The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) was founded in 1963 under the direction of E.J.L. Soulsby, who was also the association's first president. The Association's formation was initiated after the 1959 International Veterinary Congress (now World Veterinary Association) in Madrid. The WAAVP has had a close relationship with the World Veterinary Association, often holding its symposiums and conferences around the same place and time as the WVA's. In addition, it is an affiliate of the WVA.



The WAAVP is a not for profit, world-wide organization for scientists who study the parasites of animals, including the study of helminthology, protozoology and entomology. Veterinarians, and anyone actively interested in veterinary pathology, can be a member. As the largest international parasitology organization in the world (as of 2010), the association has over 600 members. The association holds a biennial scientific conference, held in numerous locations around the globe. Its official organ, published with several other parasitology organizations, is the scientific journal Veterinary Parasitology.