The problems of ecological parasitology of fish are among the most significant subjects studied by Soviet parasitologists. This is because, over the past forty years, a large number of scholars throughout most regions of our country have conducted intensive and systematically planned investigations into the parasite fauna of fishes. These studies were carried out according to a unified methodology developed by the students of Valentin Alexandrovich Dogiel, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Many of the ideas that inspired and guided this research, as well as much of its organization, originated with V. A. Dogiel himself, who, on the basis of preliminary studies, established the principal tenets of ecological parasitology and the first fundamental laws of fish parasitology. The patterns discovered by researchers regarding certain host species and the formation of parasite faunas in individual water bodies provided the foundation for subsequent generalizations and for increasingly extensive and analytically sophisticated investigations in this field. These achievements have made it possible to predict changes in parasite faunas within aquatic environments, develop preventive measures, and propose methods for controlling parasitic diseases of commercially valuable and cultured fish that cause major losses to fisheries. At present, the Soviet school of fish parasitology is recognized as a world leader in scientific research, and the degree to which the waters of our country have been studied from a parasitological perspective far exceeds that of any other nation. Of course, what has been accomplished so far is far from sufficient, and many unresolved tasks still confront parasitologists. Therefore, it is particularly important to summarize the results already achieved. Among comprehensive synthetic works, regional compilations are of great value, especially those that describe the ecological characteristics of parasite faunas within a given region and identify the distributional features of particular parasites in individual water bodies. At a time when the problems of intensive inland fisheries and fish culture are receiving increasing attention from planning authorities, such publications are especially valuable. The importance of fish products in the national food balance has increased sharply, and consequently there is an urgent need to reduce losses caused by fish parasitic diseases. Accurate identification of parasites is the primary prerequisite for developing effective control measures. Therefore, the preparation of such compilations constitutes one of the foremost tasks of our national science. Among all the Union republics of our country, Kazakhstan ranks among the foremost in terms of both area and diversity of geographical conditions, and it contains numerous water bodies that serve as objects of fish-parasitological research. A compilation of data on the parasites of fishes inhabiting Kazakhstan’s waters is of particular significance because it brings together biologically highly diverse material. Another great value of the monograph presented to readers lies in the fact that the overwhelming majority of the material discussed is the result of original investigations conducted by the author and her close team of colleagues. This is not merely a compilatory work but an original scientific study that has also creatively incorporated the achievements of other researchers. Particularly noteworthy is the highly interesting section devoted to the influence of acclimatization on the parasite fauna of fishes. Reliable published information on this topic is relatively scarce; therefore, any new data in this area are of exceptional importance. The material cited by A. I. Agapova summarizes changes in the parasite fauna of fish species acclimatized in the waters of Kazakhstan. Based on the investigations of the author and her colleagues, this section provides extensive information for understanding the processes through which acclimatized fishes, as well as the new elements introduced along with them, influence the formation of fish parasite faunas in aquatic ecosystems. There is no doubt that this work, completed by A. I. Agapova with the precision and breadth of synthesis characteristic of the author, will contribute not only to Kazakhstan but also to further theoretical and practical studies on the patterns governing fish parasite faunas in regions beyond its borders.