Parasitology in East Germany--roots, period of the G.D.R., future

The paper starts with a historical reflection on the region and on famous scientific personalities which worked up parasitological problems on the territory of East Germany. Native scientists like J. L. Frisch, C. A. Rudolphi, R. Leuckart, A. C. Gerlach, R. Virchow, R. Koch, R. von Ostertag, W. Nöller, R. Wetzel made in fundamental contributions to the growth of knowledge in General and Special Parasitology. The parasitological institutions existing in East Germany are represented briefly. The parasitologists of East Germany, nearly 160,--biologists, physicians and veterinarians--among them more than 50 specialized parasitologists were associated in the Parasitological Society of the G.D.R. since 1961. A review is given of actual parasitological problems of agricultural and other domestic animals, fair game animals, of bees and freshwater fish as well as of the most important parasitoses of man frequent in East Germany, under the aspects of epidemiology, diagnosis and control. The rapid evolution of an intensive animal production under large scale management conditions required a permanent control of infestation with pathogenic protozoans, arthropods and helminths. Some selected results achieved in research and practice are represented. The epidemiological situation referring to parasitic zoonoses is favourable at present. Since 1970 a group of experts from East Germany working successfully in Mongolia on the systematic control of ectoparasites of farm animals together with Mongolian parasitologists. It is considered to be necessary to make an international agreement in parasitological research in future more than till now.