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Protozoan parasites of fishes
Porositology Toduy, vol.
41
IO, no. I, I 994
Protozoan Parasites of Fishes byjiri Lom and Iva Dykov6, Elsevier, 1992. $/8/.00/Dfl290.00 (328 pages) ISBN 0 444 89434 9 In the preface of this book, the authors state that the parasitic protozoans of fish have not received much attention to date. This is true, and some of the main reasons for this may be that fish parasitologists in general, myself included, start their research on bigger, more easily available, and especially more easily characterized parasit.es. This volume, which is one in a series dealing with ‘Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science’, may help in changing that. Here we have what many fish parasitologists have been waiting for: a comprehensive monograph on the protozoan parasites of fish. The authors start by introducing the reader into the general biology and techniques for collecting and studying fish protozoans. It is obvious that the advice given (especially the technical advice) has been gained through many years of hard field and laboratory work,
Emerging Infections: Microbial Threiats to Health in the United States edited by]. Lederberg, R.E. Shape and S.C. Oaks, National Academic Press, 1992. $34.95 (x + 3 I2 pages) ISBN 0 309 0474.1 2 Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and we continue to confront new diseases and syndromes caused by infectious agents We are also challenged by diseases in parts of the world from which they have been absent for many years or in which the disease has not previously been recognized, the re-emergence of diseases thought to be under control, and diseases caused by organisms which are increasingly resistant to available antimicrobial drugs. The factors contributing to the emergence of these microbial threats have been ident.ified in the report of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health co-chaired by ]oshlJa Lederbet-g and Robert Shope. As they indicate in the Preface, ‘There is nowhere in the
and can save newcomerS much time and effort. However, the list of parasitological terms and concepts could have been better structured. The first chapter ends with a practical key for determination of fish protozoa to higher taxonomic groups. The major part of the volume comprises descriptions of and comments on the representatives within the different protozoan phyla found in and on fish from fresh, brackish and marine waters. It is inevitable that a great part of such a monograph deals with taxonomy but the authors have succeeded in making this more palatable by including general comments on life cycles, distribution, pathogenicity, culture and even economic importance. In several cases they have also included their own or others’ unpublished results. This, together with some taxonomical statements, eg. regarding subgenus and species within the genus Go&o, means that the text will engage not only parasitologists from parallel fields but also well-established fish protozoologists. Regarding Myxosporeo and their life cycle, the authors were lucky enough to be able to add a note in proof on the latest findings of transmission of myxo-
via actinosporean spores sporeans from oligochaets, ie. to illustrate the use of an intermediate host, which seems to overturn many of the existing ideas on myxosporean life cycles. The photographs and drawings in the book are of high standard and very illustrative. However, in writing and printing this type of book it is almost impossible to avoid misspellings. Although there are only a few in this volume, an obvious one strikes you on the very first page when the dates of the first mention of a fish protozoan are given (should be 964-1126 AD); such information which will very easily be quoted by other authors. Nevertheless, I had great pleasure in reading the book, not only because of all the knowledge compiled into one volume, but also because of the nice and sometimes personal style. The book will introduce students as well as researchers of parasitology into the not so well known world of fish protozoans and, hopefully, stimulate them to further studies. I can highly recommend it.
world from which we are remote and no one from whom we are disconnected’. This landmark report was developed by a committee of I7 experts under the leadership of Lederberg and Shope. Five task forces contributed to the development of the report, ensuring that a number of other experts had the opportunity to make contributions. The study was funded by several private organizations and federal agencies. The report contains an excellent Executive Summary in the main volume, and a separately bound version modified to some extent to enhance its impact when read alone. The first chapter provides an interesting historical overview, the second discusses in detail the factors contributing to disease emergence, and the third contains the Committee’s recommendations and the rationale on which they are based. The appendices identify individuals serving on the Task Force, provide a summary of epidemiological and clinical information on emerging microorganisms and a listing of existing facilities and institutions around the world that could be components of a global surveillance network to identify emerging infections.
The Committee identified six factors that contribute to the emergence of infections, including changes in human demographics and behavior, advances in technology and industry, economic development and changes in land use, increased international travel and commerce, microbial adaptation and change, and breakdown of public health measures. The report provides relevant examples from recent experience to illustrate how such factors have led to the emergence of specific diseases. For example, urbanization, changing parasite biology, environmental changes, drug resistance, and air travel are cited as having contributed to the continued emergence of malaria as a major global public-health problem. Immunosuppression and an increase in cat ownership are identified as contributing to the emergence of toxoplasmosis, while immunosuppression and inadequate water treatment are identified as contributing to the emergence of ctyptosporidiosis. The background material in the report is quite timely with references through early 1992, including a discussion of the discovery of Guanarito virus in Venezuela and the identification of
Jan Thulin Natlonal Board of Fisheries Institute of Manne Research PO Box 4, S-453 2 I Lysekll, Sweden
41
IO, no. I, I 994
Protozoan Parasites of Fishes byjiri Lom and Iva Dykov6, Elsevier, 1992. $/8/.00/Dfl290.00 (328 pages) ISBN 0 444 89434 9 In the preface of this book, the authors state that the parasitic protozoans of fish have not received much attention to date. This is true, and some of the main reasons for this may be that fish parasitologists in general, myself included, start their research on bigger, more easily available, and especially more easily characterized parasit.es. This volume, which is one in a series dealing with ‘Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science’, may help in changing that. Here we have what many fish parasitologists have been waiting for: a comprehensive monograph on the protozoan parasites of fish. The authors start by introducing the reader into the general biology and techniques for collecting and studying fish protozoans. It is obvious that the advice given (especially the technical advice) has been gained through many years of hard field and laboratory work,
Emerging Infections: Microbial Threiats to Health in the United States edited by]. Lederberg, R.E. Shape and S.C. Oaks, National Academic Press, 1992. $34.95 (x + 3 I2 pages) ISBN 0 309 0474.1 2 Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and we continue to confront new diseases and syndromes caused by infectious agents We are also challenged by diseases in parts of the world from which they have been absent for many years or in which the disease has not previously been recognized, the re-emergence of diseases thought to be under control, and diseases caused by organisms which are increasingly resistant to available antimicrobial drugs. The factors contributing to the emergence of these microbial threats have been ident.ified in the report of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health co-chaired by ]oshlJa Lederbet-g and Robert Shope. As they indicate in the Preface, ‘There is nowhere in the
and can save newcomerS much time and effort. However, the list of parasitological terms and concepts could have been better structured. The first chapter ends with a practical key for determination of fish protozoa to higher taxonomic groups. The major part of the volume comprises descriptions of and comments on the representatives within the different protozoan phyla found in and on fish from fresh, brackish and marine waters. It is inevitable that a great part of such a monograph deals with taxonomy but the authors have succeeded in making this more palatable by including general comments on life cycles, distribution, pathogenicity, culture and even economic importance. In several cases they have also included their own or others’ unpublished results. This, together with some taxonomical statements, eg. regarding subgenus and species within the genus Go&o, means that the text will engage not only parasitologists from parallel fields but also well-established fish protozoologists. Regarding Myxosporeo and their life cycle, the authors were lucky enough to be able to add a note in proof on the latest findings of transmission of myxo-
via actinosporean spores sporeans from oligochaets, ie. to illustrate the use of an intermediate host, which seems to overturn many of the existing ideas on myxosporean life cycles. The photographs and drawings in the book are of high standard and very illustrative. However, in writing and printing this type of book it is almost impossible to avoid misspellings. Although there are only a few in this volume, an obvious one strikes you on the very first page when the dates of the first mention of a fish protozoan are given (should be 964-1126 AD); such information which will very easily be quoted by other authors. Nevertheless, I had great pleasure in reading the book, not only because of all the knowledge compiled into one volume, but also because of the nice and sometimes personal style. The book will introduce students as well as researchers of parasitology into the not so well known world of fish protozoans and, hopefully, stimulate them to further studies. I can highly recommend it.
world from which we are remote and no one from whom we are disconnected’. This landmark report was developed by a committee of I7 experts under the leadership of Lederberg and Shope. Five task forces contributed to the development of the report, ensuring that a number of other experts had the opportunity to make contributions. The study was funded by several private organizations and federal agencies. The report contains an excellent Executive Summary in the main volume, and a separately bound version modified to some extent to enhance its impact when read alone. The first chapter provides an interesting historical overview, the second discusses in detail the factors contributing to disease emergence, and the third contains the Committee’s recommendations and the rationale on which they are based. The appendices identify individuals serving on the Task Force, provide a summary of epidemiological and clinical information on emerging microorganisms and a listing of existing facilities and institutions around the world that could be components of a global surveillance network to identify emerging infections.
The Committee identified six factors that contribute to the emergence of infections, including changes in human demographics and behavior, advances in technology and industry, economic development and changes in land use, increased international travel and commerce, microbial adaptation and change, and breakdown of public health measures. The report provides relevant examples from recent experience to illustrate how such factors have led to the emergence of specific diseases. For example, urbanization, changing parasite biology, environmental changes, drug resistance, and air travel are cited as having contributed to the continued emergence of malaria as a major global public-health problem. Immunosuppression and an increase in cat ownership are identified as contributing to the emergence of toxoplasmosis, while immunosuppression and inadequate water treatment are identified as contributing to the emergence of ctyptosporidiosis. The background material in the report is quite timely with references through early 1992, including a discussion of the discovery of Guanarito virus in Venezuela and the identification of
Jan Thulin Natlonal Board of Fisheries Institute of Manne Research PO Box 4, S-453 2 I Lysekll, Sweden