Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health
Characteristics of the department
The Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health consists of the Workplace of Epizootiology and the Workplace of Parasitology. Epizootology, infectology and parasitology belong to the scientific disciplines with the most dynamic development. In recent decades, a decline of major infectious animal diseases has been recorded thanks to prevention and elimination of diseases, and general progress in medical and biological sciences. On the other hand, the epizootiological situation in regions, states or continents is complicated by the occurrence of selected and new infectious diseases. Extensive international trade contributes to the globalization of many infectious diseases, leading to an increased risk of introducing exotic diseases.
Epizootiology focuses on the study, epizootiological analysis, and risk assessment of selected infectious diseases of productive, companion and wildlife animals. The study of the properties of classical and newly discovered etiological agents of infectious diseases of animals involves the study of their pathogenesis and mutual synergistic interactions. In the diagnosis of infectious diseases, the workplace uses the latest molecular genetic methods, microorganism identification methods, viral genome analysis, and genetic typing of viruses. Great attention is focused on the prevention and reduction of infectious diseases of animals and improvement of immunoprophylaxis methods, which brings significant economic benefits and enhances animal welfare. The relationships between infectious diseases of animals and humans are studied and analysed. Thus, the workplace contributes significantly to ensuring public health of the human population.
Parasitology belongs to rapidly developing scientific disciplines. By introducing new methods of study at the cellular level, it contributes to diagnosis of animal and human parasitic diseases. Parasitic diseases of farm and companion animals cause annual losses in the hundreds of thousands. The study of parasitology focuses on comprehensive understanding of parasite-host relationships at all levels (morphological, physiological, genetic, molecular, and in the terms of pathogen transmission by parasitic arthropods). The aim of this study is to prepare graduates to be able to correctly diagnose and solve parasitological problems at both the individual and herd levels, which ultimately leads to the provision of healthy animal breeding and food production.