Abstract
Fish Pathology has been a classic fish disease text since the late 1970s, and the third edition, published first in 2001 and reprinted in 2003, maintains that distinction. The book balances content so that those adapting their discipline training to fish can concisely and effectively acquaint themselves with ectothermic responses and common fish diseases. Those familiar with fish but entering the field of disease can equally obtain both the general principles and history of diseases in production and wild fish. With aquaculture growing rapidly and diversifying worldwide, this text provides a basic reference for many and appeals to a diverse audience. The first four chapters describe the peculiarities involved in working with fish species: the environmental influences, specialized anatomy and physiology, principles of pathophysiology, and immunology. The bulk of the book divides the discussion of diseases into the classic categories of etiology, both infectious and noninfectious. The last chapter lists some of the common laboratory techniques and formulae used in disease studies.
Fish Pathology covers many species, many types of disease, and includes both historical and current information. The third edition uses more high quality–colored photographs throughout the text, which, with the improved print quality, enhances readability. Line drawings and black-and-white photographs are also used effectively in most sections. Several areas (i.e., virology) have been significantly enhanced. Other sections have remained more traditional and are updated with recent trends and interpretive changes. Pathologists may not find descriptions of diseases as detailed as they would in traditional species in part because of format but sometimes reflecting decreased availability of information in these species. The subject index is easy to use, listing diseases by common name and again by etiology.
There is an ever-increasing amount of fish disease information available, and this book manages to capture current diagnostic trends and diagnostic problems. It can be used as an effective overview or a quick, specific reference. Other texts concentrating on one aspect of a species, or a scientific discipline, have more information with greater detail, but Fish Pathology endures because it manages to fill a unique niche because of its breadth and well-crafted descriptions of fish diseases.