Preface

 Malaria, transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquitoes, is still a public health problem bestriding the world like a Colossus. It continues to burden our global society as a deadly scourge and formidable foe. It's a global disease affecting approximately half of the world population today. The struggle against malaria in developing countries, which is rivalled only by Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Tuberculosis as the world's most pressing health problem constitutes an important challenge for the twenty-first century. Malaria is in fact the most important and widespread of the tropical deadly diseases where it exacts a heavy toll of illness and death on children and pregnant women. Nevertheless, the field of malaria research is rapidly expanding globally.

However, there are still some challenges in the control of malaria parasite among the hurdles of research in the field. For instance, the emergence of resistance to conventional antimalarial drugs and insecticides means that new chemotherapeutic approaches with alternative targets are needed. Better understandings of antimalarial drugs and the biology of the parasites are needed to allow the development of new medications. In vector control, Anopheline vectors of malaria consists of various species and hence differing behavior associated with their biting activities and hence transmission dynamics. Looking at the bright side, the battle line against malaria appears to have been drawn looking at the quality, scope, intensity and wealth of research from several parts of the world.

This book has been compiled based on contributions by group of scientists from diverse parts of the world with diverse research experiences on malaria parasites. These contributors had been carefully selected based on their wealth of experience. The chapters give a panoramic view of the subject revealing the complex interrelationship and ramifications of the malaria problem and efforts at its control.

This concise, diversified and intriguing masterpiece on malaria parasites is what every scientist or anybody interested in malaria should have in the shelf. Malaria is everybody's business! The book is unique because it is the update and progress made from different parts of the world on malaria parasites and from different angles. It is therefore a substantial contribution to the field of malariology. These overall efforts

#### X Preface

when juxtapose calls for more research and new development and gives reasons to believe that malaria may be conquered in the near future.

**Dr Omolade O. Okwa (Assoc .Prof)** 

Department of Zoology: Parasitology Unit Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria

X Preface

when juxtapose calls for more research and new development and gives reasons to

**Dr Omolade O. Okwa (Assoc .Prof)**  Department of Zoology: Parasitology Unit Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Lagos,

Nigeria

believe that malaria may be conquered in the near future.

**Part 1** 

**Introduction and Biology of Malaria** 
