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Diagnostic techniques in medical parasitology
ParasitologyToday,vol. 4, no. 12, 1988 cally'. The phylum Ascetospora, for example, is covered in a few lines of text and the sole example of the phylum included here is Minchinia nelsoni which has devastated populations of the American oyster (Ostrea virginica) in regions of the eastern seaboard of the USA. (An excellent and well-illustrated review of a related ascetosporan Bonamia ostreae, responsible for epizootics in the European oyster and other Ostreae species appeared in Parasitology
Diagnostic Techniques in Medical Parasitology byS.L. Fleck and A.H. Moody,
Butterworth, 1988. £15.00 ISBN 0 7236 0776 I The foreword in this book states it has been written with laboratory workers in developed countries in mind. I believe this objective has been acihieved quite successfully, and I have no doubt that those involved in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases will find much of what they require for routine work in this handily sized volume. The strength of this book is in the diagnostic aspects of the most important parasitic diseases and ectopztrasites along with details for the preparation of reagents required. The chapters have been divided according to the types of specimens rather than according to phyIogenetic sequence of parasites - this is probably more appropriate for routine diagnostics. Although a brief chapter discusses essential methods of serology, details of procedures are not given. I believe, as the authors probably do, this aspect would need a much larger volume in itself. The opening chapter will serve well for those who need some initiation into calibration of microscopes, methods of packing specimens (especially hazardous ones) and postal regulations currently enforced in Britain. Necessary emphasis has been given to the packing of HIV and AIDS patients' specimens. The book is well-referenced and gives a list of UK suppliers of chemical reagents and equipment. Throughout the'. manual the 'work experience' of the authors comes through in the form of handy tips and useful precautionary suggestions such as "handle slides by the edge", "care in throwing out blood" etc. These points may be obvious but often need repeating. There are some spelling errors and
361
Today 3, 174-176.) I was also disappointed that greater attention was not given to organisms such as Cryptosporidium which is inadequately covered in many standard texts. An introductory text cannot be encyclopaedic however, and the authors have been successful in producing a readable and clear text that covers its subject well. This volume does not attempt to encompass subjects such as the immunology, chemotherapy and bio-
chemistry of parasitic protozoa. These subjects are the domain of more specialized texts for which Parasitic Protozoa will serve as useful introduction. At £14.95 for the paperback edition, this book represents good value.
occasionally some incorrect crossreferences. I am not sure that Fig. 4.7 is a section of an Onchocerca volvulus nodule; it looks more like an impression smear of a skin snip. The microfilariae of O. volvulus may occasionally be found in the blood, especially after DEC provocation test and this should be stated. Brugia timori although mentioned, has not been listed as one of the lymphatic dwelling parasites. But these are minor points and will not detract from the strength of this manual. The book should
definitely find its way to the laboratory shelves of many workers, although a colleague asked me "why isn't this volume 'comb-bound' to make it easier for laboratory use". This is perhaps for the publisher to think about.
The Biology of Schistosomes; from Genes to Latrines edited by D. Rollinsonand A.J. Simpson, Academic Press,1987. £37.00 (xii + 472 pages) ISBN 0 12 593692 3
Schistosomiasis edited by A.A.F. Mahmoud, Bailliere Tindall/W.B. Saunders, 1987. £19.50/US$28.00 (ix + 487 pages) ISBN 0 7020 1232 7 The subtitle of the first of these books accurately describes its contents. It includes not only a detailed description of all schistosomes, their intermediate hosts and world-wide distribution, development, physiology and molecular biology, but also the natural history of transmission, epidemiology, consequences of infection in man, his immune response and molecular studies of it. Finally there are chapters on experimental chemotherapy and the broad outlines of control. The volume is intended for those concerned with basic research and control and for students of tropical medicine and parasitology; all these groups will find some chapters of interest. They are
R. E. Howells
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
P.Oothuman
Departmentof Parasitologyand Medical Entomology NationalUniversityof Malaysia JalanRajaMuda 50300KualaLumpur Malaysia
well-written and referenced, with little or no overlap, while an excellent index of 22 pages for a text of 450, provides easy access to a wide range of different aspects of 'schistosomology'. There are few obvious errors, although confusion may arise over the spelling of some words such as metrifonate (--metriphonate) and Nitrile filters (=Nytrel filters). The editors are to be congratulated on bringing together such a wealth of detailed knowledge and the volume represents excellent value for all workers in the field of schistosomiasis. In contrast, Bailliere's volume, Schistosomiasis from their Clinical Tropical Medicine and Communicable Disease series, brings together contributions that aim to highlight new information on the clinical and public health significance of schistosomiasis. The biology and ecology of the human schistosomiases are adequately covered in a single chapter, and four more describe the clinical manifestations of S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni in Brazil and Egypt (although it is not made clear how this parasite manifests itself in other endemic areas which are hardly mentioned). Chapters on determinants of infection, of disease, protective antigens and the potential for a vaccine provide interesting new insights - particularly for those involved in control, which is covered in broad terms in a separate chapter. The pharmacology of
Diagnostic Techniques in Medical Parasitology byS.L. Fleck and A.H. Moody,
Butterworth, 1988. £15.00 ISBN 0 7236 0776 I The foreword in this book states it has been written with laboratory workers in developed countries in mind. I believe this objective has been acihieved quite successfully, and I have no doubt that those involved in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases will find much of what they require for routine work in this handily sized volume. The strength of this book is in the diagnostic aspects of the most important parasitic diseases and ectopztrasites along with details for the preparation of reagents required. The chapters have been divided according to the types of specimens rather than according to phyIogenetic sequence of parasites - this is probably more appropriate for routine diagnostics. Although a brief chapter discusses essential methods of serology, details of procedures are not given. I believe, as the authors probably do, this aspect would need a much larger volume in itself. The opening chapter will serve well for those who need some initiation into calibration of microscopes, methods of packing specimens (especially hazardous ones) and postal regulations currently enforced in Britain. Necessary emphasis has been given to the packing of HIV and AIDS patients' specimens. The book is well-referenced and gives a list of UK suppliers of chemical reagents and equipment. Throughout the'. manual the 'work experience' of the authors comes through in the form of handy tips and useful precautionary suggestions such as "handle slides by the edge", "care in throwing out blood" etc. These points may be obvious but often need repeating. There are some spelling errors and
361
Today 3, 174-176.) I was also disappointed that greater attention was not given to organisms such as Cryptosporidium which is inadequately covered in many standard texts. An introductory text cannot be encyclopaedic however, and the authors have been successful in producing a readable and clear text that covers its subject well. This volume does not attempt to encompass subjects such as the immunology, chemotherapy and bio-
chemistry of parasitic protozoa. These subjects are the domain of more specialized texts for which Parasitic Protozoa will serve as useful introduction. At £14.95 for the paperback edition, this book represents good value.
occasionally some incorrect crossreferences. I am not sure that Fig. 4.7 is a section of an Onchocerca volvulus nodule; it looks more like an impression smear of a skin snip. The microfilariae of O. volvulus may occasionally be found in the blood, especially after DEC provocation test and this should be stated. Brugia timori although mentioned, has not been listed as one of the lymphatic dwelling parasites. But these are minor points and will not detract from the strength of this manual. The book should
definitely find its way to the laboratory shelves of many workers, although a colleague asked me "why isn't this volume 'comb-bound' to make it easier for laboratory use". This is perhaps for the publisher to think about.
The Biology of Schistosomes; from Genes to Latrines edited by D. Rollinsonand A.J. Simpson, Academic Press,1987. £37.00 (xii + 472 pages) ISBN 0 12 593692 3
Schistosomiasis edited by A.A.F. Mahmoud, Bailliere Tindall/W.B. Saunders, 1987. £19.50/US$28.00 (ix + 487 pages) ISBN 0 7020 1232 7 The subtitle of the first of these books accurately describes its contents. It includes not only a detailed description of all schistosomes, their intermediate hosts and world-wide distribution, development, physiology and molecular biology, but also the natural history of transmission, epidemiology, consequences of infection in man, his immune response and molecular studies of it. Finally there are chapters on experimental chemotherapy and the broad outlines of control. The volume is intended for those concerned with basic research and control and for students of tropical medicine and parasitology; all these groups will find some chapters of interest. They are
R. E. Howells
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
P.Oothuman
Departmentof Parasitologyand Medical Entomology NationalUniversityof Malaysia JalanRajaMuda 50300KualaLumpur Malaysia
well-written and referenced, with little or no overlap, while an excellent index of 22 pages for a text of 450, provides easy access to a wide range of different aspects of 'schistosomology'. There are few obvious errors, although confusion may arise over the spelling of some words such as metrifonate (--metriphonate) and Nitrile filters (=Nytrel filters). The editors are to be congratulated on bringing together such a wealth of detailed knowledge and the volume represents excellent value for all workers in the field of schistosomiasis. In contrast, Bailliere's volume, Schistosomiasis from their Clinical Tropical Medicine and Communicable Disease series, brings together contributions that aim to highlight new information on the clinical and public health significance of schistosomiasis. The biology and ecology of the human schistosomiases are adequately covered in a single chapter, and four more describe the clinical manifestations of S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni in Brazil and Egypt (although it is not made clear how this parasite manifests itself in other endemic areas which are hardly mentioned). Chapters on determinants of infection, of disease, protective antigens and the potential for a vaccine provide interesting new insights - particularly for those involved in control, which is covered in broad terms in a separate chapter. The pharmacology of