Abstract
Veterinary Microbiology: Bacterial and Fungal Agents of Animal Disease, an explicitly titled new text in soft cover, is aimed at veterinarians and microbiologists and for use in the veterinary curriculum. The contents are divided into 3 major sections: 1. Basics of Veterinary Microbiology, with 3 chapters on virulence, principles of bacterial disease diagnosis, and antimicrobials, resistance mechanisms and susceptibility testing; 2. Veterinary Bacteriology; and 3. Veterinary Mycology. Section 2 is further subdivided into 7 segments, with individual chapters devoted to one genus or to a group of closely related genera. The chapter on the Genus Clostridium is noticeably the longest. The chapter format is standard throughout, with a brief introduction followed by subsections on disease and epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and control and prevention. Following an introductory chapter, Section 3 discusses mycoses in 3 chapters based on location of infection and includes 2 chapters on opportunistic fungi and fungal-like agents.
Information is current; it is clearly and succinctly presented, yet wide-ranging, including pathogens not only from the usual domestic species but also wild, amphibian and marine species. Bioterrorism is discussed briefly in the context of relevant specific organisms.
The writing style overall is very readable and quite refreshing in places. In total, 116 tables are used throughout for presentation of a range of material from organism characteristics to range of species infected. Illustrations number 250. Unfortunately, the selection and quality of color photographs is often disappointing as the legends generally lack sufficient detail to assist the uninitiated in interpretation of gross lesions and culture plates, and the detail included in diagrams on pathogenesis is variable. For each chapter there is a short, varied selection of suggested readings, rather than references per se, likely on the assumption of easy electronic access to the literature.
Nomenclature is generally current throughout with few exceptions (e.g., E. coli fimbriae F4 and F5. Recent changes are explained, and helpfully, familiar obsolete names are included. Also useful for those on less familiar territory are the tables on taxonomy, and glossary of terminology in the introductory mycology chapter. The index has been compiled thoroughly; notably absent, however, are the terms zoonosis or public health, and such information must be sought out under the relevant genera.
Although closely comparable to Essentials of Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology 6th ed. by Carter, G. R. and Wise, D. J. 2004, this text is more current with terminology and a wider range of organisms and hosts is included. Coverage of virulence mechanisms and factors is less detailed than in Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections of Animals 3rd ed. by Gyles, C.L., Prescott, J. F., Songer, J. G. and Thoen, C.O. 2004. Overall, for the diagnostic pathologist or graduate student seeking a useful, user-friendly, comprehensive current veterinary microbiology text, this new book will serve well, and provides a gateway to the literature, especially when uncommon infections or animal species are encountered.