Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, 8th Edition
Zajac, AM; Conboy, GA

VSPN Review by Oreta M Samples, RVT, MPH, DHScStar
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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


Table of Contents
Book Reviews
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Introduction
Alternative Medicine
Anatomy
Anesthesia/Analgesia
Animal Welfare
Aquatic/Fish
Avian
Behavior
Camelids
Canine
Cardiology
Client Education
Cytology / Hematology / Histology
Dental
Dermatology
Dictionary/Reference
Drugs/Pharmacology
Emergency Med
Endocrine
Epidemiology
Equine
Ethics
Exotics
Feline
Food Animals/Livestock
General
Genetics
Geriatrics
Handling & Restraint
Human-Animal Bond
Imaging & Radiology
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Laboratory Medicine
Microbiology
Multimedia
Neurology
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Parasitology
 
* Georgi Parasitology 9th Ed. (VSPN Review)
 
Anthology of Biosafety VI (VSPN Review)
 
Antimicrobial Resistance in Animals and Public Health (VSPN)
 
Arthropod Disease Dog Cat
 
Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, 2nd Ed.
 
Diagnostic Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians, 4th Ed
 
Eco. Marine Parasite 2nd Ed. (VSPN Review)
 
Essentials of Veterinary Parasitology
 
Feline Parasitology
 
Fish Disease 1 2nd Ed. (VSPN Review)
 
Flynn's Parasite Lab. Anim. 2nd Ed.
 
Hemoparasites of the Reptilia-Color Atlas & Text (VSPN)
 
Molecular Detection of Human Parasitic Pathogens (VSPN Review)
 
Nematode Parasites 2nd Ed. (VSPN Review)
 
Parasitic Disease Wild Bird
 
Pathology and Parasitology for Vet Techs
 
Vet. Guide Parasites 2
 
Vet. Parasitology Ref. 5th Ed.
 
You are hereVeterinary Clinical Parasitology, 8th Ed ( VSPN Review)
 
Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, 8th Ed.
 
Veterinary Ectoparasites 2nd Ed.
 
Veterinary Parasitology, 4th Ed
 
WHO/FAO/OIE Guidelines for the Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Taeniosis/Cysticerosis (VSPN)
 
* Canine Parasitology
 
* Parasit. Wild Mammal 2nd Ed.
 
* Parasitology Dogs & Cats
 
* Vet. Clinical Parasitology 7th Ed.
 
* Vet. Parasitology PVS
Pathology
Pediatrics
Physiology
Physiotherapy
Practice Management
Primates
Rabbits, Rodents & Ferrets
Reproduction
Reptile/Amphibian
Research
Respiratory
Ruminants
Sheep/Goats
Shelter Medicine
Surgery
Swine
Technicians
Toxicology
Urology/Renal
Veterinary Education
Wildlife-Zoo Animals
Zoonoses

Date Published: January 9, 2013

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