This book is not formatted to the usual order of books, with the table of contents first, followed by parts/chapters. The book begins with Part 1 General Parasitology, Including taxonomy, diagnosis, antiparasitics. This chart precedes the contents of the book with a table of the parasites, their genus, and chapters where they are mentioned.

Part 2 Veterinary Protozoology follows with a similar chart showing chapters where each species is mentioned.

Part 3 Veterinary Entomology, same format as 1 and 2.

Following is a more recognizable table of contents starting with Part 4.

Following these are the Preface to the first edition; Acknowledgements to the first edition; Preface and Acknowledgements to the second edition; Preface and Acknowledgements to the third edition; Preface and Acknowledgements to the fourth edition; this is followed by the meat of the book, picking up with chapters 4 -7: (4) Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasitism; (5) Antiparasitics; (6) The Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases; and (7) Host-resistance to parasitic diseases. Part 2 Host-parasite diseases, picks up Chapters 8-17: (8) Parasites of Cattle; (9) Parasites of Sheep and goats; (10) Parasites of Horses; (11) Parasites of Pigs; (12) Parasites of Dogs and Cats; (13) Parasites of Poultry and Game Birds; (14) Parasites of Ungulates; (15) Parasites of Laboratory Animals; (16) Parasites of Exotics; (17) Faculative Ectoparasites and (18) Arthropod Vectors.

The authors aim in producing a fourth edition was to expand on the contents and goals of the first three. Some of the formats have been reworked so as to better present the topic in teaching environs. Drug names are listed in the generic in all cases so as to more easily translate from country to country. Charts similar to the opening charts are placed where appropriate throughout the book so as to further describe the connections by genus and family for that particular section.

There are numerous photos and drawings throughout the book, plus EM views, and microscopic views. Most photos are in color, drawings are primarily in black and white as ink drawings. Some drawings have color included to separate parts of anatomy. Routes of infection and methods of reproduction seem to be thoroughly researched and explained. The spectrum of domestic and companion animals seems to be wide and most are included in this book. Parasites common to more than one animal species are repeated in the respective section, although this does not seem to occur often as there are variations in the parasite species within a genus.

This book is directed to teachers, research groups, universities, and veterinarians in practice. This edition includes lab animals and exotics. Farmed species are included.

The parasites are presented here both by covering the parasite and then sorted by host species and their predilection sites so as to come to the parasite from two directions. The scientific names are included so as to make this book useful in a variety of countries.

There are photos, microscopic views of parasites and their eggs and various stages of development, as well as drawings to further illustrate identification. Life cycles and body parts are illustrated in drawings. Differences in sexes within a species are shown in drawings to orient the clinician as to what is being examined. Information is included on how to mount and preserve specimens.

Several challenges to the book were conducted to verify usefulness, and the book passed in all counts.

There is a very large list of references and index, Pages 975–1006 to be exact. References do not appear to be tied to the general text, there are no numbered references in the text, but are presented more as a list at the end of the book.

Even though the book is large, it lays flat for ease of reading. The book is an unconventional format and style, but readers will certainly get the jist of the contents without too much trouble.

This book belongs in all clinical settings as well as teaching venues. Chances are good that it will be used as a reference on a daily basis.

Publisher: Wiley Blackwell, 2015, Hardcover, 1006 pages, color and black and white photos and drawings.

ISBN: 9780470671627