Parasitism in science fiction films and their use as a tool for the control of parasitic diseases
Keywords:
parasitism, host, science fiction, films, health programsAbstract
Introduction: parasitic diseases constitute an important public health problem due to their high morbidity, mortality and disabling potential in humans and because of their difficult control given the varied and complicated life cycles.
Objective: to present a reflection from the technical-scientific perspective of the applicability as material for sci-fi movie scripts, of the biological characteristics of several parasites that affect humans and animals in order to reduce or mitigate the health problem that for public health they represent the same.
Method: study based on the examination of a science fiction film and the documentary review on parasitic relationships based on synthetic-analysis, induction-deduction, observation and systemic approach.
Results: the following aspects emerge from the analysis: parasitism in science fiction and the parasite as a manipulator of host behavior.
Conclusions: some science fiction films focus unintentionally on the relations between parasite and host, as they make evident the parasitic manipulation of the host's behavior in search of increasing its transmission, therefore, the films can become an important element of the educational control programs, the role of cinema as an audiovisual medium for the success of health plans is reinforced.
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