Parasites Without Boundaries

Catalog description

This course is intended to introduce students to concepts and considerations related to the spread, control, and eradication of infectious agents (including the potential ramifications of such actions). Students will explore ways in which artificially-designated boundaries, such as “domestic vs wild”, “animal vs human”, “town/state/country”, cannot contain, and in fact may help parasites gain entry into new environments and host populations. Especially as global temperatures, travel, and encroachment into wild habitats increase. Additionally, students will consider the roles that parasite plasticity, ecology, and food chains play in this context.