Abstract
This atlas was put together by 3 well-known pathologists with a large amount of collective experience in bovine pathology. As the authors state in the preface, “This atlas is the reflection of the authors’ professional exposure to bovine pathology for a combined total of over 100 years.” Two of these authors (Buergelt and Del Piero) authored recently a comprehensive review of equine pathology published by Wiley-Blackwell, which received stellar reviews.
The book was designed with the needs of veterinary pathologists and practitioners in mind, and it should be a useful resource for the daily practice of bovine veterinarians, with emphasis on those working with feedlots. Veterinary students and veterinarians in training will also benefit greatly from the information contained in this book, which has examples of almost all lesions a bovine veterinarian should expect to see in his or her career. The book should prove a very valuable resource for veterinarians preparing for different specialty boards, but probably those studying for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) board exam would find it particularly helpful.
The book includes 17 chapters followed by an alphabetical index, which makes for easy access to specific pathologies. The chapters are broken down mostly by body system, with 3 additional chapters on diseases of neonates and calves, as well as pathology of select poisonous plant–induced diseases of cattle and bovine diseases without lesions, respectively. Each chapter contains an introduction to the system/group of diseases to be presented, including some practical tips such as removal of the brain and spinal cord.
A particularly useful feature of the atlas is the inclusion of brief text accompanying each image, which should prove of practical use when rapid consultation on the face of a particular case is required. An updated list of references after each chapter provides support for those readers who would like to dig deep into a particular condition. Images of immunohistochemistry and special stains add value to the discussion of each condition.
Finally, and as a bonus, the book comes with a code that allows access to an electronic version of the book. This book is a must in any veterinary pathologist bookshelf and/or computer.