Editorial

It is almost 100 years since Parasitology was founded by G. H. F. Nuttall, as a Supplement to the Journal of Hygiene. Volume 1, Number 1 was published in March 1908 by Cambridge University Press, with George Nuttall (Quick Professor of Biology at Cambridge), and Arthur E. Shipley (University Lecturer in the Advanced Morphology of the Invertebrates) as joint Editors. In an Introduction to the first volume the Editors stated “We trust that Parasitology will fulfil the purpose the editors have in view, of encouraging the study of parasitology, especially in relation to disease, providing a means for the publication of papers relating to pathogenic and disease-transmitting parasites …. It is therefore hoped that this publication will appeal not only to medical men at home and abroad but to veterinarians, zoologists and agriculturalists.”

By Volume 6, reference to Parasitology being a supplement to the Journal of Hygiene had disappeared, although subscribers to the latter could still receive Parasitology at the reduced rate of £1. 1s per volume. Shipley had been promoted to Reader in Zoology and Edward Hindley had been appointed Editorial Assistant.

Since its foundation, Parasitology, in common with many other journals, has undergone a number of changes to meet more effectively the needs of its authors and readers, fulfilling the aims of the journal, and publishing good and interesting science across the broad spectrum of parasitology. For example, the journal has been available online, in Cambridge Journals Online, since 1997, and will shortly be publishing individual articles as soon as they are ready. The latest significant development was announced in May of this year when the journal began to accept submissions via the Web. In addition to continuing to receive manuscripts as hard-copy, authors are now encouraged to submit papers electronically, via the Journal's online submission system.

Full instructions for online submission can be found at the web site by clicking on the link ‘Instructions and Forms’ in the top right of the screen, and downloading the ‘Author Submission Instructions’ PDF file on the following screen. The online submission site is accessed by Username and Password. Authors wishing to submit a new manuscript will have to register themselves on the site first; to do this click on the ‘Create a New Account’ button and follow the online instructions. If users are uncertain whether they have registered before, they should first check to determine whether they are already registered by clicking on the ‘Check for Existing Account’ button and following the on-screen instructions – complications can arise where duplicate accounts are created. To submit a manuscript online, authors will need: the manuscript file(s) – a wide range of formats is acceptable, an email address and Adobe Acrobat® Reader™ (which can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.adobe.com/).

The Web-based system will allow authors to submit their manuscripts at any time, from virtually anywhere in the world, and to track their progress through the editorial process. CUP is making no additional charges to authors for using electronic submission. It is hoped that the main benefits of the process will be a saving of time and an acceleration of the decision-making process and eventual publication.