PDF File - The Indian Society for Parasitology

Address of President99of the world. While some of these infections, e.g., that the whole world is experiencing today, there aremalaria, kalazar and filaria require an insect vector for several diseases of parasite origin that are newlytheir transmission from one to the other host, others emerging or re-emerging with greater virulence thansuch as hookworm, Ascaris (the large intestinal round ever before in the present times. In the context of ourworm), whipworm and threadworm, may be soil or country, while malaria is making its ill presence morewater borne and transmitted through contaminated severely and at a larger scale, other protozoan diseasesenvironmental objects. Many worm infections prevail like leishmaniasis, amoebiasis, and helminthoses likein animal hosts, which, in turn, may become natural filariasis continue to remain unchallenged and causereservoirs of infection to human hosts. The nature and immense human suffering. Likewise, babesiosis,extent of worm types that occur in food-giving animals toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis and many more caused bylike fishes, frogs, poultry and livestock mammals worm infections severely affect the health of animaldepend on, and are influenced by, the ambient hosts, both aquatic and terrestrial.environmental factors and socio-cultural practicesprevailing in a region. I may cite as an example theAdvancement in structural biology, molecularcase of lungfluke infection. Paragonimus, a zoonoticbiology, immunology, biotechnology andlung fluke, has got considerable importance frombioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, metobolomicsveterinary, human parasitological and medical pointsetc. are, however, opening up newer vistas andof views because of its diversified effect on its finalproviding us newer tools to fight against the menace ofhost. The lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus haveparasites. Newer and simpler, field-oriented methodsbeen known as one of the most important zoonoticare becoming available to us for diagnostics,parasites causing paragonimiasis, also known assurveillance, therapeutics, prophylaxis and control.endemic haemoptysis, in man. The infection inApplication of molecular biology andhumans is a result of complex transmission cycle thatbiotechnological tools has given us a quantum jump inincludes two obligate intermediate hosts, a snail and aenhancing our understanding of the pathogen, itscrustacean or a crayfish, and a definitive mammaliantransmitter or vector, the disease and its epidemiology,host. It is estimated that over 20 million people areand diagnostics. In traditional medicine practicesinfected worldwide due to several species ofmany plants have their usage for getting rid of worm orParagonimus. Over 40 species are known to infect theother infections. Bioprospection of phytochemicalslung of different mammalian hosts throughout theisolated from traditionally used medicinal plants forworld, and approximately 15 species are known totheir antiparasitic efficacy seems to be a much desiredinfect humans. The best known and the most importantrather essential direction to follow in quest to searchspecies, distributed in Asia is P. westermani, a humanfor newer drugs.parasite that can undergo development in as many as Established in 1973 under the Societies Act XXI,16 different snail species and 50 crustacean species, 1860, The Indian Society for Parasitology (ISP) hasand a much larger range of paratenic hosts than any the major objectives of bringing parasitologists ofother trematode. This wide range of host adaptability different disciplines under one umbrella to advanceof the fluke together with the food habits of the host is knowledge in this vital area concerning human andregarded as the main reason for high rate of prevalence animal health. Over the years, the Society has carved aand endemicity of the parasite in different parts of the niche for itself by providing a common platform toglobe. Though the fluke is known to parasitize a wide research scientists, clinicians, field biologists,range of mammalian hosts representing as many as academicians and all others involved in parasitologyeleven families, the status of its prevalence, its host or tropical medicine to share and exchange theirrange and its possible reservoirs in nature from where knowledge and observations. It is my pleasure andthe human beings contract the infection is not well privilege to inform you that the Indian Society fordocumented in India.Parasitology is now a member of the World FederationResistance of the parasites and/or their vectors toof Parasitologists and is represented on the WFPdrugs, and antigenic variations expressed by theseExecutive Council as one of the ten members-at-large.pathogens compound the problems of treatment,The Society has over 600 life members at present.prophylaxis and control. Besides, simultaneouslySince 1981 onwards ISP has inducted 21 distinguishedwith changing scenario of the so-called development –parasitologists into its fellowship. Instituted in 1997industrial or otherwise, and resultant climate changeduring the golden jubilee year of our independence,