Historical trends among cestode research of vertebrates in the Philippines

Abstract

The study of cestodology has provided an increased understanding of global parasite epidemiology and has contributed to the decrease of human health risks caused by parasite infections. Research trends over past decades have proven that more species have yet to be discovered. An analysis of the trend of cestode studies among vertebrates in the Philippines is hereby presented in aspects of (1) peer-reviewed readership, (2) host taxa studied, (3) geographical distribution, and (3) target parasite species of interest. A survey of 182 publications in primary scientific and grey literature from 1904 to 2017 revealed that most studies were published locally. Likewise, a number of papers favored mammals, particularly humans, as the preferred vertebrate host of study. Looking into geographical distribution, a great number of publications focused on Luzon Island and was concentrated in Manila. Cestode species reported so far in the country belong to order Cyclophyllidea, with Taenia solium and T. saginata as the preferred species to be investigated. Looking into these, we suggest that a shift into the application of molecular systematics and biotechnology would further develop Philippine cestode research, given that the historical trend has focused on parasite discovery, identity, and classification. May this paper be a call to further fill the gaps in what is known about cestodes and other parasites in the Philippines, given the country’s potential for further discoveries.