Ichthyophthirius:  The Historical Context     Margaret S. Ewing   Zoology Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK       Although Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, or at least the white spot it causes, has been recognized as a problem in fish culture since the Ming dynasty, our knowledge of the parasite’s biology, interaction with its fish host, and its ability to stimulate immune response is of course much more recent. This presentation will provide some historical context of life history/biology, pathology, treatment, and immune function studies that are the foundation for current research on Ichthyophthirius.  This discussion of work from 1876 to 2000 is intended to provide a backdrop for the papers that follow, which will report current work concerning molecular studies of specific antigens, antibody response to the parasite, and the problems posed by field infections.