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Acta Parasitologica, Vol.46, No. 1, 2001, 58-62
Borgsteede Fred H. M. - Parasites on stamps: where parasitology meets philately.

Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad), P.O. Box 65 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands
Address for correspondence: Tel.: +31.320.238086, Fax: +31.320.238050, E-mail: f.h.m.borgsteede@id.wag-ur.nl;
ABSTRACT

This paper describes stamps on which animal parasites or matters associated with parasitism, including persons who have studied aspects of parasitology, have been depicted. Within these limits, 682 stamps are dedicated to parasitology. The first was issued in 1939 (Mexico). The majority of the stamps (399 = 58.5%) have been issued in 1962. In that year the World Health Organisation launched an international campaign for the eradication of malaria. Stamps dedicated to this campaign have been issued by 110 countries. Other protozoans on stamps are African and South American trypanosomes (17 resp. 1), Babesia (5), Giardia (4), Leishmania (4) and Theileria (1). Metazoan parasites are represented by helminths and arthropods. Two stamps have echinococcosis as subject and three schistosomosis. Filariid nematodes (Onchocerca and Dracunculus) are found on 19 stamps. Ancylostoma caninum, Ascaris suum, Dispharynx nasuta and Haemonchus contortus have each one stamp. The most frequently depicted arthropods are ticks (13), but the horse bot Gasterophilus intestinalis, the myiasis causing fly Lucilia sericata and the Varroa mite also have their stamp. Forty one different persons who have worked on parasites have been honoured by stamps. Some stamps have been related to the control of parasitic infections (medicines, insecticides, bed nets etc.) and a few were issued at the occasion of congresses.


KEY WORDS: stamps, philately, parasitology, protozoans, helminths, arthropods
Page compiled by Aleksander H.Kedra. Last modification: 08-03-2001