Veterinary Parasitology Mphil

Parasitology encompasses the biology, transmission, immunology, epidemiology and control of parasites of veterinary and medical importance. We study a range of parasitic diseases including zoonoses, as well as ticks and the diseases they transmit. Overview The University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health was established to bring together leading medical, veterinary and basic science researchers from across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. It also complements other strengths in Liverpool, including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, the Medicines for Children Research Network, and the Wellcome Trust Tropical Centre with its associated PhD programme. We also enjoy close and active collaboration with NHS colleagues through the Liverpool Health Partners Academic Health Science System. Our research interests We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers, including: The diagnosis, epidemiology and control of Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke), a trematode parasite and a major cause of production losses in sheep and cattle, and an emerging and serious zoonosis in some developing countries Anthelmintic resistance in liver fluke and gastrointestinal parasites of livestock, including mapping of drug resistance genes using genomic technology and population genetic studies Research themes Veterinary Parasitology research is based on two sites, the IC2 building on the main city campus and the Leahurst campus on the Wirral, 20 minutes away. Parasitic diseases are of major importance to the health and welfare of animals throughout the world. As relatively large and sophisticated pathogens, parasites present particularly intriguing and difficult challenges; many are also zoonotic, transmitted between animals and humans, affecting the health of both. We have a large, well-funded research team working on the temperate liver fluke parasite, Fasciola hepatica, the abortifacient protozoans Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, and the cyathostomins (the most significant group of gastro-intestinal nematodes affecting horses).