The future of veterinary parasitology: a time for change?

The future of veterinary parasitology is discussed at a time when R&D fundi ng from the pharmaceutical industry is declining, yet the opportunities for veterinary parasitologists to diversify their activities has never been gr eater. Emerging and re-emerging areas requiring input from veterinary paras itologists include: veterinary public health; conservation and wildlife dis eases; emerging and exotic infectious diseases; surveillance strategies; ec onomic effects of parasitic diseases; aquaculture; molecular epidemiology; dietary and biological control of parasitic diseases; animal welfare; organ ic agricultural systems; novel vaccination strategies; drug target characte risation and rational drug design. Without change, the survival of veterina ry parasitology as a viable, distinct discipline is under threat. In this e nvironment, veterinary parasitologists must be adaptable, imaginative and p ro-active in terms of setting the agendas for establishing strategic allian ces, promoting research needs and developing research programs. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.