ApicoWplexa is a network that has been founded in 2012. The first conference took place in Lisbon (2012), followed by meetings in Kusadasi (2012), Edinburgh (2015), Madrid (2017) and most recently in Berlin (2019). Apicomplexan parasites are a diverse group of protozoan organisms, which have acquired a parasitic lifestyle and infect vertebrates and non-vertebrates. Among apicomplexans are numerous species that are responsible for a variety of serious diseases in humans, pets and/or farm animals, and they are thus of outstanding medical and socio-economic importance. Apicomplexan parasites that affect farm animals play a major role in food security and food safety, both of which represent pressing issues in light of the fact that the human population on a global scale is steadily increasing, and people need to be fed and must have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Apicomplexan parasites are an important economic constraint to the food and agricultural industries and represent a threat for the continuous sustainability of food supplies worldwide.

ApicoWplexa 2021 will be in line with the highly successful ApicoWplexa conferences held so far, and will be a forum for researchers, scientists, students, industrial and governmental partners with an inherent interest in apicomplexan parasites in livestock. The meeting will provide an excellent opportunity for networking and scientific exchange in the field of apicomplexan parasites. The meeting covers parasites such as Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Besnoitia, Babesia and others, all of which are responsible for important diseases that affect the health and productivity of cattle, pork, poultry, sheep, goats, as well as of pets, game and wild animals, and in some instances, also human health. The meeting will overreach the different areas of research on apicomplexan parasites in farm animals, from molecular and cell biology over host-parasite interactions, immunology to epidemiology, drug development, vaccines and control of infections with these parasites, and also includes One-Health topics. Knowledge on all these aspects is a prerequisite to develop intervention strategies, effective vaccines or drugs.