Let me start by saying that this is my favorite new veterinary book of the year. It's a fresh approach to a sometimes tedious subject, and it fills a gap that I was not aware existed before I read it. This concise, easy-to-read handbook makes facts about zoonotic diseases clear and understandable for anyone who works with animals, has animals, or who cares for those who work with and/or have animals.
The format is practical, not academic, with a text that focuses on what we all need to know about diseases which are transmissible between humans and animals. While this is a scientific textbook written by a veterinarian and a microbiologist, containing all of the expected information about etiologies, routes of transmission, and symptoms of disease, it is at the same time an excellent source of client and public educational material.
The book is divided into two sections. The first is a brief introduction to zoonoses in general, including definitions and descriptions of etiologies, hosts, modes of transmission, prevention, morbidity and mortality. The second and more predominant section of the book is an A to Z (actually A [Anthrax] to Y [Yersiniosis]) description of 42 zoonotic diseases, each described separately in its own three to ten page "chapter". These follow a consistent format, starting with a brief description of the disease and morbidity and mortality ratings, followed by descriptions of Etiology, Hosts, Transmission, Disease in Animals, Disease in Humans, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
Photos of infected animals and humans are included where visualization is helpful. Flow charts of the cycle of infection from animal to human are included where the cycle is complex. There is a glossary at the back of the book defining terms used in the text which a lay person may be unfamiliar with. The appendices are also nicely laid out containing helpful information both in text and graphic form, such as identification of various tick species; tick life cycles, methods of protecting oneself from and removing ticks as well as food safety guidelines.
This is an excellent book to have at the ready in any veterinary hospital or teaching institution, farm or ranch, grooming, training or boarding facility, kennel club or show, animal shelter, animal laboratory-or any other place where humans and animals come into contact, directly or indirectly. I highly recommend it.
Elsevier Health (2007).
ISBN: 9780323044783