With the 8th Edition of this text published under the auspices of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP), the authors have again provided veterinary academicians with another tool to use in the field of education. This book is more of a guide to diagnostic technique than that of strict parasite identification. For this reason, the chapters are laid out differently than some other well known parasitic references such as Georgi’s and Hendrix. Whereas other texts have separate chapters for the various types of parasites (i.e. nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, etc.) this text lists chapters by technique as follows:
1. Fecal Examination for Diagnosis of Parasites
2. Detection of Protozoan and Helminth Parasites in Urinary, Reproductive and Integumentary System and the Eye
3. Detection of Parasites in Blood
4. Immunodiagnostic and Molecular Diagnostic Tests in Veterinary Parasitology
5. Diagnosis of Arthropods
6. Parasites of Fish
Each chapter has color coded tabs for ease of location and is a compilation of the work of five authors, all credits to the field of parasitology. The chapters are written in a concise, no-nonsense manner that includes step-by-step instructions for a large number of procedures. These instructions are accompanied by beautiful photographs of equipment, diagnostic set-ups as well as expected parasites to be encountered in a positive setting. One of the most engagingly whimsical pictures depicts the use of a disposable, plastic wine glass being pressed into service as a Baermann Apparatus. Truly priceless! The pictures of ova, parasites and microscopic visual fields are crisp, clear and some of the most academically useful seen today. Along with the instructions for various procedures, there are included for the user recipes of all necessary solutions utilized within the book. There is also a companion website of PowerPoint presentations for use with the book.
Although this text focuses on the diagnostic methodology of parasitology, it also includes brief synopses on the variety of parasites which one might encounter when performing tests. Pertinent information includes: Parasite Name, Taxonomy, Geographic Distribution, Location of Host, Life Cycles, Laboratory Diagnosis, and Clinical Importance. These brief synopses are presented within one page with associated pictures of the various life stages (for example: 3rd instar cattle grub, cattle grub emerging from subcutaneous tissue, adult flies).
This book is one which the reviewer can see as being very useful both in the veterinary technology classroom as well as on the bench of a working laboratory. The books’ design includes being spiral bound for ease of laying flat on a counter and easy to work with in small spaces. For sure, it is a desirable “tome of reference” to students and practicing veterinary technicians alike; however the use as a standalone textbook may be questionable for instructors looking for more information (due to its concise nature). Reader beware this is not a textbook loaded with theoretical implications of parasitology rather a working person’s guide on how to get the job done. For this reason alone, this reviewer gives the book a 4 out of 5 star rating. Even so, I have already added this book to my lists of texts to utilize in the future instruction of our institutions veterinary clinical parasitology class.
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, Danvers, MA (2012)
ISBN13: 978-0-8138-2053-8