Visualization Technologies for Learning and Teaching Veterinary Acarology and Entomology.

Educational technologies are tools and resources used for improving teaching, learning, and creative inquiry. Visualization technologies (VTs) fall within this category and comprise a high diversity of strategies from simple infographics to complex forms of visual data analysis. Traditionally, parasitology has been a challenging subject in medical and veterinary degree courses due to the high number of scientific names, morphological characters, and complex life cycles, among other factors. This has been reinforced by conventional teaching methods with limited innovation strategies. Here we present the design and evaluation of an interactive album of veterinary acarology and entomology, "Álbum Interactivo de Acarología y Entomología Veterinaria" (AIAEV). This tool was assessed through three strategies: (1) a mean grade comparison between veterinary parasitology classes before and after VT implementation, (2) a system usability scale (SUS), and (3) a student/user satisfaction index. The grade value was higher in the class after implementation, the SUS total score was 80.05 (excellent), and 93.75% considered it a useful tool. This is the first study aimed at investigating the use of VTs to teach veterinary acarology and entomology and shows promising results to develop and implement digital technologies in this and other veterinary curricula disciplines.

Gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasites of working horses from Colombia.

Working equids are used in different countries for numerous purposes and regularly are crucial for multiple communities' income and profit. Historically, in Bogotá D.C. they were used as animal-powered vehicles but in 2013 it was initiated a substitution and adoption program as a result of society pressure and lawful processes. Infectious diseases and mainly parasitic diseases, poses a threat in the health and productivity of these animals. Our aim was to identify, by coproparasitological methods, the gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasite species infecting working horses submitted to the mentioned substitution and adoption program. Between May and December 2013 and February and July 2014, fresh faecal samples were obtained from 1004 and 648 horses from Bogotá D.C. and other Colombian municipalities, respectively. They were processed by flotation and Baermann tests in order to visualize faecal parasitic forms (eggs, oocysts, and larvae). Prevalences were calculated for each gastrointestinal parasite at origin and one year after, at destination, and analysed by age group and coinfection. At origin (Bogotá D.C.), prevalence for at least one parasite species was 87.5% and one year later, at destination (other municipalities), was 89.5%. The most prevalent species were strongyles (86.4-89.4%) followed by Parascaris spp. (0.7-6.2%), cestodes (Anoplocephalidae) (3.7-4.9%) and Oxyuris sp. (2.8-4.3%). Other species detected were Eimeria sp., Strongyloides sp. and Dictyocaulus sp. Coinfection by two or more species ranged between 14.4 and 38.3% being strongyle, Parascaris spp., Oxyuris sp. and cestodes (Anoplocephalidae) the most common species involved. Some parasitic infections commonly associated with younger animals (e.g. Parascaris spp.) were detected in all age groups. Flow patterns of parasites linking Bogotá D.C. and other municipalities are presented. Finally, these results support the widespread distribution of most of species and the plausible health and welfare impact of this infections in working equids submitted to particular epidemiological risks.