History of Parasitism in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: February 25, 2025

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another, the host, causing harm. Parasites are structurally adapted to this lifestyle. E.O. Wilson described them as predators consuming prey in sub-unit quantities. Examples span diverse groups: protozoans causing malaria, sleeping sickness and dysentery; animals like hookworms, lice, mosquitoes, and vampire bats; fungi such as honey fungus and ringworm agents; and parasitic plants like mistletoe, dodder, and broomrapes. This interaction benefits the parasite while negatively impacting the host.

1902: Publication of 'Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution'

In 1902, Peter Kropotkin's 'Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution' was published, influencing Lynn Margulis and others to suggest that natural selection can drive relationships from parasitism to mutualism in resource-limited conditions.

1902: Ronald Ross awarded Nobel Prize for malaria research

In 1902, Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on malaria, though controversially, Giovanni Battista Grassi's contributions were not recognized at the same time.

1903: David Bruce identifies parasite and vector of African trypanosomiasis

In 1903, David Bruce identified the protozoan parasite and the tsetse fly vector responsible for transmitting African trypanosomiasis.

1909: Carlo Emery proposes mechanism for social parasitism evolution

In 1909, Carlo Emery proposed a mechanism for the evolution of social parasitism. This is now known as "Emery's rule", which states that social parasites are typically closely related to their hosts, often in the same genus.

1979: Release of the film 'Alien'

In 1979, Ridley Scott's film 'Alien' was released, featuring a parasitic alien species, marking one of many science fiction works to explore this theme.

2013: Release of The Last of Us

In 2013, 'The Last of Us' video game series was released, presenting the Cordyceps fungus as a deadly parasite of humans, causing a zombie apocalypse.

2015: First licensed vaccine for parasitic disease

In 2015, RTS,S became the first and only licensed vaccine for any parasitic disease of humans, targeting Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

2022: Study reveals gender bias in naming of parasite species

A 2022 study found that over 80% of parasite species named after scientists were named after men, despite women representing about a third of parasite research authors. The study also noted an increase in species being named after relatives or friends of the author.