Abstract
This textbook covers a wide array of topics of interest in the field of veterinary clinical pathology and does it in a very cogent manner. It is divided into five sections beginning, logically, with a section dedicated to a discussion of several of the basic principles of laboratory testing and diagnosis, including chapters on laboratory technology, sample handling, data interpretation, and immunodiagnostics. The subsequent four sections contain chapters that focus on the hematology of domestic animals, hematology of nondomestic animals, clinical chemistry of domestic animals, and clinical chemistry of nondomestic animals, respectively. There are 34 chapters in total, all written in narrative style. To perhaps the greatest degree of any of the several fine clinical pathology texts that have been released recently, this book makes extensive use of figures and color images. The extensive use of color images has been further enhanced by effectively using digital imaging techniques to highlight elements with images. Other elements of this textbook that make it of unique value include its emphasis of some topics that normally get minor attention. These include a thorough discussion, with illustrations, of the performance of in-house laboratory testing, the evaluation of bone marrow aspirates, and the clinical pathology of nondomestic species. Indeed, there are separate chapters dedicated to nondomestic mammals (including laboratory species), birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. One drawback of this book as a reference text is the fact that most of the chapters end with a bibliography of “Suggested Readings” rather than extensive reference lists. However, almost all the articles listed have been published in the veterinary literature and therefore should be readily available to individuals within the veterinary community. The index is relatively complete and easy to use, although more cross-referencing of terms would have made it more valuable.
Included as a separate softbound Appendix to the textbook is a set of 57 clinical case studies, covering diseases of most of the common organ systems for which clinicopathologic data plays a significant diagnostic role. These cases, which are taken apparently from actual case material, supply examples of how entire sets of clinicopathologic data are interpreted in their entirety. These cases, therefore, give examples of how to interpret individual clinical pathology results in light of the results and magnitude of changes in other diagnostic test results and of how to integrate all test results into a final diagnosis. They are intended to give guidance and beginning experience to the “art” of interpretation and include a brief clinical history and signalment, followed by the laboratory data. Each case ends with an interpretive discussion and case summary of less than a page in length that integrates the abnormal findings in light of the known disease condition. These case discussions complement the book well, although they are heavily weighted toward canine and feline clinical pathology and omit any clinical cases from nondomestic species. Nevertheless, they are a valuable supplement to the textbook.
In addition to Dr. Thrall, the book has several coauthors, all of whom are well-known and respected authorities within the veterinary community. The stated audience is veterinary students and health professionals, veterinary clinical pathologists and trainees, and members of the animal research community who use veterinary clinical pathology. It would also make an excellent resource for veterinary pathologists who perform or interpret clinical pathology data and for pathology residents preparing for board examination.