The first workshop towards the control of cestode zoonoses in Asia and Africa

The coordinator, Akira Ito at Asahikawa Medical University (AMU) organized a symposium on cysticercosis at the 3rd Seminar on Food-borne Parasitic Zoonoses in Bangkok, 2000 [1]. From 2003, Akira Ito was recommended to establish leadership in science and technology in Asia through his research on cestode zoonoses by a special Japanese Governmental fund for three year project (2003-2005). Akira Ito set up an international symposium every year [2] and seminars for the transfer of technology through joint research projects on cestode zoonoses mainly in Asia and some in Africa. The first seminar was held in AMU from 17 Jan until 2 Feb 2004. We invited 10 guests from Inodonesia (4), Thailand (3), China (3) with international consultants from USA (Peter M Schantz, CDC), Australia (David D Jenkins, the President of Australian Society for Parasitologists) and UK (Philip S Craig, University of Salford, the coordinator for the WHO informal Working Group on Echinococcosis). The second one was held from 14 Sept until 1 Oct 2004. We invited 7 guests from Cameroon (2), Nepal (2), Vietnam (1), Philippines (1) and Australia (1). The third one was held from 17 Jan until 2 Feb 2006. Nine guests were from China (4), Indonesia (2), Philippines (1), Thailand (1) and France (1). The biggest program was to organize the international symposium entitled "Taeniasis/cysticercosis and echinococcosis with focus on Asia and the Pacific" held in the Asahikawa Grand Hotel on 5-8 July 2005. The proceedings of this meeting were published as a supplement of Parasitology International in 2006 [3]. All participants were invited to join together in Asahikawa with full support for travel expenses including air tickets, accommodation and living expenses. Approximately 100 researchers from 30 countries, including Japan, participated. Approximately 80 participants were foreign guests including experts from WHO, FAO and CDC. After this 3 year project, we received another 3 year project for the establishment o