Three potential career paths for parasitologists
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Parasitology is a very wide field of veterinary science, offering many opportunities for aspiring veterinary parasitologists.
This line of employment entails working with various forms of parasites that attack domestic animals. Here are three potential career options you might like to consider...
Veterinary parasitology
As a veterinary parasitologist, you would study the parasites that affect companion animals and farm livestock. Your work would entail carrying out research into the relationships between the parasites and their hosts, as well as working on diagnosis and treatment of parasitological diseases.
Opportunities for this type of work can be found in animal hospitals and specialist research facilities.
This form of work is clearly specialised and salaries are generally higher than in more traditional veterinary roles.
Wildlife parasitology
If you are prepared to further your veterinary degree to pursue a specialist master’s degree in wildlife parasitology, you could focus on working with wild species.
A wildlife parasitologist works with wildlife managers in various industries to devise suitable methods of minimising the effect parasite activity can have on fish and endangered species in the wild.
Opportunities for this kind of work can be found with government departments, such as Defra, and fisheries organisations.
Immunoparasitology
If you find the idea of working to develop preventive veterinary medicines appealing, you might be interested in following a career as an immunoparasitologist.
This work would involve working on drugs to prevent parasite infestation of the host, rather than treating an existing infestation. Most roles in this field are found in research facilities and major pharmaceutical firms.
Conclusion
If you are seeking a career in veterinary science, but you do not fancy working as a veterinary surgeon per se, you might want to consider a more specialised role as a parasitologist.
Although this is a specialist role, there are vacancies available within university research departments, government agencies and pharmaceutical companies.
While it may necessitate extra work to gain the requisite qualifications, the extra would be worth it, considering these type of positions typically attract a much higher remuneration than standard vet jobs.