Abstract
Fowler, M. E., and Miller, R. E. (eds.). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed. 782 pp. Saunders, St. Louis, MO, 2003. $134.00. ISBN 0-7216-9499-3.
The fifth edition of Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine returns to the comprehensive format that characterized the first and second editions (1978 and 1986) and provides a broad updated overview of the burgeoning field of Zoological Medicine. Intermediate editions followed the Current Veterinary Therapy format and emphasized reviews of selected species and topical issues in Zoological Medicine. Although the book is primarily directed toward zoo clinicians, it would be a very useful addition to the library of any pathologist who includes zoo animals as part of their diagnostic practice.
The text addresses vertebrate groups from fish through mammals with chapters divided by taxonomic order (e.g., order Phoenicopteriformes, the flamingos) or taxonomic family (e.g., family Proboscidea, the elephants). Each chapter gives a concise overview of the biology of each animal group, including taxonomy, unique anatomy or physiology, reproductive characteristics, overview of captive husbandry, and a synopsis of important infectious, parasitic, and non-infectious diseases. The last section of the book has a series of chapters that review diseases affecting captive management of multiple taxa including salmonellosis, tuberculosis, spongiform encephalopathies, and metabolic bone disease.
Individual chapters have considerable breadth with succinct mention of most classic as well as emerging and newly described diseases affecting zoo animals. Information found only within professional proceedings or institutional archives is included and should be helpful for pathologists outside zoo settings without access to this material. The reference lists for most chapters are short (usually about 20) and sometimes exclude citations for disease entities mentioned in the text. Most chapters provide hematology and serum biochemistry reference values from the International Species Information system (ISIS) database, but in some it is unclear if values are from ISIS or from other sources. Although ISIS values are extremely useful guidelines for zoo species, their limitations (values derived from multiple institutions with different analytic methods; low sample numbers for some species) are not highlighted in the text. Tables have been used effectively to summarize larger volumes of physiologic data and disease information. Figures are few and consist of good quality black and white photos or drawings illustrating clinical techniques or gross lesions.
In summary, this is an important “big picture” book that covers the entire field of Zoological Medicine (with the exception of invertebrates). It is a helpful starting point for quick review of biologic or husbandry information or for development of a differential diagnosis in an unfamiliar species. The editors and authors have succeeded in the Herculean and thankless task of summarizing a very broad veterinary specialty.