Objective:
The course aims to provide the students with knowledge of general and marine parasitology, the systematics and ecology of marine parasites, as well as on the ecological and environmental implications related to the study of parasites of marine organisms. The course also aims to furnish the students with knowledge of the modern scientific methodologies to be applied in the research field of marine parasitology, even included those most recently applied in the study of evolutionary aspects of host-parasite interaction.

Knowledge and skills of understanding:
Results concerning the expected acquired knowledge will mainly concern: biological aspects of marine parasites (systematics, life cycles, adaptive evolutionary aspects of the endo-ectoparasites, reproductive strategies, host-manipulation); methodological approaches in the study of marine parasites (collection and storing of parasites, integrative taxonomy, molecular systematics, phylogeny, genomics and transcriptomics, statistical analysis of epidemiological data); biodiversity (knowledge and recognition of the major systematic groups of parasites of marine organism, with particular concerns of the Mediterranean Sea). The acquired knowledge of the students will be assessed by written and/or oral and/or practical tests.

Applied knowledge and skills of understanding:
The aspects concerning the application of the knowledge that will be acquired include the ability to: i) analyze and identify the parasitic fauna of marine organisms; ii) orient the parasitological study in different contexts; iii) critically interpret the scientific contributions/publications in various fields of marine parasitology

4) Autonomy criticism
The exercise of critical analysis and the knowledge acquired on fundamental concepts and methodologies in parasitology will allow the ability to formulate autonomous personal evaluations.

5) Ability to learn
The knowledge acquired and the use of bibliographic sources can allow the application of learning methods to contexts other than those specifically dealing with in the course.