Conflict of Interest Policy

To maintain the integrity, transparency, and credibility of scientific publishing, Journal of Parasite Science requires that all parties involved in the editorial and publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff—fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest (COI) may arise when academic judgment or objectivity is influenced by secondary factors such as financial benefits, personal relationships, or institutional affiliations.

For Authors
Authors must clearly declare any financial or non-financial interests that could be perceived to affect the outcomes, interpretation, or conclusions of their work. Examples include research funding, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, expert testimony, patent applications, and grants. A “Conflict of Interest Statement” must be included in every manuscript. If no conflict exists, the following statement should be used: “The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

For Editors
Editors must refrain from handling any manuscript where a personal, academic, or financial relationship may create a conflict. Decisions must be based strictly on academic quality and relevance to the journal’s scope. Any editor with a conflict must disclose it to the Editor-in-Chief, who will reassign the manuscript to another editor.

For Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to disclose potential conflicts prior to accepting a review assignment. They should decline to review manuscripts if recent collaborations, personal ties, financial interests, or competitive positions could compromise their objectivity. All reviews must remain impartial, fair, and confidential.

For Journal Staff
Staff members with access to submitted manuscripts must not use unpublished materials for personal gain or share them with unauthorized individuals. Any financial, institutional, or personal interests that could influence journal operations must be reported to the publisher.

Management of Undeclared Conflicts
If undisclosed conflicts are identified after publication, Journal of Parasite Science reserves the right to issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, in line with COPE guidelines.

Commitment to Transparency
By implementing this COI policy, Journal of Parasite Science safeguards ethical publishing standards, ensures the credibility of veterinary parasitology research, and strengthens the trust of its readership.