Intensive courses in mycology, parasitology and virology

The objectives of these Intensive courses in mycology, parasitology and virology are;

  • To expose microbiology, virology, clinical pathology, public health or infectious disease specialists to essential knowledge about communicable disease diagnosis, surveillance and outbreak response functions; and
  • To prepare microbiology, virology, clinical pathology, public health or infectious disease specialists to understand and efficiently access the reference laboratory and epidemiology resources of the NICD

The course series will cover the following topics:

Mycology

  • Focus on identification of medically important fungi, antifungal susceptibility testing, serological and molecular diagnostic testing and molecular epidemiology of medically important mycoses
  • Understanding of AIDS-related mycoses

Parasitology

  • Focus on important aspects of malaria
  • Understanding blood and tissue parasite diagnosis and identification
  • Understanding stool and urine parasite diagnosis and identification
  • Explore unusual and opportunistic parasitic infections

Virology

  • Discussions on advanced virology aspects of COVID-19
  • Understanding management, clinical and laboratory diagnostic aspects of viral haemorrhagic fevers, arboviral disease, influenza, influenza drug resistance and novel or emerging respiratory viruses (other than SARS-COV2) in cases of respiratory illness of unknown cause and viral enteric infections
  • Explore enteric viral disease classification, epidemiology, laboratory detection/typing, interventions and vaccines
  • Discuss key aspects of human papillomaviruses

Any candidates preparing for exams who require additional revision or with a particular interest can then decide to attend the 1-week intensive courses in mycology/parasitology and virology, tailored to complement the main 3-week course.

Parasitology: 24 – 26 October 2023 

Virology: 27, 30 – 31 October 2023  

Mycology: 01 – 03 November 2023 

All 3 disciplines will be face to face

Programme details for 2023 to follow

MBChB/MBBCh and registration as a trainee (registrar) in a specialist field in any of the following:

  • Medical Microbiology (for virology, mycology and parasitology courses)
  • Medical Virology (for virology course)
  • Clinical Pathology (for virology, mycology and parasitology courses)

Note: Senior registrars will be given preference

(NB: We have reached full capacity for the 2023 registrar training)

For mycology: Nelesh Govender
neleshg@nicd.ac.za

For parasitology :Charlotte Sriruttan
charlottes@nicd.ac.za 

For virology: Jacqueline Weyer
jacquelinew@nicd.ac.za