Year: 2024
Type: editorial
Abstract: arasitology is increasingly neglected in teaching and research in medical schools, particularly in highand middle-income countries, leading to a loss of awareness and knowledge.This might cause problems in the diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases (1).It is a shame because parasites still pose a very important threat to humans and animals.(2).Especially in low-income countries (LICs) and among migrants and travelers.It is even more serious when governments think parasites are under control.For example, intestinal helminths are responsible for billions of infections worldwide, with a significant impact on human health, in terms of mortality and loss of disability-adjusted life years (1), especially in LICs where they can exacerbate malnutrition, with important health consequences including the psychological and physical growth of children (3).One of the objectives of this journal is to keep you informed of developments in the field of: (i) vector-borne parasites; (ii) water-borne parasites and (iii) food-borne parasites.All aspects of parasites are covered, but emphasis is placed on their impact on public health.Many parasitic infections are zoonotic, i.e. transmitted between animals and humans, and are therefore difficult to combat (Possibly holistic "One Health" can be used) (4,5).Understanding the life cycle of parasites, their influence on the host, and evasion of immune defence, will help in understanding autoimmunity and tolerance, as well as response to other infections, and symbiosis between organisms (6).Parasites need to infect a host and for this they developed various strategies.For some, this is a direct life cycle, where the parasite moves from one member of the host species to another during the infectious phase of the life cycle.Other parasites have more complex life cycles, known as indirect life cycles that involve intermediate host species before ultimately transferring to the definitive host (7).
DOI: 10.34172/ijmpes.4161
Author: Bernard Naafs
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4401658261