Human Parasitology

From the Publisher

"There are few textbooks for students studying medical parasitology. This up-to-date third edition is easier to read than many, making it a viable option for upper-level students."
-Martha Gentry-Nielsen, PhD, Creighton University School of Medicine

Praise for the previous edition:
"Liberally accented with photographs, diagrams, and clinical case pictures, this text is straightforward, adequately referenced, and logically organized... provides a bridge between the well-known exhaustive compendiums and brief treatises for the college level student considering a career in the biological sciences or healthcare fields... Clinical correlations and therapeutic options which enhance the biology presented are included. I particularly liked the easy to follow life cycle diagrams and the many electron micrographs which clearly delineate important characteristics of these microorganisms... Its modest price, well-written style, and up-to-date information should make this text a course director's favorite."
--John S. Czachor, MD, Wright State University, Division of Infectious Diseases for DOODY'S PUBLISHING REVIEWS

John S. Czachor

Liberally accented with photographs, diagrams, and clinical case pictures, this text is straightforward, adequately referenced, and logically organized. This book provides basic knowledge of parasites, ranging from biology and biochemistry, to immunology and pathophysiology, as well as therapy for the diseases that they cause. I found that this edition provides a bridge between the well-known exhaustive compendiums and brief treatises for the college level student considering a career in the biological sciences or healthcare fields. The first two chapters detail principles of parasitic diseases, while the last chapter includes a discussion of the vectors for these microorganisms. The second edition has been expanded to include current issues of re-emerging diseases such as Cryptosporidium and newly emerging illnesses like Cyclospora, as well as food-borne and water-borne pathogens. Clinical correlations and therapeutic options which enhance the biology presented are included. I particularly liked the easy to follow life cycle diagrams and the many electron micrographs which clearly delineate important characteristics of these microorganisms. My only complaint is the lack of color photography which would assist a budding microscopist to help identify these parasites or their ova, as well as supplement the clinical information detailed within. Its modest price, well-written style, and up-to-date information should make this text a course director's favorite.

Booknews

A textbook for a course of one semester or quarter for premedical, medical technology, and biology students. Emphasizes the medical aspects, but also includes considerable information on morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and immunology. Serves as an intermediate between classical clinical parasitology texts and specialized treatises. No date is noted for the first edition; the second incorporates medical developments and shifts of attention, for example to opportunistic parasites associated with AIDS. Includes a glossary without pronunciation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

From The Critics

Reviewer: Martha Gentry-Nielsen, PhD(Creighton University School of Medicine)
Description: This book begins with a basic introduction to parasitism, host-parasite interactions, and immunology before covering individual groups of organisms and the diseases they cause. In this third edition, the authors have primarily expanded their section on opportunistic parasites and updated the recommended chemotherapeutic strategies from their 1998 second edition.
Purpose: The authors' stated purpose was to provide a book that incorporates both medical aspects and basic physiological and morphological characteristics of the most important human parasites, thereby bridging the gap between classical clinical texts and exhaustive encyclopedic listings of both common and exotic parasites.
Audience: Although written primarily for premedical, medical technology, and upper-level biology students, the authors suggest the book is also appropriate for students in the allied and public health fields. Its use of uncommon anatomical and technical terms somewhat limits its utility for students unfamiliar with basic anatomy and cell biology.
Features: Each section begins with general characteristics and classification of a parasite group, followed by sections on life cycles, epidemiology, symptomatology and diagnosis, chemotherapy, physiology, host responses, and prevention for individual organisms. There are numerous black-and-white drawings and electron micrographs of various parasites, plus life cycles, distribution maps, and patient photographs showing characteristic symptoms. Unfortunately, figure placement sometimes requires leafing ahead several pages to locate illustrations that go with the text. Helpful appendixes include a list of antiparasitic drugs, their potential side effects, and currently recommended treatment regimens.
Assessment: There are few textbooks for students studying medical parasitology. This up-to-date third edition is easier to read than many, making it a viable option for upper-level students. However, inclusion of extraneous and unnecessarily detailed information at times detracts from the book's readability and makes it difficult for students to discern the most important and practical information.

3 Stars from Doody