to the study of this discipline in developed countries [3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Focus Group to Create a Virtual Case Study Model Unit for the Dmu E-Parasitology

Pena-Fernandez¹,

Magnet²,

Peña³

2018

EDULEARN Proceedings

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De Montfort University (DMU, Leicester, UK) is leading a teaching innovation project for the creation of a complete package for teaching and learning human parasitology in collaboration with the Spanish universities: San Pablo CEU and Miguel Hernández, and practicing Biomedical Scientists from the UK National Health Service. The DMU e-Parasitology package will be freely available on the DMU website (http://parasitology.dmu.ac.uk/) late in 2018 and present three modules: a theoretical unit for the study of medical parasitic diseases; a virtual laboratory and microscope sections with a complete collection of clinical slides for the study of these major diseases. To provide the user of this novel package with a holistic and complete experience for the learning of medical parasitology we have started the development of a fourth section, which will hold highly interactive virtual case studies in which the user will be provided with a medical history and different clinical slides to identify the parasites and their structures. The user will need to reflect and critically think to suggest potential diagnoses, additional diagnostic techniques, treatment and prevention techniques for that parasitic disease. A first virtual case study has been created in the DMU e-Parasitology here: http://parasitology.dmu.ac.uk/learn/ case_studies/cs1/story_html5.html, as described in Peña-Fernández et al. (2018) [1]. The degree of difficulty is medium-high, so a background in parasitology is needed to resolve it. Comprehensive student feedback is being collected to improve this case study, which will be used as a model unit to develop future case studies for this section. To determine the feasibility of this case study to train postgraduate students, DMU students attending the MSc Advanced Biomedical Science have completed the case study during a workshop session specially delivered this academic course 2017/18 (n=9). We collected the following results: 100% students indicated that the eParasitology is interactive (71.4% agreed, 28.57 strongly agreed), and the case-study presented was appropriate for their studies (57.1% agreed, 42.9% strongly agreed). In relation to the content, all students highlighted that it was relevant for their studies (42.9% agreed, 57.1% strongly agreed), and indicated that the exercises presented were easy to understand (71.43% agreed, 28.57% strongly agreed). In the freeopen questions available in the questionnaire, postgraduate students demanded more case studies and mini-formative assessments within the theoretical units that they reviewed to answer the virtual case study (free-living amoebas and Entamoeba histolytica). Finally, they suggested the provision of the correct answers throughout the case study instead of at the end.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Focus Group to Create a Virtual Case Study Model Unit for the Dmu E-Parasitology

Pena-Fernandez¹,

Magnet²,

Peña³

2018

EDULEARN Proceedings

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“…Excluding typing errors and the use of different codes for the same patient, 21 (20.6%) inaccurate diagnoses were probably related to the lack of expertise regarding human trichinellosis seen at the hospital level. This may be due to both the rarity of the disease and the lack of emphasis on including diseases caused by helminths within the curricula of the majority of Italian Medical Faculties [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective analysis of hospital discharge records for cases of trichinellosis does not allow evaluation of disease burden in Italy

et al. 2019

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Human trichinellosis is a disease caused by nematode worms of the genus Trichinella. In Italy, as well as in most other European countries, notification of Trichinella infections in humans is mandatory; however, no information is available on the number of cases occurring annually. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the burden of trichinellosis in Italy from 2005 to 2016. Hospital discharge records (HDRs) showing the code for trichinellosis (124) were registered and screened. Results were then compared with yearly reports issued by the Italian National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella (NRLT), with reports from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and with literature data. A total of 102 HDRs revealed that the 124 code was erroneously reported in 72 (70.6%) records. Out of the 30 (29.4%) records with a correct diagnosis of trichinellosis, nine cases were reported by HDRs only, 21 cases were documented by both HDRs and the NRLT, whereas the NRLT documented 100 additional cases. In the studied period, the average yearly incidence was 0.01 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This study highlights the limitations of using HDRs to obtain a clear picture of the prevalence and incidence of trichinellosis in Italy. These findings demonstrate the need to intensify the surveillance system for trichinellosis through the development of an Italian registry. This would allow the identification of patients with severe infections and pauci-symptomatic patients, and would avoid the need for clinical analyses and unnecessary treatments, reducing the resulting economic burden on the Italian National Health Service.

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“…An additional factor that can contribute to the underestimation of cases due to missed or incomplete diagnosis is the general low level of knowledge of seafood parasitology among Italian medical doctors. In fact, in Italy as in other European countries, teaching parasitology to medical students is met with a decreasing level of interest [ 19 ]. The same factors causing underestimation of Anisakis spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human anisakiasis in Italy: a retrospective epidemiological study over two decades

et al. 2018

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A retrospective analysis on human anisakiasis in Italy since its first description in 1996 was performed by conducting a literature search. Inclusion criteria based on the presence of a larva and on parasite identification were applied. Epidemiological data and clinical features were analysed. Particular attention was paid to the source of infection. In total, 73 cases were included in the analysis, while 34 were excluded. Cases were reported from eight Italian regions, most frequently Abruzzo, Apulia and Latium. The parasite was detected by endoscopy (51.4%) or laparotomy (48.6%). The site of infection was intestinal (42.5%), gastric (43.8%), oesophageal (1.4%) or ectopic (12.3%). Most of the parasites (71.0%) were identified as Anisakis sp. or A. simplex (s.l.). However, when molecular methods were used (21 cases), A. pegreffii was always identified. In most of the patients (65.7%), the source of infection was raw or undercooked anchovies, followed by “anchovies or sardines” (15.1%), generic “raw seafood” (15.1%), and sardines (1.4%). In only 2 cases (2.7%), the source was not available. This is the first systematic analysis of Italian cases of anisakiasis. The main conclusions derived from the results are: i) attention should be given to the history, in particular when raw marinated anchovies, proven to be the main source of human anisakiasis in Italy, are consumed; ii) in order to assess correct epidemiological data, a confirmed and specific etiological identification should always be sought.

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How parasitology is taught in medical faculties in Europe? Parasitology, lost?

Cited by 13 publications

References 7 publications

Focus Group to Create a Virtual Case Study Model Unit for the Dmu E-Parasitology

Focus Group to Create a Virtual Case Study Model Unit for the Dmu E-Parasitology

Retrospective analysis of hospital discharge records for cases of trichinellosis does not allow evaluation of disease burden in Italy

Human anisakiasis in Italy: a retrospective epidemiological study over two decades

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