Course outline

According to the World Health Organisation, about 10% of the total global health burden relating to disease is due to diseases transmitted (wholly or partly) by arthropod vectors or caused by arthropod allergens. For many of these diseases vector control remains the major strategy available for reducing incidence rates. The effective use of today's vector control tools and the development of novel methods of targeting vectors both depend on specialist expertise in vector biology and identification, which this course aims to provide. Students on the course will receive training from internationally renowned medical entomology staff at both the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Natural History Museum in London, as well as invited external speakers. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate (1) a broad understanding and practical experience of a range of techniques used in the identification and incrimination of arthropod vectors, allergens and snail intermediate hosts, and (2) a knowledge and understanding of current research progress in aspects of vector behaviour, vector ecology, and vector-parasite interactions. The focus is on aspects directly relevant to the epidemiology and control of vector-borne diseases. This course is designed for entomologists, parasitologists and epidemiologists, especially those working (or planning to work) in vector control programmes as well as those aiming for a research career in vector biology.

The main objectives are to make the students aware of: Key aspects in vector behaviour and ecology and vector-parasite interactions; How these features impact on the epidemiology and control of vector-borne diseases; The importance of accurate vector identification in surveillance and control; Appropriate sampling methods for the major groups of vectors; Practical entomological techniques used in vector identification and incrimination, and in the study of vector competence, behaviour and ecology; The need to critically evaluate relevant scientific literature, and The skills required to design a related research project.

Teaching will be through lectures, laboratory practicals, a student 'journal club' for discussions, and small group work for developing research proposals on selected topics related to the course. In addition, visits will be made to other research institutions working on vector behaviour and/or vector-parasite interactions. Students will undertake a 1-week research project at NHM on vector biology or identification, closely supervised by specialist staff from the Departments of Entomology and Zoology. For the project, students are encouraged to bring insect material from their home country for identification and analysis.

The course will cover a range of topics pertinent to the biology and identification of all the major vector groups (mosquitoes, sandflies, tsetses, triatomines, blackflies, midges, ticks, mites, fleas and lice) and intermediate snail hosts, including: Morphological keys; DNA techniques for vector identification; Cytotaxonomy; Trapping techniques (light traps, sticky traps, tsetse traps); Isolating house dust mites from dust samples; Incrimination techniques (dissection of infected vectors, ELISA and PCR); Teachniques for ageing insects; Daily biting and circadian activity rhythms; Host selection, location and bloodfeeding behaviour; ; Insect digestion and excretion; Mating behaviour and pheromones; Oviposition behaviour and learning; Larval competition; and density dependence; Seasonality, overwintering and diapause.; Determinants of vector competence and vector-parasite specificity; Effects of parasites on behaviour and Vectorial capacity.

A draft time table is available on request from the Course Organisers. This is subject to change.

Methods of assessment

Participants will be required to complete the following assessments:

• A one hour practical test and a one hour short answer test concerning vector sampling, identification and incrimination
• A written presentation of a research proposal, in the form suitable to submit to a named grant funding agency, addressing an aspect of vector biology or vector-parasite interactions
• A 1-week project focusing on vector identification.

A certificate of attendance will be provided on completion of the course.

Who should apply for the course?

The course is open to all applicants with either a Second-class Honours degree of a recognised university in science, or a related subject, or a degree in medicine. Applicants with an appropriate technical qualification and work experience, or equivalent qualifications, are also welcomed. If an applicants first language is not English or their studies at university have not been conducted wholly in the medium of English, they will be required to obtain an acceptable score in an approved English Language test. The School has approved certain English tests.