NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Importância Médica das Espiroquetas Zoonóticas: Leptospira e Borrelia

Code

21223

Academic unit

NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Department

Medical Bacteriology

Credits

Teacher in charge

Doutora Maria Luísa Jorge Vieira

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

At the end of this Course the students should be able to:

Understand the (re) emergent character of Leptospirosis and Lyme Borreliosis, as zoonotic diseases of great impact on global health (situation in Portugal);

· Know the natural reservoirs (rodents) vs competence for the transmission of the main pathogenic species of Leptospira, and the species of vectors (ticks) involved in the transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l., and other borreliae;

· Know the main clinical manifestations in leptospirosis and Lyme borreliosis;

· Know and execute the main diagnostic laboratory techniques [screening and reference (confirmation) - serological, immunological and molecular], advantages and limitations;

Analyze and critically evaluate laboratory results and integrating them, in an epidemiological and clinical context;

· Know the main plans for prevention control and epidemiological surveillance;

· Know the current trends in the investigation of this thematic.

Prerequisites

n/a

Subject matter

- Lectures:

· Leptospires and borreliae vs leptospirosis and Lyme Borreliosis. Taxonomy and classification of spirochetes; reservoirs (rodents) and vectors (ticks); zoonotic cycles; transmission and evolution of different species of Leptospira and Borrelia;

· Spirochetoses: clinical and epidemiological perspective, distribution in the world and in Portugal; Advances in diagnosis, treatment and prevention;

Current challenges in Leptospirosis and Lyme Borreliosis research.

- Theoretical-practical classes:

Observation of spirochetes (dark field microscope), in vitro cultures;

Rodents (reservoirs) vs leptospirosis;

Vector-bacteria relationships and transmission mechanisms. Main genera of ticks vs transmission of Borrelia spp.

- Practical laboratory classes:

Morphological identification of vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l., (genera and species) with dichotomous keys;

· Execution of screening, reference and confirmation tests (laboratory diagnosis);

Molecular diagnostic and genomic identification (eg PCR-RFLP, RLB).

Bibliography

· Costa, F., Hagan. J.E., Calcagno, J., Kane, M., Torgerson, P., Martinez-Silveira, M,S, et al. (2015). Global Morbidity and Mortality of Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review. PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease 9(9):e0003898.

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003898

· Peacock, B. N., Gherezghiher T. B., Hilario, J. D., Kellermann, G. H. (2015). New insights into Lyme disease. Redox Biology, 5, 66-70.

doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2015.03.002

· Picardeau, M. (2013). Diagnosis and epidemiology of leptospiroses. Médecine et maladies infectieuses, 43, 19.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.medmal.2012.11.005

· Picardeau, M. (2015). Leptospirosis: Updating the Global Picture of an Emerging Neglected Disease, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(9): e0004039.

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004039

· Varma, M.R.G. (1993). Ticks and mites (Acari). Medical Insects and Arachnids. Lane, R.P. & Crosskey, R.W. eds., pp.597-658. Chapman & Hall, London, UK.

· Wang, G., Liveris, D., Mu kherjee, P., Jungnick, S., Margos, G., Schwartz, I. (2014). Molecular typing of Borrelia burgdorferi. Current Protocols Microbiology, 34, 12C.5.1-12C.5.31.

Teaching method

· Lectures (T) supported by slides and/or videos and bibliographic support - 10 hours of contact;

· Theoretical-practical classes (TP) supported by slides and/or videos - 6 hours of contact;

· Practical laboratory classes (PL) aimed at the implementation of several protocols for laboratory diagnosis of experimental situations and/or clinical cases, as well as case study investigation - 18 contact hours;

· roundtable (for discussion of laboratory results, including oral presentations by students) - 2 contact hours];

· activity supported with tutorial support (OT) and integrated in the evaluation - 2 contact hours;

· written evaluation - 2 contact hours.

Evaluation method

- Students with at least 2/3 of frequency, are continuously evaluated (attendance and active classes participation) and performance in laboratory work discussion on round table): 20%;

- short oral presentations: 30%;

- Final written test (multiple choice): 50%; Rating scale: 0 -20. Approval with rating equal to or greater than 10.

Courses

Master in Medical Microbiology