Apicomplexa in farm animals

Apicomplexan parasites are a diverse group of protozoan organisms, which have acquired a parasitic lifestyle and infect vertebrates and non-vertebrates. Among apicomplexans are numerous species that are responsible for a variety of serious diseases in humans, companion animals and/or farm animals, and they are thus of outstanding medical and socio-economic importance. Apicomplexan parasites play a major role in food security and food safety, both of which represent pressing issues in light of the fact that the human population on a global scale is steadily increasing, and people must have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Apicomplexan parasites are an important economic constraint to the food and agricultural industries and represent a threat for the continuous sustainability of food supplies worldwide.

ApiCOWplexa is an informal network for scientists, veterinarians, students and others that are interested in apicomplexan parasites causing disease in farm animals, including Babesia, Besnoitia, Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Gregarina, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Theileria and Toxoplasma. The aim is to foster interactions and scientific exchange on a range of topics such as diagnostics, epidemiology and economic impact of these parasites, biodiversity and population genetics, functional -omics and bioinformatics, host-parasite interactions, vaccines and chemotherapeutical options.

Six ApiCOWplexa meetings have taken place so far (Lisbon 2012; Kusadasi 2013; Edinburgh 2015; Madrid 2017; Berlin 2019; Bern 2022). In average, about 50 oral communications and 50 posters were presented at each of these meetings. For details please see past meetings. Above all, these meetings have set the stage for informal scientific discussions and initiating cooperations.