Concept featured in film:Microbiological Vectors

DVD: Chapters 20-21

Play Flickclip Here (Quicktime)

Summary of clip: Xan and Ripkuna are taking Duma back to the grasslands where he was found.  On their journey they are confronted with many dangers of nature.  During this clip Ripkuna recognizes the coming of a swarm of Tse Tse flies.  He wraps Xan up so that none of his skin is exposed however there is not enough to cover himself up too.  The two then need to find a place to build a fire as there are lions on the prowl and fire will keep them away.  Ripkuna is obviously starting to have effects from the TseTse fly bites and is swelling in the hands and face.  They build the fire but Xan knows that he needs to find help in order to save Ripkuna’s life…

Connection of flickclip to the concept: Tse Tse flies are vectors carrying trypanosomiases which causes sleeping sickness, a deadly disease.  A vector is an organism that does not cause the disease itself but it carries a disease from one host to another.   When the Tse Tse flies were able to bite Ripkuna, they were able to transport the trypanosomiases into him making him very sick with the disease. 

1. Suggested questions for students when viewing the clip:

a. Why did Ripkuna attempt to cover all exposed skin?

b. Were the flies out to attack the humans?   

c. Are humans the only ones that Tse Tse flies bite?  Why don’t other animals have the same effects?

d. What is causing Ripkuna to swell? Why is Xan not swelling?

 

2. Have the students name other vectors that they know.  Have them then split into groups and pick one of the vectors to learn more about them.  Each student should have their own job, i.e. research the agent that is being carried and causes the disease, research the original host of that vector, research the disease(s) caused by the agent (symptoms, prognoses, etc.), etc…  They should then represent their vector in a creative way; concept map, a play, a poster advertisement, etc…

 

3. Discuss with the class the current concerns with vectors, like West Nile, Malaria, Lyme Disease, Plague, etc.