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Virus infections of carnivores
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 20 (1989) 173-176 ElsevierSciencePublishers B.V., Amsterdam-- Printed in The Netherlands
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Book Reviews VIRUS INFECTIONS OF CARNIVORES Virus Injections of Carnivores. M.J. Appel (Editor). Virus Infections of Vertebrates, Vol. 1. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1987. xv + 500 pp., US$175.50/Dfl. 360.00, ISBN 0-444-42709-0. This volume is the first in a series of monographs generally entitled "Viral Infections of Vertebrates" which is intended to supplement individual monographs on specific viruses or viral infectious diseases. It is the editor's and the publisher's view that this book will fill the void between very detailed and exquisite monographs of specific viruses from a virologic emphasis and those textbooks or monographs devoted to presenting viral infectious diseases in a clinical context with little emphasis on biology of the virus per se. Unlike a pure virology text, this book is designed to present a practical approach to understanding of viral infectious disease, summaries of useful data necessary to make a diagnosis, and a summary of prophylaxis measures, if any. It is important, I think, to point out that modern concepts in molecular biology have been de-emphasized in this volume. As such, this volume is intended as a standard reference work for individuals who encounter viral infections in their study of animal health and disease. It is not written from a virologist's viewpoint which, frankly, I find refreshing. The organization of the textbook is also unique in this reviewer's experience. There are five major subdivisions entitled virus infections of: dogs, cats, mink and ferrets, nondomestic carnivores and the pinniped group, that is, seals and sea lions. Under these major subdivisions are subheadings of DNA viruses and RNA viruses. Representatives of each of the viral infections are then included and discussed separately. There is a brief one-page discussion of the general characteristics of each viral family, such as the herpesviridae, as they are introduced. Individual chapters are subdivided into sections of introduction, virus properties, epizootiology or epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease signs, pathology, including gross and histopathologic findings, immune response, laboratory diagnosis, and prophylaxis and control. Each chapter has a lengthy reference list following. I think this book is a welcome addition to the desks of research workers in infectious disease, as well as libraries in academic medicine and virology. Again, I think the editor's and the publisher's goal is largely realized in that each viral infectious disease is presented in an eminently readable and understandable fashion. The salient features of physical properties of the virus, epidemiology, lesions, serodiagnosis, treatment and control, if any, are laid out in a wellorganized and highly readable manner. In general, the illustrations are well
174
done and well conceived and are appropriate for a textbook of this nature. On balance, I don't believe this textbook would be useful to those seeking details of viral structure, gene sequence, and genomic mutation, but it is highly useful for those interested in general patterns and appearance of viral infectious diseases in carnivores. Like many multi-authored texts, the quality of individual treatises is somewhat uneven and on occasion written with the author's bias toward disease interpretation clearly evident. This is particularly true for those chapters describing feline viruses. A second short-coming of this volume is the failure of many of the authors to adequately address the concept that viral infectious disease frequently occurs as a mixed infection in which additional viral, bacterial or mycotic pathogens may complicate the presentation. To be fair, however, this issue is raised sporadically throughout the volume and should not really be considered a serious negative criticism. In summary, this is a well-written and readable text for students and interested persons in viral infectious disease and is an important contribution to the literature of viral infectious diseases of animals. ! look forward to future volumes detailing viral infections of other domestic animal species. STEVEN KRAKOWKA
Department o[ Veterinary Pathobiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 (U.S.A.)
MOVING FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY
Moving Frontiers in Veterinary Immunology. R. Pandey (Editor). Progress in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 4. S. Karger, Basel, Switzerland, 1988. xii + 252 pp., illus., price (hard cover ) SFr. 210.00/DM 251.00/ US$140.00/£ 95.50, ISBN 3-8055-4632-7. Veterinary immunology is a field of study in the context of infectious diseases. Studying immune systems of farm animals is a prerequisite to developing preventive procedures like vaccination and increased genetic resistance. For a number of infectious animal diseases vaccination has proved highly successful; for many important diseases, however, it is not yet possible. Also, the interaction between effects of pharmaceuticals, for example antibiotics, and the reaction of the immune system to pathogens has to be investigated and supported by fundamental knowledge of the immune system. The same applies to nutrition, housing conditions and stress. Each of the nine chapters in this book contains important information. It is difficult, however, in view of the price, to envisage a large number of advanced
173
Book Reviews VIRUS INFECTIONS OF CARNIVORES Virus Injections of Carnivores. M.J. Appel (Editor). Virus Infections of Vertebrates, Vol. 1. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1987. xv + 500 pp., US$175.50/Dfl. 360.00, ISBN 0-444-42709-0. This volume is the first in a series of monographs generally entitled "Viral Infections of Vertebrates" which is intended to supplement individual monographs on specific viruses or viral infectious diseases. It is the editor's and the publisher's view that this book will fill the void between very detailed and exquisite monographs of specific viruses from a virologic emphasis and those textbooks or monographs devoted to presenting viral infectious diseases in a clinical context with little emphasis on biology of the virus per se. Unlike a pure virology text, this book is designed to present a practical approach to understanding of viral infectious disease, summaries of useful data necessary to make a diagnosis, and a summary of prophylaxis measures, if any. It is important, I think, to point out that modern concepts in molecular biology have been de-emphasized in this volume. As such, this volume is intended as a standard reference work for individuals who encounter viral infections in their study of animal health and disease. It is not written from a virologist's viewpoint which, frankly, I find refreshing. The organization of the textbook is also unique in this reviewer's experience. There are five major subdivisions entitled virus infections of: dogs, cats, mink and ferrets, nondomestic carnivores and the pinniped group, that is, seals and sea lions. Under these major subdivisions are subheadings of DNA viruses and RNA viruses. Representatives of each of the viral infections are then included and discussed separately. There is a brief one-page discussion of the general characteristics of each viral family, such as the herpesviridae, as they are introduced. Individual chapters are subdivided into sections of introduction, virus properties, epizootiology or epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease signs, pathology, including gross and histopathologic findings, immune response, laboratory diagnosis, and prophylaxis and control. Each chapter has a lengthy reference list following. I think this book is a welcome addition to the desks of research workers in infectious disease, as well as libraries in academic medicine and virology. Again, I think the editor's and the publisher's goal is largely realized in that each viral infectious disease is presented in an eminently readable and understandable fashion. The salient features of physical properties of the virus, epidemiology, lesions, serodiagnosis, treatment and control, if any, are laid out in a wellorganized and highly readable manner. In general, the illustrations are well
174
done and well conceived and are appropriate for a textbook of this nature. On balance, I don't believe this textbook would be useful to those seeking details of viral structure, gene sequence, and genomic mutation, but it is highly useful for those interested in general patterns and appearance of viral infectious diseases in carnivores. Like many multi-authored texts, the quality of individual treatises is somewhat uneven and on occasion written with the author's bias toward disease interpretation clearly evident. This is particularly true for those chapters describing feline viruses. A second short-coming of this volume is the failure of many of the authors to adequately address the concept that viral infectious disease frequently occurs as a mixed infection in which additional viral, bacterial or mycotic pathogens may complicate the presentation. To be fair, however, this issue is raised sporadically throughout the volume and should not really be considered a serious negative criticism. In summary, this is a well-written and readable text for students and interested persons in viral infectious disease and is an important contribution to the literature of viral infectious diseases of animals. ! look forward to future volumes detailing viral infections of other domestic animal species. STEVEN KRAKOWKA
Department o[ Veterinary Pathobiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 (U.S.A.)
MOVING FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY
Moving Frontiers in Veterinary Immunology. R. Pandey (Editor). Progress in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 4. S. Karger, Basel, Switzerland, 1988. xii + 252 pp., illus., price (hard cover ) SFr. 210.00/DM 251.00/ US$140.00/£ 95.50, ISBN 3-8055-4632-7. Veterinary immunology is a field of study in the context of infectious diseases. Studying immune systems of farm animals is a prerequisite to developing preventive procedures like vaccination and increased genetic resistance. For a number of infectious animal diseases vaccination has proved highly successful; for many important diseases, however, it is not yet possible. Also, the interaction between effects of pharmaceuticals, for example antibiotics, and the reaction of the immune system to pathogens has to be investigated and supported by fundamental knowledge of the immune system. The same applies to nutrition, housing conditions and stress. Each of the nine chapters in this book contains important information. It is difficult, however, in view of the price, to envisage a large number of advanced