The Nordic and Baltic countries have a strong tradition and world-recognized position in veterinary parasitology, particularly in the area of livestock and to a lesser extent in companion animals. The institutions involved have a large number of Ph.D. students, but with the increasing demands on the performance of students with regards to their research and thesis work within a relatively narrow field, the need for more general but at the same time advanced courses is growing, particularly concerning the newest developments within diagnosis and therapy. This knowledge should stimulate new ideas within the individual students Ph.D. project, but is also very important for their future recruitment as researchers and advisors in diagnostic laboratories/industry and as teachers at universities.

The consortium behind the present application has in 2003-5 held successfully annual graduate courses in advanced veterinary parasitology with the following themes:
1. Sustainable control of nematode parasites in ruminant livestock (Sweden, 2003)
2. Epidemiology and sustainable control of parasites in pigs, poultry and horses (Denmark, 2004)
3. Nordic postgraduate course on parasitic zoonoses (Finland, 2005)

Following graduate courses has been planned for 2008-10: Each year it will have a specific focus.
2008: Diagnostic measures and research methodologies applied in parasitic infections of domestic animals (e.g. individual and group/herd diagnosis, traditional parasitological methods, immunodiagnostics, molecular methods in diagnosis and research)(Sweden)
2009: Basic epidemiology, impact and pathogenicity (e.g. epidemiology of endo- and ectoparasitic infections, pathogenesis and pathology, study designs, statistical interpretation of results)(Finland/Norway)
2010: Prevention and treatment of parasitic infections, including securing food safety (e.g. principles of prevention in livestock, sustainable parasite control, methods of surveillance and monitoring, parasiticides – mode of action, spectrum of activity, resistance, administration and treatment regimes)(Denmark)