title: History of Medical Parasitology and Parasitic Infections in Iran.
abstract: Parasites and parasitic diseases have been prevalent in Iran according to Iranian ancient scholars and physicians' inscriptions dating back to 865-1496. Some protozoan diseases such as malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis have been introduced by clinical manifestations and helminthic infections by size and morphology of the worms. Scientific studies of Parasitology started in Iran from 1833, first by foreign physicians and continued from 1909 by Iranian researchers. The pioneer medical parasitologists of Iran were Dr N. Ansari and Dr. Sh. Mofidi who established the Department of Medical Parasitology in the School of Medicine, University of Tehran, 1939. Afterward, a considerable number of researchers and professors of parasitology have been active in training and research works in the fields of medical parasitology throughout the entire nation. At present, some significant parasitic diseases such as bilharsiasis and dracunculiasis are more or less eradicated and malaria is in the elimination phase. The prevalence of most helminthic infections has considerably decreased. Most of the departments of medical Parasitology in Iran are active in training MD, MSPH and PhD students. The Iranian Society of Parasitology established in 1994 is active with many eligible members and its creditable publication, the Iranian Journal of Parasitology, published seasonally since 2006. From 1833, when the scientific studies of Parasitology have started in Iran up to 2013, many researchers have been done on various fields of medical Parasitology and parasitic diseases in Iran and 2517 papers in English and 1890 papers in Persian have been published in national and international scientific journals. In addition, more than 420 books related in the field of medical parasitology field have been published in Persian language.
authors.affiliation: 1)Iranian Society of Parasitology, Tehran, Iran. 2)School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3)Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4)Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamhossein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edrissian
authors.affiliation: 1)Iranian Society of Parasitology, Tehran, Iran. 2)School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3)Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4)Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rokni
authors.affiliation: 1)Iranian Society of Parasitology, Tehran, Iran. 2)School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3)Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: 1)Iranian Society of Parasitology, Tehran, Iran. 2)School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3)Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nateghpour
authors.affiliation: 1)Iranian Society of Parasitology, Tehran, Iran. 2)School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3)Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mowlavi
authors.affiliation: Iranian Academy of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Moslem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahadori
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000266:history*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000266:history*; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*