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Diagnostic Virology
VeterinaryMicrobiology,24 (1990) 211-212 Elsevier SciencePublishers B.V., Amsterdam
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Book Review Diagnostic viroloy Diagnostic Virology. Z. Dinter (Editor). Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, 1989. 125 pp., softcover, ISBN 91-567-38144. A number of laboratory handbooks about diagnostic procedures for virus diseases in humans are available; however, competent texts dealing specifically with laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of animal diseases are rather scarce. We can therefore welcome the initiative of Z. Dinter, who held a prominent place in virus research throughout many years of his active career, to present a summary of the diagnostic procedures applied at the Swedish National Veterinary Institute which he found feasible and efficient. The topics treated in the separate sections of this booklet have therefore been dictated by the problems encountered at this institute and will most likely not cover all diseases encompassing the routine work or appearing as special tasks at other diagnostic laboratories. This limitation is certainly a weakness of this booklet, and it explains, for example, why the author, who had formerly been actively engaged in research on foot-and-mouth disease, dedicates a special chapter to swine vesicular disease, whereas F M D V is only marginally treated for reasons of differential diagnosis. The section on diagnostic methods applicable for the diagnosis of important virus diseases (65 pp. ) is introduced by general considerations underlying the techniques employed (35 pp. ) i.e. cell cultures and serological techniques with special emphasis on ELISA. Some of these methods are instructively illustrated with diagrams. Besides the conventional techniques, the potential use of more recently developed assays, like nucleic acid hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction, are briefly discussed. As an introductory remark the author states that "each method has advantages and disadvantages. The trick for a diagnostician is to use the advantages offered by the respective methods." I see the great advantage of the whole text in the clear recommendations given by the author; how to proceed and which m e t h o d to apply to reach a safe diagnosis without unnecessary delay. The booklet can therefore be useful for an experienced laboratory worker who can check his experience and procedures in the light of these recommendations. It can also serve as a guideline for beginners, because each topic is introduced with a short summary of the most important aspects of the respective disease. This booklet does not contain detailed formulas for the preparation of me-
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dia and reagents or instructions for the handling of laboratory equipment. For the application of relevant methods, only the sequence of individual steps is outlined, and no detailed protocols are given. It can therefore be very useful as a small instructive companion of the laboratory manuals which are available already. DR. H. BECHT
Institut f~r Virologie Justus-Liebig- Universitiit Giessen Frankfurter Strasse 107 D-6300 Giessen West Germany
211
Book Review Diagnostic viroloy Diagnostic Virology. Z. Dinter (Editor). Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, 1989. 125 pp., softcover, ISBN 91-567-38144. A number of laboratory handbooks about diagnostic procedures for virus diseases in humans are available; however, competent texts dealing specifically with laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of animal diseases are rather scarce. We can therefore welcome the initiative of Z. Dinter, who held a prominent place in virus research throughout many years of his active career, to present a summary of the diagnostic procedures applied at the Swedish National Veterinary Institute which he found feasible and efficient. The topics treated in the separate sections of this booklet have therefore been dictated by the problems encountered at this institute and will most likely not cover all diseases encompassing the routine work or appearing as special tasks at other diagnostic laboratories. This limitation is certainly a weakness of this booklet, and it explains, for example, why the author, who had formerly been actively engaged in research on foot-and-mouth disease, dedicates a special chapter to swine vesicular disease, whereas F M D V is only marginally treated for reasons of differential diagnosis. The section on diagnostic methods applicable for the diagnosis of important virus diseases (65 pp. ) is introduced by general considerations underlying the techniques employed (35 pp. ) i.e. cell cultures and serological techniques with special emphasis on ELISA. Some of these methods are instructively illustrated with diagrams. Besides the conventional techniques, the potential use of more recently developed assays, like nucleic acid hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction, are briefly discussed. As an introductory remark the author states that "each method has advantages and disadvantages. The trick for a diagnostician is to use the advantages offered by the respective methods." I see the great advantage of the whole text in the clear recommendations given by the author; how to proceed and which m e t h o d to apply to reach a safe diagnosis without unnecessary delay. The booklet can therefore be useful for an experienced laboratory worker who can check his experience and procedures in the light of these recommendations. It can also serve as a guideline for beginners, because each topic is introduced with a short summary of the most important aspects of the respective disease. This booklet does not contain detailed formulas for the preparation of me-
212
dia and reagents or instructions for the handling of laboratory equipment. For the application of relevant methods, only the sequence of individual steps is outlined, and no detailed protocols are given. It can therefore be very useful as a small instructive companion of the laboratory manuals which are available already. DR. H. BECHT
Institut f~r Virologie Justus-Liebig- Universitiit Giessen Frankfurter Strasse 107 D-6300 Giessen West Germany