Abstract
Over a quarter of a century ago, Chitwood and Lichtenfels published their comprehensive monograph on the identification of metazoan parasites in histopathologic section. This document, with its exhaustive text and its detailed black-and-white photographs, is the veritable Rosetta stone of diagnostic parasitology. If the Chitwood and Lichtenfels article is the Rosetta stone, then An Atlas of Metazoan Parasites in Animal Tissues is an Old Master's masterpiece. In support of training for veterinary pathologists, Gardiner and Poynton have compiled an extensive collection of photomicrographs demonstrating the morphologic features of metazoan parasites in animal tissues. To facilitate the identification process, the text provides a brief description of the major phyla of parasites affecting domesticated, wild, and laboratory animals, including their hosts, transmission, and pathogenesis. There are 270 detailed color photomicrographs of these metazoan parasites in their assorted predilection sites. The morphologic features of the six groups of metazoan parasites (nematodes, acanthocephalans, trematodes, cestodes, arthropods, and pentastomes) are described in detail. However, the nematodes are described in even greater detail, with thorough descriptions of the unique characteristics of cuticle, hypodermis, musculature, digestive tracts, and reproductive tracts of the major nematode groups: rhabditoids, oxyurids, ascarids, strongyles, spirurids, filarids, and aphasmids. Using the authors' dichotomous key along with the detailed photomicrographs and their descriptions, the dedicated student of pathology can become quite proficient in identifying the major groups of metazoan parasites and the diverse members of the phylum Nematoda. The atlas' references are complete and up to date, and the index is quite detailed.
I must mention that this document has an excellent companion document, An Atlas of Protozoan Parasites in Animal Tissues, by Dr. Gardiner and his associates, Drs. Fayer and Dubey. Both documents are available through the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and together complete the set for the veterinary pathologist's reference library.
The authors failed to mention that they (and their skilled team of histopathology technicians) have assembled a comprehensive glass slide/Kodachrome study set that is available on loan through the Armed Forces Institutes of Pathology. This study set mirrors this superb metazoan atlas; a protozoan study set is also available. Interested individuals should contact American Registry of Pathology at 202-782-2697 for details of the lending process.
I could find only one flaw in this excellent document—it is available only in a soft cover. I am having my copy professionally bound in hard cover so that I may enjoy using it for years to come. Bravo, Drs. Gardiner and Poynton, for a job well done!