Parasitology is the study of parasites and their interactions with hosts and the environment. Parasites are among the most diverse groups of organisms on Earth and play fundamental roles in ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, evolution, disease ecology and One Health. Understanding parasite diversity, life cycles and host–parasite interactions is essential for wildlife conservation, fisheries, veterinary science, public health and ecosystem management.
The WRG has established Africa's leading parasitology research programmes, with internationally recognised expertise in parasite biodiversity, integrative taxonomy, systematics, ecology, evolution, conservation biology and One Health. The group's research spans freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, investigating parasites of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. By integrating classical morphology, molecular biology, phylogenetics, ecology, environmental DNA (eDNA) and advanced microscopy, the WRG investigates parasite diversity, host–parasite interactions, parasite life cycles, disease ecology and environmental change. Particular strengths include biodiversity discovery, hidden biodiversity associated with parasites, environmental parasitology, fish and wildlife health, parasite conservation and the application of innovative approaches—including Indigenous Ecological Knowledge—to better understand parasite diversity and ecosystem functioning.
By combining biodiversity discovery with ecology, conservation science and One Health, the WRG uses parasites not only to understand biodiversity, but also to inform ecosystem management, environmental stewardship and the conservation of healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Parasitology research undertaken within the WRG includes:
- Parasite biodiversity surveys and species discovery.
- Integrative taxonomy using morphology, molecular systematics and phylogenomics.
- Parasite ecology, evolution and host–parasite interactions.
- Parasite life-cycle elucidation.
- Fish, amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal parasitology.
- Wildlife health, fish health and aquatic disease investigations.
- Blood parasites and vector-borne diseases.
- Environmental parasitology and parasites as indicators of ecosystem health.
- Parasite conservation, hidden biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas.
- One Health and emerging infectious diseases.
- Molecular diagnostics, environmental DNA (eDNA) and population genetics.
- Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in parasite biodiversity research.
Current project(s)
Title: PurSUiT: Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Fish-Parasitic Gnathiid Isopods on Coral Reefs
Grant: National Science Foundation (NSF) (USA)
Project leaders: Prof. PC Sikkel (University of Miami, USA); Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: US$ 2,295,546 for 15/03/2023–14/03/2028
Collaborators: Prof. KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa), Dr R Xavier (University of Porto, Portugal), Dr A Grutter (The University of Queensland, Australia), Prof NL Bruce (Queensland Museum, Australia)
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
Title: PurSUiT: Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Apicomplexan Blood Parasites Infecting Coral Reef Fishes.
Grant: National Science Foundation (NSF) (USA)
Project leaders: Prof. PC Sikkel (University of Miami, USA); Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: US$ 1,380,006 for 01/01/2026–31/12/2030
Collaborators: Prof. CA Cook (North-West University, South Africa), Dr R Xavier (University of Porto, Portugal), Dr. Javier del Campo (IBE, Spain), and Dr. Patrick Keeling (UBC, Canada).
Title: Integrating Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) into fish parasite taxonomy to support inclusive biodiversity research.
Grant: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa
Amount awarded: R 1.6 million from January 2026 to December 2028
Project leader: Prof. K Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Collaborators: Prof. Wynand Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa); Dr Fortunate Phaka (North-West University, South Africa); Dr Hannes Erasmus (University of Zululand, South Africa)
Completed projects:
Title: REFRESH: Renewing data and filling knowledge gaps for freshwater species of South Africa
Grant: National Research Foundation FBIP Large Grant - No: 136341 - REFRESH
Project leader: Prof. Albert Chakona (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity)
Amount awarded: Amount allocated to the NWU = R 1 719 000
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa), Prof. KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa), Prof W Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
2023 REFRESH Parasite Conservation
2025 REFRESH Parasite fieldwork
Title: Fish parasitic isopods.
Grant: Taxonomy Award from the Nippon Foundation - Nekton Ocean Census programme
Amount awarded: US $5 200 for October 2024 to March 2025
Project leader: Prof. K Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
2026 Species Discovery Workshop, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Title: Current status and future predicted distribution patterns of bilharzia transmitting snails and implications for vector-borne diseases in South Africa.
Grant: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa
Project leader: Dr L de Necker (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 2 235 000 for April 2020 to March 2024
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa), Dr W Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa), Prof R Burger (North-West University, South Africa); Dr D Cilliers (North-West University, South Africa)
Title: Development of an eDNA approach as a novel technique for the early detection of aquatic fungal disease causing agents in the environment.
Grant: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa
Project leader: Dr M Laubser (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 1 285 000 for April 2020 to March 2023
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. C Weldon (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. OLF Weyl (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa), Dr KW Christison (Department of Environment and Fisheries, South Africa)
Title: The role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the conservation of hidden biodiversity aka marine fish parasites. (Incentive funding for NRF rated researchers - B3 Rating).
Grant: National Research Foundation, South Africa
Project leader: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 480 000 for January 2017–December 2022
Collaborators: Prof. B Sures (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany); Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA); Prof. NL Bruce (Queensland Museum, Australia); Prof. V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa); Dr KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
Title: The phylogeny, taxonomy and biodiversity of a neglected group of parasites, the apicomplexan haemoprotozoans of fishes.
Grant: National Research Foundation, South Africa
Project Leader: Dr CA Cook (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount Awarded: R300 000 for January 2020–December 2022
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA); Dr SP Lawton (Kingston University, UK); Dr P Hayes (University of Westminster, UK)
Title: Biodiversity and ecological effects of Cymothoid Isopods from Southern Africa.
Grant: National Research Foundation, South Africa
Project Leader: Dr KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount Awarded: R300 000 for January 2020–December 2022
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. NL Bruce (Queensland Museum, Australia); Dr PT Aneesh (University of Kerala, India); Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA); Dr CW Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa); Dr CC Reed (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
Title: Unravelling the diversity of ecto-parasites (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) of selected fish hosts from Marine Protected Areas in South Africa.
Grant: The Marine Research Grant Programme (MARG) via Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)
Project Leader: Dr AA Acosta (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount Awarded: US $9 865 for August 2021 to July 2022
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa); Dr KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Title: The effects of fishing pressure on abundance and diversity of fish micropredators in a biodiversity hotspot.
Grant: National Geographic Society
Project Leader: Ms MO Shodipo (Silliman University, Philippines)
Amount Awarded: US $5 492 for 2018
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA)
Title: The taxonomy, biodiversity and molecular characterisation of the fish parasitic isopods from the family Cymothoidae from the Western Indian Ocean.
Grant: The Marine Research Grant Programme (MARG) via Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)
Project Leader: Dr KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount Awarded: US $6 000 for August 2016–July 2017
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa); Dr NL Bruce (Queensland Museum, Australia)
Title: Parasites of commercial fishes of Moreton Bay: a multi-disciplinary analysis of diversity.
Grant: National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP) of the Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
Amount Awarded: Aus $90 000 from July 2015 until June 2018
Project leader: Dr Thomas Cribb (University of Queensland, Australia)
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Dr R Adlard (Queensland Museum, Australia); Prof I Beveridge (University of Melbourne, Australia); Dr R Bray (Natural History Museum, UK); Prof G Boxshall (Natural History Museum, UK); Dr S Cutmore (University of Queensland, Australia); Dr D Kritsky (Idaho State University, USA); Dr KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa); Dr T Miller (James Cook University, Australia); Dr S Shamsi (Charles Sturt University, Australia)
Title: EAGER: Blood parasite infections in fishes and their transmission by gnathiid isopods on Caribbean coral reefs.
Grant: National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences (NSF GEO) (USA)
Project leader: Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA)
Amount awarded: US $328 000 for June 2012 to May 2016
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa), Prof. AJ Davies (Co-PI) (Kingston University, UK)
Last updated: June 2026
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