Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The future of veterinary parasitology: a time for change?
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Thompson, R C
- Affiliation:
- Murdoch University · Australia
Plain-English summary
The field of veterinary parasitology, which focuses on diseases caused by parasites in animals, is facing challenges due to a decrease in funding from pharmaceutical companies. However, there are many new opportunities for veterinary parasitologists to expand their work into areas like public health, wildlife diseases, and new infectious diseases. They can also contribute to animal welfare, organic farming, and the development of new vaccines and treatments. To ensure the future of this specialty, it's important for veterinary parasitologists to be flexible and proactive in forming partnerships and addressing research needs. Overall, the discipline needs to adapt to survive and thrive in changing times.
Abstract
The future of veterinary parasitology is discussed at a time when R&D funding from the pharmaceutical industry is declining, yet the opportunities for veterinary parasitologists to diversify their activities has never been greater. Emerging and re-emerging areas requiring input from veterinary parasitologists include: veterinary public health; conservation and wildlife diseases; emerging and exotic infectious diseases; surveillance strategies; economic effects of parasitic diseases; aquaculture; molecular epidemiology; dietary and biological control of parasitic diseases; animal welfare; organic agricultural systems; novel vaccination strategies; drug target characterisation and rational drug design. Without change, the survival of veterinary parasitology as a viable, distinct discipline is under threat. In this environment, veterinary parasitologists must be adaptable, imaginative and pro-active in terms of setting the agendas for establishing strategic alliances, promoting research needs and developing research programs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11516578/