Tropical parasitology and entomology

Tropical entomology

• General introduction. Tropical climates. Overview of insects and other arthropods, with emphasis on groups important for agriculture or health.

• Overview of chemical and alternative control methods.

• Generalist pests (or auxiliaries): mites, sap-sucking insects, generalist moths, migratory locusts, social insects. Biology, action on crops, economic importance, control methods.

• Case studies of management of insects of agricultural importance: pests of major cereals, of grain and stored products, of tropical fruit orchards, of palms, of tropical forestry.

• Agents and vectors of tropical diseases (myases, malaria, arboviruses, filariae,...). Biology, public health problems, control.

Tropical parasitology

Main parasite infections encoutered in tropical countries (e.g., malaria, amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, taeniasis, geohelminth infections, trypanosomiases): description of the parasite, its life cycle, transmission modes, main symptom of illness, epidemiological data and prophylaxis.

This unit is composed of 2 parts, tropical entomology (Prof. Yves Roisin) and tropical parasitology (Prof. Carine Truyens).

The main objective of the tropical entomology part is to pinpoint and illustrate, through case studies, the diversity of insect pest problems and control methods in tropical regions. Integrated pest management (IPM) and other control methods allowing a reduction in the use of environmentally harmful insecticides will be emphasized. Beneficial actions of insects (e.g., as pollinators, ecosystem engineers, or agents of biological control) will also be outlined.

As for tropical parasitology, the objective is to acquire knowledge about the main parasite infections encoutered in tropical countries (amongst which malaria, amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, taeniasis, infection with geohelminths, Chagas disease, sleeping sickness). For each one, description is given of the parasite, its life cycle, transmission modes, main symptoms, epidemiological data and prophylaxis, in order for the student to “recognize” such diseases and know which factors they have to pay attention to to avoid contracting them.

Entomology : magistral courses + personal essay: students will be asked to collect relevant information about a current or recent situation involving insects as crop or forest pests, disease agents or vectors, or biological control agents, and present a written and oral synthesis of the case

Parasitology : magistral courses + blended learning/ flipped classroom. Students will be asked to prepare, by groups of 3, a PowerPoint presentation (20-25 slides) on a tropical parasitic disease (presentation of the parasite, life cycle, transmission ways, epidemiology, prophylaxis...), allowing them to underline a point that particularly interest them according to their cursus. They will have to choose in a list that will be submitted to them. They can find information in the slides of the course, are available on UV or everywhere else. They will present their ppt to the class and the subject will be discussed together.

Contribution au profil d'enseignement

M-BIOR

1- To build up, maintain and develop knowledge in the field of biological sciences.

1.1. Reinforce knowledge in biology to use them in a basic scientific approach as well as in an applied perspective.

1.6. Understand physiological, chemical and behavioural mechanisms which govern relationships between living beings and their environment, especially to ensure their protection or control in an applied perspective.

2- To provide scientific expertise to resolve problems

2.1. Observe a biological system in the lab or in the field and derive relevant information from it to resolve problems.

4- To communicate in a rigorous scientific language adapted to the context and public

4.3. Write a report presenting a scientific question, models and techniques utilized and results obtained, according to scientific standards.

M-IRBA

To master, explore and make use of scientific, technical and technological knowledge related to biological engineering and agronomy, applicable to temperate or tropical regions, based on state-of-the-art research in the fields of: entomology, parasitology and biological invasions; animal behaviour; ecosystemic diversity.

To conceive, adapt and propose innovative technological, scientific and operational solutions, adapted to the living world, in the framework of complex problems related to agronomy, from the lab to the ecosystem level: participating to the solving of economical problems related to the agricultural sector, integrating analytical, technical and scientific aspects.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

Crop Protection Compendium (CD-set). CABI, Wallingford, UK.

Handbook of Pest Management in Agriculture (3 volume-set). D. Pimentel (editor). CRC Press, 1981.

Pests of Crops in Warmer Climates and Their Control. D.S. Hill. Springer Verlag, 2008.

Web:

FAO: http://www.fao.org/index_fr.htm

Contacts

Yves Roisin (coordinator) Yves.Roisin@ulb.ac.be

Carine Truyens ctruyens@ulb.ac.be

Campus

Plaine

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Autre

Autre

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

Global mark: 50% for entomology, 50% for parasitology.

Note that a mark <08/20 for either part will result in failure (F mark) for the whole unit. Students with a global F mark will have to resit the part(s) for which their mark is <10/20.

Entomology: 50% oral evaluation of general knowledge of entomology chapters of the magistral course- 50% evaluation of personal essay: written report and oral presentation.
Parasitology:  the mark will be calculated as follow : 50% for the presentation, 50% for the written exam. In case of 2nd session, the mark of the presentation will be retained.
 

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais
• français