Abstract
Infectious Diseases of Wild Birds is a desperately needed text originally designed as an update to Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds, edited by John W. Davis, Roy C. Anderson, Lars Karstad and Daniel O. Trainer, published in 1971. Due to the greatly expanded knowledge of the field, the editors of the current volume have narrowed the focus of the book to provide a more in-depth and comprehensive review of infectious disease in wild, free-ranging birds. A separate volume on parasitic diseases of wild birds is also planned, but the release date is currently unknown.
The 457-page volume includes 23 chapters that describe viral, bacterial and fungal diseases, as well as diseases associated with biotoxins. Each chapter is organized around a basic outline detailing the history, distribution, host range, etiology, epizootiology, clinical signs, pathogenesis, pathology, diagnosis, immunity, treatment, control, and management implications of individual diseases. Implications for the health of human, domestic animal, and wildlife populations are also discussed. The organization of the text follows a logical progression of information and enables readers to quickly glean key information about particular aspects of a disease.
The editors target a broad target audience but the book provides excellent detail in all areas. Although it is not specifically written for veterinary pathologists any pathologists working with diseases of free-ranging birds will find it useful.
Forty-four authors have contributed to the text, guaranteeing considerable variation in writing style and quality. The text generally reads very well, but a few particular chapters provide some challenges to the reader's attentiveness and comprehension. Nonetheless, all the chapters provide excellent and valuable information. Many chapters are exceptionally well written and are a joy to read.
Most chapters provide a number of useful illustrations, but the veterinary pathologist should not purchase this book expecting an atlas of lesions. However, the text does include a variety of excellent diagrams of life cycles, distribution maps, tables, and the like. References at the end of each chapter are comprehensive, up-to-date, and encompass peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as key texts. The editors have included a very detailed index.
Other excellent resources concerning diseases of free-ranging avian species are available, but none provide as much comprehensive, detailed information about the broad range of infectious diseases affecting all types of wild birds. It is an excellent overview of what is currently known about the subject. It will prove to be an invaluable reference for veterinary pathologists who have a general interest in diseases of wild birds. In general, anyone concerned with the diseases of free-ranging avian species should have this text at hand.