• Enacted: June 1963
• Revised: February 2023
• Last revision: January 1, 2026

Parasites, Hosts and Diseases (PHD) is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal published quarterly on the last day of February, May, August, and November. As the official journal of The Korean Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, PHD aims to generate new knowledge on parasites infecting humans and animals, disease vectors, host-parasite relationships, zoonotic diseases, and tropical medicine.
Manuscripts should adhere to the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals, issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE; http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/), unless otherwise specified.

Table of Contents

• 1. Article Processing Charge
• 2. Research and Publication Ethics
• 3. Submission and Peer Review Process
• 4. Manuscript Preparation
• 5. Processing After Acceptance
• 6. Post-Publication Corrections

1. Article Processing Charge

Accepted manuscripts are published with the understanding that the author(s) will cover the associated publication costs, including page charges. The standard page charge is 700,000 KRW for Korean authors and 700 USD for others, covering up to 10 pages. An additional 100,000 KRW (for Korean authors) or 100 USD per page applies from the 11th page onward. The page charge for Letters to the Editor is 350 USD.

2. Research and Publication Ethics

It is available at: https://parahostdis.org/policy/ethics.php

3. Submission and Peer Review Process

A. Submission

Authors should submit their manuscripts online through the PHD submission system at https://submit.parahostdis.org/. Once logged in, the system will guide you through the submission process step-by-step. Detailed submission instructions are available on the website, and all manuscripts must comply with these guidelines. Failure to do so may result in the return of the manuscript and potential delays in publication.

B. Peer review process

PHD reviews all submitted manuscripts. Each manuscript is first assessed for format and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope. If it meets these criteria, it is sent to two experts in the relevant field for review. PHD uses a single-blind process, where reviewer identities are concealed from the author, but both are visible to the decision-making editor. Reviewers make one of four recommendations: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. A first decision is typically made within an average of 4 weeks after the reviewers have agreed to evaluate the manuscript. In cases of review discrepancies, the editorial board will conduct an additional review to make a final determination. Authors are expected to revise their manuscripts based on reviewer feedback and provide explanations for any feedback they choose not to implement. The editorial board makes the final publication decision and may request further changes.

C. Cover Letter

The cover letter should confirm that the submitted material, in whole or in part, has neither been published previously nor is under consideration for publication elsewhere. Additionally, it should disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the authors’ interpretation of the data, such as financial support, affiliations with pharmaceutical companies, political pressures from interest groups, or academically related conflicts. The cover letter should also specify that all authors have approved the manuscript for submission and confirm that the manuscript complies with ethical guidelines, including IRB approval and informed consent where applicable.

4. Manuscript Preparation

A. Article types

• Original articles: Original articles present results of research investigations on parasites, parasitic diseases, host-parasite relationships and tropical medicine. They should be organized in the following sequence: Title page, Abstract (≤250 words) and Keywords, Main text (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), References, Tables, Figure legends, and Figures. Original articles should not include more than a total of 35 references.

• Reviews or mini reviews: Reviews provide a comprehensive analysis of specific topics. The text should be organized in the following sequence: Title page, Abstract (≤250 words) and Keywords, Main text (Introduction, Body text, and Conclusion), References, Tables, Figure legends, and Figures. Unsolicited reviews are also welcome. A Mini-Review is a shorter version of a full review article. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should be submitted as review articles but require a structured abstract and should follow the PRISMA guidelines (http://www.prisma-statement.org/).

• Case reports: Case reports are accepted only when they present clinically important information about unique cases. Reports should describe cases not previously observed or reported. If a case involves a common condition but is deemed significant, the editorial board will review it to determine acceptance. They should be organized in the following sequence: Title page, Abstract (≤250 words) and Keywords, Introduction, Case Report, Discussion, References, Tables, Figure legends, and Figures. The number of references should not exceed 20.

• Brief communications: Brief communication is a short article detailing clinically or experimentally significant findings or major advancements. It should adhere to the guidelines for original articles, but the text should be formatted as a single section without headings or section divisions. Additionally, the number of references should be no more than 20.

• Letters to the editor: Letters offer rapid publication of new findings of unique clinical importance, recent perspectives on articles, or topics of interest published in the journal. They may also include opinions on specific topics of academic relevance. The text should be organized in the following sequence: Title page, Main text, References, Tables, Figure legends, and Figures (if applicable). The text should be formatted as a single section without headings or section divisions with no more than 10 references.

• Book reviews: Invited book reviews are eligible for publication. Submissions should provide a critical evaluation of the book’s arguments and content. The text should include the title of the book reviewed, the author(s) and editor(s), and publisher, the total number of pages, and the ISBN number, followed by the main text, with no more than 10 references.

B. General requirements

• • Manuscripts should be prepared using Microsoft Word (doc or docx format). They should be formatted on A4 (21.0×29.7 cm), with margins of at least 2.54 cm on all sides.
• • Texts should be double-spaced with the same normal, plain font throughout, preferably 11-point Times New Roman.
• • Genera and species names of parasites and living organisms should be written in italic.
• • Other Latin origin words, such as “et al.”, “in situ”, “in vitro”, and “in vivo” should not be italicized.
• • Provide the names of manufacturers.
• • When quoting from other sources, give a reference number after the author’s surname or at the end of the quotation.
• • Authors should express all measurements in conventional units, using International System of Units (SI units).
• • Authors should follow International Rules for Nomenclature and, if new names are introduced, the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature. All strains and sources of hosts and parasites should be stated.
• • Abbreviations should be used sparingly and unambiguously.

C. Key features

Key features and limits of articles are summarized in Table 1 below. However, the limits are negotiable with the editor.

Table 1. Key features and limits of articles

Type of article	Abstract	Text structure	References
Original Article	≤250 words	Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion	35
Review and Mini Review	≤250 words	Introduction, Body text, Conclusion	No limit
Case Report	≤250 words	Introduction, Case report, Discussion	20
Brief Communication	≤250 words	Single section with no headings	20
Letters to the Editor	Not required	Single section with no headings	10
Book reviews	Not required	Free-form style	10

D. Reporting guidelines

For specific study designs, such as randomized controlled trials, diagnostic accuracy studies, meta-analyses, observational studies, and non-randomized studies, authors should follow the relevant reporting guidelines. Recommended sources include the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/) and the National Library of Medicine (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/research_report_guide.html).

E. Manuscript structure and format

Organize your manuscript file as follows:
Manuscript file: (1) Title page (2) Abstract & keywords, (3) Body text, (4) References list, (5) Notes (author contributions, conflict of interest, funding, acknowledgments) (6) Tables (each beginning on a new page), (7) Figures legends (upload figures in separate files)
Supplementary materials (upload separately)

• Title page
The title page should include the following items:

• - Title: The article title should be concise and precise. The title should also indicate the study design. If the study involved human participants, the country where the study was conducted should be included.
• - Running title: Less than 50 characters
• - Authors and affiliations: Each author’s given name and surname should be provided. For authors with different affiliations, use superscripted Arabic numerals (e.g., ^¹, ^², ^³) placed at the top-right of each author’s name and before each corresponding affiliation. If an author is associated with multiple departments or institutions, arrange affiliations in the order of the authors and indicate them with superscript numbers. The corresponding author should be marked with an asterisk (*) as a superscript.
• - ORCID: All authors are required to provide their ORCIDs. If an author does not have an ORCID, they can register for one at the ORCID website (https://orcid.org/). Registration is free to all researchers.
• - Corresponding author: The corresponding author’s email address should be provided. If no corresponding author is specified, the editorial board will assume the first author holds this role.

• Abstract and keywords

• - Abstract: For original articles, reviews and mini reviews, case reports, and brief communications, provide an unstructured abstract of less than 350 words. Ensure all data in the abstract appear in the manuscript text or tables.
• - Keywords: Up to 6 keywords should be listed at the bottom of the abstract to be used as index terms. PHD strongly recommends using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH; https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/) keywords.

• Main Text
The main text of an original article must be prepared under the following subheadings: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Case report should be organized with Introduction, Case Report, and Discussion. In addition to these types, manuscripts that fall under specific reporting guidelines must be prepared accordingly.

• - Introduction: Provide the background and purpose of the article, emphasizing its significance. Summarize the rationale with only relevant references, avoiding diffuse listing of related topics. Do not include data or conclusions from the study itself.
• - Methods: Authors must provide sufficient details to enable an independent researcher to reproduce the work. Previously published methods should be summarized and cited appropriately, without unnecessary repetition. If directly quoting a published method, cite the source. Any major modifications to existing methods must be clearly described. The number of experiments, replicates, and statistical tests used should be specified. An ethics statement must be included when studies involve clinical samples, human data, or animals. This statement should appear as the first subheading in the Methods section. Examples are shown in the following: “We conducted this study in compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study’s protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of OO (No. OO). Written informed consents were obtained from the patients./The requirement for informed consent was waived.”
• - Results: Present the results in a logical sequence across the text, tables, and figures. Avoid repeating data in the text that is already provided in tables or figures; instead, highlight and summarize key findings and insights.
• - Discussion: Emphasize the novel and important aspects of the study, along with the conclusions drawn from them. Avoid detailed repetition of data or material already presented in the Introduction or Results sections. Discuss the implications and limitations of the findings, including potential impacts on future research. Connect the conclusions to the study's objectives by comparing and discussing relevant findings from other research. Avoid unqualified statements and conclusions not fully supported by the data. Where applicable, propose new hypotheses and include recommendations as appropriate.

• References
In the text, references should be cited with Arabic numerals in square brackets, numbered in the order of appearance. In the References, the references should be numbered and listed in the order of appearance in the text. List all authors when there are 5 or fewer. For sources with 6 or more authors, list the first 3 authors followed by “et al.” If an article has been published online, but not yet assigned an issue or page numbers, the DOI should be supplied. journals should be abbreviated according to the style used in the list of journals indexed in the NLM Journal Catalog (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals). For journal titles not listed in the Catalog, they should follow the ISO abbreviation as described in “ISO 4:1997 Information and documentation—Rules for the abbreviation of title words and titles of publications” (https://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=3569).

Journal articles:

• 1. Aung JM, Joo SY, Na BK, et al. Establishing a Cre/loxP-based genetic manipulation system for Acanthamoeba: targeted genome editing and stable reporter expression. Parasites Hosts Dis 2025;63:25-36. https://doi.org/10.3347/PHD.24078
• 2. Loibl S, Poortmans P, Morrow M, Denkert C, Curigliano G. Breast cancer. Lancet 2021;397:1750-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32381-3
• 3. Poncet AF, Blanchard N, Marion S. Toxoplasma and dendritic cells: an intimate relationship that deserves further scrutiny. Trends Parasitol 2019;35:870-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2019.08.001

Book & book chapter:

• 4. Khan NA. Acanthamoeba: biology and pathogenesis. 2nd ed. Caister Academic Press; 2015.
• 5. Nesheim MC. Ascariasis and human nutrition. In: Crompton DW, Nesheim MC, Pawlowski ZS, editors. Ascariasis and its prevention and control. Taylor and Francis; 1989. p. 87-100.

• Notes

• - Conflict of interest: Authors should disclose any potential conflict of interest. If there are no conflicts of interest to declare, authors should include the following sentence: “The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.”
• - Author contributions: Describe contributions using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT; https://credit.niso.org/). Contributors must meet at least one core role (conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, software, validation) and one writing role (original draft preparation, review, and editing). Authors who do not meet these requirements will not qualify for authorship.
• - Funding: Funding for the research should be detailed here. Provision of a FundRef ID is recommended, including the name of the funding agency, country, and (if available) the number of the grant provided by the funding agency. If the funding agency lacks a FundRef ID, please ask that agency to contact the FundRef registry (e-mail: fundref.registry@crossref.org).
• - Data availability: Include a statement indicating where the data supporting the article's results can be found, with hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets if applicable.
• - Acknowledgments: All persons who have made substantial contributions, but do not meet the criteria for authorship, should be acknowledged here.

• Tables
Table titles and content should be concise, clear, and self-explanatory, so readers do not need to refer to the main text. Tables should follow the standard format in previously published PHD articles. The table title should be placed at the top-left corner, formatted as “Table [Arabic numeral].” Tables should not contain vertical lines.
Include abbreviations or necessary descriptions in footnotes below the table, using superscript letters (a, b, c) to indicate each footnote, ensuring each note has a corresponding marker. List abbreviations in the footnote section, explaining any empty cells. Where possible, place units directly within the table, avoiding separate listing, and use lowercase symbols for units. In the main text, the term “Table” should appear as “Table” followed by an Arabic numeral.

• Figures
Number figures in the order they are cited in the text, using Arabic numerals. Upload each figure as a single image file with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. For figures depicting averages or proportions, use bar or line graphs. Specify the statistical methods used in a footnote for each figure. For multiple panels within the same figure number, use English letters after the numeral to indicate order (e.g., Fig. 1A, Fig. 2B, C).

• Permission
If any tables or figures are taken or modified from other papers, authors should obtain permission through the Copyright Clearance Center (https://www.copyright.com/) or from the individual publisher, unless the materials are from an open access journal under the Creative Commons license. For open access journal materials, simply verify the source in the accompanying footnote. Note the distinction between free-access and open access journals: permission from the publisher is required for using tables or figures from free-access journals.
Examples:

• • Reprinted (Modified) from Tanaka et al. [48], with permission of Elsevier.
• • Reprinted (Modified) from Weiss et al. [2], according to the Creative Commons License.

• Supplementary materials
Supplemental material includes files provided by the authors to accompany their article, typically featuring additional content not included in the print version, such as appendices or extra tables. All supplemental materials will be published online with the full-text article. List the supplemental materials at the end of the manuscript file, and ensure they are cited consecutively within the manuscript text.

5. Processing After Acceptance

Once a paper is accepted for publication, the corresponding author must submit a signed copyright transfer agreement form via email to the editorial office. The paper will not be published until the copyright transfer is complete. Around this time, the invoice for the article processing charge (APC) will also be issued. Please note that publication will proceed only after the APC has been paid in full. Failure to complete payment may result in a delay in publication or, in some cases, withdrawal of the manuscript.
After the APC has been confirmed, the manuscript editor will format the paper to meet the journal’s publication standards. Authors are required to respond within 3 working days to any revision requests from the manuscript editor. Please note that delays in response may result in the publication being postponed to the next issue.

A. Galley proofs

Once all corrections have been completed, the corresponding author will receive the final version of the manuscript in PDF format.
Within 5 working days of receipt, authors must reply to the printing office of any errors found in the file. The proof may be revised more than once by the corresponding author, if needed. Authors should double-check for corrections in the content, title, affiliation, capitalization, locations of figures, and references.

6. Post-Publication Corrections

To correct errors in published articles, the corresponding author should contact the journal’s editorial office with a detailed description of the proposed correction. Corrections that profoundly affect the interpretation or conclusions of the article will be reviewed by the editors. Corrections will be published as author correction or publisher correction in a later issue of the journal.
Minor errors will be corrected directly in the online version of the article. An indication of the correction, along with the date it was made, will be added to the article information in both the HTML and PDF versions. A separate correction note will not be published.

Contact Us

Editor-in-Chief: Myeong Heon Shin, MD, PhD
Email: myeong@yuhs.ac

Editorial Office: Department of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722 Korea
• Tel: +82-2-2228-1844 • Email: support@parahostdis.org

NOTICE: These instructions to authors will be effective from the February 2026 issue.