INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY
Medical Parasitology is the branch of science that studies "Parasites infecting human & Diseases caused by these parasites" Medical parasitology is broadly divided into: Protozoology – Study of protozoa (single-celled parasites) Helminthology – Study of parasitic worm 1681 – Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (Holland) Introduced the single-lens microscope First observed Giardia in his own stool 1870 – Louis Pasteur Published the first scientific study on protozoal disease His work helped in understanding disease control and prevention 1878 – Patrick Manson Discovered the role of mosquitoes in filariasis First evidence of vector transmission 1880 – Alphonse Laveran (Algeria) Discovered the malarial parasite 1897 – Ronald Ross (India: Secunderabad & Calcutta) Proved transmission of malaria by mosquitoes After these discoveries, many vector-borne diseases were identified. Modern Era By the mid-20th century , m...