Animal models in the study of the phenomenon of parasitism: filariae and other parasites.

The Round table has emphasized the absolute necessity of in vivo research showing the complexity of host reaction to the parasite. The results obtained in vitro can only provide a preliminary indication, because any interference with the culture is susceptible of changing the precarious balance of the parasite in that artificial environment. The subject proposed here cannot be treated wholly, but some particular topics could be discussed: 1--searching for appropriate models; 2--parasite strains; 3--some aspects on pathology and drug development; 4--vaccines; what significance in a natural host-parasite relationship can be gathered from a non-natural one?