Current usage of nomenclature for parasitic diseases, with special reference to those involving arthropods

Terminological confusion has been aggravated by efforts to develop a standa rdized nomenclature for parasitic diseases (SNOPAD) arising from the propos al by Kassai et al., 1988) for a standardized nomenclature of animal diseas es (SNOAPAD). To restabilize international nomenclature of parasitic diseas es it is recommended that, whenever appropriate. names should follow the 'I nternational Nomenclature of Diseases' (IND) compiled by the Council for In ternational Organizations for Medical Sciences (CIOMS/WHO, 1987). For disea ses not included in IND, familiarity should guide the choice of name: tradi tional English Language names of diseases should be preferred, e.g. 'malari a', 'scabies' or, for parasitic diseases having no traditional name, the ta xonomic name of the causative organism should be applied, e.g. 'Brugia timo ri microfilaraemia'; 'Plasmodium malariae infection'; 'Simulium allergy'-in stead of the generic derivatives proposed by SNOPAD, i.e. brugiosis, plasmo diosis and simuliidosis, respectively. For names of new diseases or those r arely mentioned, the suffix -osis would normally take precedence. Generally , the name of choice for any disease in any language should be the vernacul ar term, with commonest English usage preferred for international communica tion, and publications should include synonyms in the list of keywords.