Parasitology - An Integrated Approach - An Integrated Approach

Parasitology: An Integrated Approach , provides a concise, student-friendly account of parasites and parasite relationships that is supported by case studies and suggestions for student projects. The book focuses strongly on parasite interactions with other pathogens and in particular parasite-HIV interactions, as well as looking at how host behaviour contributes to the spread of infections. There is a consideration of the positive aspects of parasite infections, how humans have used parasites for their own advantage and also how parasite infections affect the welfare of captive and domestic animals. The emphasis of Parasitology is on recent research throughout and each chapter ends with a brief discussion of future developments. This text is not simply an updated version of typical parastitology books but takes an integrated approach and explains how the study of parasites requires an understanding of a wide range of other topics from molecular biology and immunology to the interactions of parasites with both their hosts and other pathogens.

List of contents

Preface xiii1 Animal associations 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Animal associations 11.3 Parasite hosts 111.4 The co-evolution of parasites and their hosts 131.5 Parasitism as a 'lifestyle': advantages and limitations 161.6 The economic cost of parasitic diseases 181.7 Why parasitic diseases remain a problem 211.8 Taxonomy 24Questions 272 Parasitic protozoa, fungi and plants 282.1 Introduction 282.2 Parasitic protozoa 282.3 Phylum Rhizopoda 292.4 Phylum Metamonada 342.5 Phylum Apicomplexa 402.6 Subclass Coccidiasina 502.7 Phylum Kinetoplastida 622.8 Phylum Chlorophyta 812.9.1 Microsporidia 832.10 Kingdom plantae 85Questions 853 Helminth parasites 863.1 Introduction: invertebrate taxonomy 863.2 Phylum Platyhelminthes 873.3 Class Trematoda 873.4 Class Cestoda 1033.5 Phylum Acanthocephala 1123.6 Phylum Nematoda (Nemata) 114Questions 1354 Arthropod parasites 1374.1 Introduction 1374.2 Phylum Chelicerata 1384.3 Phylum Crustacea 1484.4 Sub-phylum Hexapoda 153Questions 1785 Parasite transmission 1805.1 Introduction 1805.2 Contaminative transmission 1815.3 Transmission associated with reproduction 1845.4 Autoinfection 1895.5 Nosocomial transmission 1905.6 Active parasite transmission 1915.7 Hosts and vectors 1925.8 Host factors 1965.9 Co-transmission and interactions between infectious agents 1995.10 How religion can influence parasite transmission 2025.11 The influence of war on parasite transmission 2045.12 The influence of parasites on host behaviour 2055.13 Environmental factors 207Questions 2116 Immune reactions to parasitic infections 2126.1 Introduction 2126.2 Invertebrate immunity 2136.3 Vertebrate immunity 2156.4 Innate immunity to parasitic infection 2216.5 Adaptive immunity 2266.6 Immunity to malaria 2336.7 Schistosoma mansoni and Hepatitis C virus interactions 2376.8 HIV-AIDS and parasitic disease 238Questions 2437 Pathology 2457.1 Introduction 2457.2 Factors that influence pathogenesis 2457.3 Mechanisms by which parasites induce pathology 2477.4 Types of pathology 2507.5 Damage to specific organs 2697.6 Co-infections and pathogenesis 289Questions 2908 The useful parasite 2928.1 Introduction: the goodness of parasites? 2928.2 The importance of parasites for the maintenance of a healthy immune system 2938.3 The use of parasites to treat medical conditions 2978.4 Parasites as sources of novel pharmaceutically-active compounds 3088.5 Parasites as biological control agents 3098.6 Parasites as forensic indicators 312Questions 3149 Identification of protozoan and helminth parasites 3169.1 Introduction 3169.2 The importance of correct identification 3169.3 Properties of an ideal diagnostic test 3189.4 Isolation of parasites 3209.5 Identification from gross morphology 3239.6 Biochemical techniques 3299.7 Immunological techniques 3299.8 Molecular techniques 3319.9 Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) 3349.10 MALDI-TOF MS 337Questions 33810 Parasite treatment and control 33910.1 Introduction 33910.2 Importance of understanding parasite life cycles for effective treatment and control 33910.3 Treatment of parasitic diseases 34110.4 Vaccines against parasitic diseases 35610.5 Control of parasitic diseases 362Questions 373References 375Index 431

Summary

Parasitology: An Integrated Approach, provides a concise, student-friendly account of parasites and parasite relationships that is supported by case studies and suggestions for student projects.

Report

"Overall, a very enjoyable and useful book at a price that is not too astronomical ." ( British Journal of Biomedical Science , 1 January 2013)

"Suitable as an undergraduate text in parasitology courses. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-and upper-division undergraduates." ( Choice , 1 January 2013)

Product details

• Authors: Gunn, A Gunn, Ala Gunn, Alan Gunn, Alan Pitt Gunn, Sarah J Pitt, Sarah J. Pitt, Sarah Jane Pitt
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2012
• EAN: 9780470684238
• ISBN: 978-0-470-68423-8
• No. of pages: 456
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Miscellaneous; Mikrobiologie - Mikroorganismus, Biologie / Mikrobiologie, Mikrobiologie (nicht-medizinisch), Parasit, Schmarotzer, Biowissenschaften; Life Sciences; Parasitologie