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Immunity to parasites: How parasitic infections are controlled (2nd edition)
494
logical appearance of tissue-occupying parasites. There are 6 mates with 36 coloured nhotograohs of blood, intestinal and tissue parasites. A use&l appendix of suppliers of specialist items appears at the end. Each chapter outlines the principle requirement for diagnosis of a particular infection and presents the methods as a series of protocols. These are clear and easy to follow and give the necessary details of equipment and reagents required for each procedure. Several chapters have useful illustrations, but the book is in no way an atlas. Each contributor has included the interpretative and clinical significance of recommended tests, particularly with regard to immunological detection of antibodv and antigen. This is narticularlv helpful in the chapters on malaha and toxoplasmosis, in which such tests are frequently difficult to interpret. One difficulty in reviewing a book of this nature published more than 3 years earlier is the absence of currently available technology. The chapter on malaria diagnosis does not include the new immunochromatographic dip-stick method currently available to detect Plastnodiutn falcparum HRP2 antigen or the work on the detection of parasite lactic dehydrogenase, which offers multi-species detection. Neither of these techniques was available when the chapter was written. The significance of intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolvtica or E. dispar is mentioned in chapter 6, but current recommendations by the World Health Organization again could not be included. As a reference textbook for appropriate diagnostic techniques for both microscopy and immunodiagnosis and an informative guide to histopathology of parasitic infections, I thoroughly recommend this book but I wonder when a revised version may be expected. A. H. Moody Depanment of Clinical Parasitology Hospital for Tropical Diseases St Pancras Way London, NW1 OPE, UK
Immunity to Parasites: How Parasitic Infections are Controlled (2nd edition). D. Wakelin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. xviii+204 pp. Paperback: ISBN O-521-43635-4. Price E12.95 (US$ 19.95). Hardback: ISBN O-521-56245-7. Price E35.00 (US8 59.95). This is a good little book. There have been many developments in the field of immunoparasitology since the publication of the first edition 12 years ago, and a second edition is timely. The first chapters are general, concerning parasites and parasitism, the immune response and experimental immunoparasitology. It is a challenge lucidly to cover the immune response in 20 pages, without becoming tangled in terminology, and for the most part the book succeeds. There are only a few examples of details discussed later in relation to specific parasites which have not been introduced: immunoglobulin subclasses are a case in point. Closer linking of the simplified description of the Thl/Th2 dichotomy to immtmoglobulin production would have been welcome. The following chapters cover intracellular protozoa, African trypanosomes, schistosomes, gastrointestinal nematodes, nematodes that invade tissues, and ectoparasitic arthropods. There is a good selection of parasites with a strong emphasis on schistosomes and nematodes, reflecting the interests of the author. The differences in the immune responses to various helminths are highlighted, rather than similarities between these responses and those seen in allergy. Results from laboratory approaches are emphasized rather than field epidemiology. There is substantial discussion of animal model
BOOK REVIEWS
systems to illustrate the variety of immunological mechanisms. Effects of variation at the level of the parasite are considered, and effects of variation in the host are discussed mainly for specific murine systems. The final, tonical, chauter covers immunological control of parasitic infection through vaccination. In this context. maior histocomoatibilitv comnlex (MHC) restriction is ‘referred to ‘consistently. firoughout the course of the book, differences in human populations are mentioned, albeit briefly. However, the growth of interest in the potential impact of host genetics on ability to respond to infection with an appropriate immune response, consequently influencing its position in the spectrum of disease, is sadly not apparent. This book is extremely readable and it is ideal for undergraduates or postgraduates new to the field. The vast majority of tables and figures are simple and readily understood. Whilst there is a wealth of information presented, this is not a book for detailed reference. Oversimplification, for examples of Leishmania taxonomy, has occasionally left the complete picture unclear. There is no other book tackling the topic of immunoparasitology in such a concise, easily digestible form and as such it has no competitors. Marie-Anne Shaw Depanment of Biology University of Leeds Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK The Immunology of Host-Ectoparasitic Arthropod Relationships. S. K. Wikel (editor). Wallingford: CAB International, 1996. xii+332pp. Price E60.00 (US$105.00,Americas only). ISBN O-85199-125-4. An inevitable consequence of the interaction between ectoparasitic arthropods and their hosts is that one induces an immune response in the other. Such reactions are familiar to anyone bitten by mosquitoes or suffering from scabies mites. Some efforts to harness the mammalian reaction, to provide hosts with protective immunity, were made as long ago as 1939 but even now relatively little progress has been made in vaccine development. One of the aims of this book is to stimulate readers to start their own investigations. As a source work, the book provides a wealth of information and references in 3 sections. The first starts with a chapter on skin immunology followed by reviews of arthroned mouthnarts and feeding, salivary gland physiology,- and salivary pharmacoiogy of - blood-&cking arthronods. The wav arthronods limit and divert the immune iesponse and-what happens to the blood meal in the gut are also discussed. The second section covers host immune responses to the major groups of ectoparasites with chapters on fleas, bugs and sucking lice, dipteran flies, ticks, scabies mites,and other mite groups. The final section examines nossible applications of the host immune response for aftacking arthropods. Although advertised for entomologists and acarologists, as well as immunologists, it is probably the latter who will find it most useful without engaging in some extra reading. As a cross-disciplinary book it would have been helpful if a little more background to some of the immunological and entomological techniques had been included, since some chapters describe the methods employed in various studies but others mostly catalogue results that are often hard to relate, especially since several authors offer little in the way of opinion or synthesis of the fmdings they describe. Consequently I found some of the later chapters more satisfying because the broader elements of the significance of the findings were discussed. The presentation of the book is generally good. It does, however, suffer patchily from spelling and other errors that should have been edited out. Nevertheless these minor drawbacks do not detract from its impor-
logical appearance of tissue-occupying parasites. There are 6 mates with 36 coloured nhotograohs of blood, intestinal and tissue parasites. A use&l appendix of suppliers of specialist items appears at the end. Each chapter outlines the principle requirement for diagnosis of a particular infection and presents the methods as a series of protocols. These are clear and easy to follow and give the necessary details of equipment and reagents required for each procedure. Several chapters have useful illustrations, but the book is in no way an atlas. Each contributor has included the interpretative and clinical significance of recommended tests, particularly with regard to immunological detection of antibodv and antigen. This is narticularlv helpful in the chapters on malaha and toxoplasmosis, in which such tests are frequently difficult to interpret. One difficulty in reviewing a book of this nature published more than 3 years earlier is the absence of currently available technology. The chapter on malaria diagnosis does not include the new immunochromatographic dip-stick method currently available to detect Plastnodiutn falcparum HRP2 antigen or the work on the detection of parasite lactic dehydrogenase, which offers multi-species detection. Neither of these techniques was available when the chapter was written. The significance of intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolvtica or E. dispar is mentioned in chapter 6, but current recommendations by the World Health Organization again could not be included. As a reference textbook for appropriate diagnostic techniques for both microscopy and immunodiagnosis and an informative guide to histopathology of parasitic infections, I thoroughly recommend this book but I wonder when a revised version may be expected. A. H. Moody Depanment of Clinical Parasitology Hospital for Tropical Diseases St Pancras Way London, NW1 OPE, UK
Immunity to Parasites: How Parasitic Infections are Controlled (2nd edition). D. Wakelin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. xviii+204 pp. Paperback: ISBN O-521-43635-4. Price E12.95 (US$ 19.95). Hardback: ISBN O-521-56245-7. Price E35.00 (US8 59.95). This is a good little book. There have been many developments in the field of immunoparasitology since the publication of the first edition 12 years ago, and a second edition is timely. The first chapters are general, concerning parasites and parasitism, the immune response and experimental immunoparasitology. It is a challenge lucidly to cover the immune response in 20 pages, without becoming tangled in terminology, and for the most part the book succeeds. There are only a few examples of details discussed later in relation to specific parasites which have not been introduced: immunoglobulin subclasses are a case in point. Closer linking of the simplified description of the Thl/Th2 dichotomy to immtmoglobulin production would have been welcome. The following chapters cover intracellular protozoa, African trypanosomes, schistosomes, gastrointestinal nematodes, nematodes that invade tissues, and ectoparasitic arthropods. There is a good selection of parasites with a strong emphasis on schistosomes and nematodes, reflecting the interests of the author. The differences in the immune responses to various helminths are highlighted, rather than similarities between these responses and those seen in allergy. Results from laboratory approaches are emphasized rather than field epidemiology. There is substantial discussion of animal model
BOOK REVIEWS
systems to illustrate the variety of immunological mechanisms. Effects of variation at the level of the parasite are considered, and effects of variation in the host are discussed mainly for specific murine systems. The final, tonical, chauter covers immunological control of parasitic infection through vaccination. In this context. maior histocomoatibilitv comnlex (MHC) restriction is ‘referred to ‘consistently. firoughout the course of the book, differences in human populations are mentioned, albeit briefly. However, the growth of interest in the potential impact of host genetics on ability to respond to infection with an appropriate immune response, consequently influencing its position in the spectrum of disease, is sadly not apparent. This book is extremely readable and it is ideal for undergraduates or postgraduates new to the field. The vast majority of tables and figures are simple and readily understood. Whilst there is a wealth of information presented, this is not a book for detailed reference. Oversimplification, for examples of Leishmania taxonomy, has occasionally left the complete picture unclear. There is no other book tackling the topic of immunoparasitology in such a concise, easily digestible form and as such it has no competitors. Marie-Anne Shaw Depanment of Biology University of Leeds Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK The Immunology of Host-Ectoparasitic Arthropod Relationships. S. K. Wikel (editor). Wallingford: CAB International, 1996. xii+332pp. Price E60.00 (US$105.00,Americas only). ISBN O-85199-125-4. An inevitable consequence of the interaction between ectoparasitic arthropods and their hosts is that one induces an immune response in the other. Such reactions are familiar to anyone bitten by mosquitoes or suffering from scabies mites. Some efforts to harness the mammalian reaction, to provide hosts with protective immunity, were made as long ago as 1939 but even now relatively little progress has been made in vaccine development. One of the aims of this book is to stimulate readers to start their own investigations. As a source work, the book provides a wealth of information and references in 3 sections. The first starts with a chapter on skin immunology followed by reviews of arthroned mouthnarts and feeding, salivary gland physiology,- and salivary pharmacoiogy of - blood-&cking arthronods. The wav arthronods limit and divert the immune iesponse and-what happens to the blood meal in the gut are also discussed. The second section covers host immune responses to the major groups of ectoparasites with chapters on fleas, bugs and sucking lice, dipteran flies, ticks, scabies mites,and other mite groups. The final section examines nossible applications of the host immune response for aftacking arthropods. Although advertised for entomologists and acarologists, as well as immunologists, it is probably the latter who will find it most useful without engaging in some extra reading. As a cross-disciplinary book it would have been helpful if a little more background to some of the immunological and entomological techniques had been included, since some chapters describe the methods employed in various studies but others mostly catalogue results that are often hard to relate, especially since several authors offer little in the way of opinion or synthesis of the fmdings they describe. Consequently I found some of the later chapters more satisfying because the broader elements of the significance of the findings were discussed. The presentation of the book is generally good. It does, however, suffer patchily from spelling and other errors that should have been edited out. Nevertheless these minor drawbacks do not detract from its impor-