Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man aqnd Animals. Third Edition. Pedro N Acha and Boris Szyfres. A Review by Peter Kerr.

Abstract

THE three volumes of this book set out to cover the common and not so common zoonotic diseases. As the title implies, in many cases, for example actinomycosis, the diseases covered are common to humans and animals rather than being transmitted from animals to man. Volume 1 covers bacterial and mycotic diseases, volume 2, chlamydial, rickettsial and viral diseases and volume 3 deals with parasitic diseases. Each disease is dealt with systematically under the headings of: Etiology, Geographic Distribution, Occurrence in man, Occurrence in animals, Disease in man, Disease in animals, Source of infection and mode of transmission, Role of animals in the epidemiology of the disease, Diagnosis, and Control. This is followed by a bibliography. The style makes it easy to gain a quick overview or refresher on any particular disease that is covered. However, it does not lend itself to differential diagnosis based on clinical signs or symptoms. This means that the books are probably more useful for students, clinicians, epidemiologists, researchers and public health workers needing a quick update on a particular disease than for the diagnostician in the field or clinic.