Invertebrates in the medical service of man : part 1 : the biotherapeutic worms

Abstract

The invertebrates have long received particular attention from the medical profession. Their medical importance lies primarily in their role as parasites or harbingers of disease conditions, and in the potential toxic stings or bites of some species. While the faunal diversity of the Maltese Islands is limited because of the restricted ecological diversity, a number of invertebrate species present in the Maltese Islands and in the surrounding sea have medical significance resulting from their parasitic or toxic capabilities. These species have been previously reviewed.