THE 120th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ACADEMICIAN VLADIMIR S. ERSHOV (1904–1988)

Vladimir Stepanovich Ershov (1904–1988) is an outstanding parasitologist, closest associate and follower of Academician K. I. Skryabin, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor, Full Member of the All-Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Laureate of the USSR State Prize. 2024 marks the 120th anniversary of his birth, July 26, 1904. The main direction of scientific activities of V. S. Ershov was the immunity study in helminth infections. His works "The immunity mechanism in helminth infections", "Helminth infections as allergic diseases" and others are devoted to this problem; in total, he published over 200 works, including textbooks, study guides and monographs many of which were translated into foreign languages. An important place in V. S. Ershov’s activities was occupied with the work on veterinary service organization, veterinary and zootechnical education. In 1945, he was appointed as Head of the Main Veterinary Directorate of State Farms of the Ministry of State Farms of the RSFSR, then Head of the Main Directorate of Zoo-Veterinary Universities of the Ministry of Higher Education. In 1954, Vladimir Stepanovich became the Director of the Moscow Fur Institute, and a year later, Vice-Rector of the Moscow Veterinary Academy. In 1957, V. S. Ershov was appointed Director of the VIGIS, which he headed for a quarter of the century. Due to the organizational skills of Vladimir Stepanovich, the VIGIS quickly grew from a small team into a large center of helminthological science. V. S. Ershov took part in International Veterinary Congresses, was elected an honorary member of several foreign societies of parasitology (Washington, East Germany, Bulgaria, etc.), and an honorary member of the World Association for Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, a member of the State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles and the Lenin and State Prize Committee. For his enormous contribution to the development of science, V.S. Ershov was awarded Orders of Lenin, the October Revolution, the Red Banner of Labor (twice), the Badge of Honor (twice) and Peoples’ Friendship and medals. Vladimir Stepanovich passed away in 1988.