Biomedical

Parasites are organisms that benefit at the expense of a different organism known as the host. Parasitism of livestock causes major economic problems within the agriculture industry.

The Natural History Museum has the most comprehensive collection of parasites in the world, and our in-house experts are able to identify, survey and assess parasites of medical and veterinary importance.

We can offer assistance in:

human health impact assessments for proposed development projects, especially in the tropics
livestock health impact assessments for proposed agricultural development projects
health impact assessments can be combined with Natural History Museum expertise for environmental impact assessments
incrimination of vectors of human and livestock diseases, and development of control policy
development of methods for routine surveillance of organisms causing human and livestock parasitic disease
rapid identification of poisonous or toxic organisms
forensic entomology
identification of local expertise and institutions
general and tailored training in identification of arthropods of medical and veterinary importance

The Natural History Museum operates World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centres for Schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and leishmaniasis, and a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) collaborating centre for myiasis.