[The current status of and outlook for the development of parasitology in the 21st century].

The history of parasitology (mainly helminthology) from antiquity to the present day is briefly outlined. Advances in parasitology and helminthology in the second half of the 20th century are elucidated. The biological methods and techniques of control, chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis, the design of molecular vaccines and the breeding of animals and plants resistant to parasites appear to be promising trends of scientific search in the nearest tens of years. The components of scientific progress will be the methods of research, biotechnology, bioinformation science, and biomathematics in the 21st century.