Parasitology : A Conceptual Approach book cover

1st Edition

Parasitology
A Conceptual Approach

Copyright Year 2015

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Book Description

Parasitology: A Conceptual Approach is a new textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students which focuses on concepts and principles without neglecting important aspects of a traditional, taxonomically based approach to parasitology. Concentrating on concepts enables readers to gain a broader perspective that will increase their ability to think critically about various parasitic associations. The interfaces between the study of parasitism and prominent biological disciplines such as biodiversity, immunology, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, and disease control are highlighted. End-of-chapter questions are provided, as is an Instructor Manual.

Information on individual parasites is expertly summarized in a concise appendix called the Rogues' Gallery. This appendix is organized taxonomically and includes details on taxonomy, life cycle, associated pathology, treatment, and control. Species included in the Rogues' Gallery are highlighted in red throughout the main text.

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Parasitism
2. An Overview of Parasite Diversity
3. The Parasite's Way of Life
4. Host Defense and Parasite Evasion
5. Parasite vs. Host: Pathology and Disease
6. The Ecology of Parasitism
7. The Evolutionary Biology of Parasitism
8. Parasites and Conservation Biology
9. The Challenge of Parasite Control
10. The Future of Parasitology
The Rogues' Gallery:
-Protozoa
-Platyhelminths
-Nematodes
-Arthropods

Author(s)

Biography

Bruce V. Hofkin received his PhD from the University of New Mexico where he is currently a faculty member in the Department of Biology.  His primary research interest is the epidemiology and control of vector-borne and snail-borne diseases.

Eric S. Loker is Distinguished Professor of Biology, Curator of the Division of Parasites of the Museum of the Southwestern Biology, and Director of the COBRE Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology at the University of New Mexico where he has taught parasitology and related courses for many years. His research interests focus on the biology of schistosomes.

Reviews

I shall recommend this book for anyone dealing with any aspect of parasitology. It is a rich source of updated information on emerging issues in parasitology, including parasite-host interactions, parasite ecology and evolution. I will certainly put my hardcopy in my bookshelf "must have books on parasitology." - Parasites and Vectors, 2015

Parasitology: A Conceptual Approach is a new textbook focusing on the concepts and principles of parasitology for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students as well as instructors and professors in universities. Every chapter deals with the most recent knowledge regarding each relevant topic and highlights the modern concepts of parasite biology and evolutionary ecology. Different types of parasites, hosts, and vectors are well explained....The part entitled "Rogues' Gallery of Parasites" is also unique. It describes the traditional concept of parasitology with morphology and taxonomy-based approaches. It provides a concise overview of the basic biology of major parasites of medical and/or veterinary importance in a total 48 sections. The figures used in this part are extraordinarily super-excellent....The book provides an excellent resource and will be highly useful and helpful for medical and veterinary medical students, tropical medicine doctors, researchers, laboratory personnel, and professors in parasitology and biology. - Korean Journal of Parasitology, 2015

"For those of you who teach parasitology at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, I would strongly recommend that you integrate this book within your taught curricula. It is excellent value for money and an inspiring treatise for it links several themes in modern biology as tailored within a parasitological framework." -Parasitology

Parasitology: A Conceptual Approach offers a comprehensive introduction to a multifaceted and often ignored field of biology and provides a useful jumping-off point for deeper study. Its broad theme-based structure effectively explicates several subdivisions of parasitology, and its case studies are judiciously chosen and highlight important concepts with salient examples. For those searching for a reference, the last chapter suffices. In sum, Loker and Hofkin’s textbook is an excellent read for both undergraduate and graduate students.-Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

The various parasitological concepts embedded in this text book are presented in a distinct and lucid manner which brings a fresh wave of thoughts in the minds of the readers. This book is a useful resource for the students and researchers involved in any parasitology or related fields. Finally, if you are a parasitology lover, we definitely suggest that this text book deserves to be in your personal library. -Tropical Parasitology