Viruses of Lower Vertebrates

Booknews

In August of 1988, the First International Symposium on Viruses of Lower Vertebrate was held at the Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology of the University of Munich. Scientists from more than ten nations presented papers and discussed new research findings. The papers, collected here, concern research related to viruses of amphibians, reptiles, and fishes; the immunology of fish; and evolutionary considerations. Findings in the field have implications not only for pure biology, but for animal husbandry, aquaculture, human and veterinary medicine, and epidemiology. An intriguing finding was that some viruses not only bridge species lines, but even the land-sea interface. The study of comparative virology also reinforces the hypothesis that birds evolved from reptilian ancestors. Includes 113 figures. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)