Arthropod Borne Diseases
The book promises to provide health professional and the general public information of vector borne diseases worldwide. The book focuses on vectorborne pathogenic diseases; it purposely leaves out venomous biting and stinging arthropods such as spiders, scorpions, as they are discussed elsewhere in the literature. The book is divided into four parts spread over 38 chapters written by 57 subject experts. Part I: Introduction is composed of four chapters dealing with 1) generalities and importance of vector borne diseases, 2) epidemiology, 3) arthropod borne diseases and history, and 4) blood sucking, vector parasite relationship, and transmission of diseases. Part II: Diseases Transmitted by Arthropods is the longest section, consisting of 26 chapters. The section covers chapter 5) arboviruses, 6) Flavivirus, 7) dengue, 8) yellow fever, 9) Togaviridae, 10) Bunyaviridae, 11) plague and tularemia, 12) rickettsial and Bartonella infections, 13) borreliosis, 14) ehrlichiosis, 15) anaplasmosis, 16) leishmaniasis, 17) Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) 18) sleeping sickness and nagana disease, 19) other major trypanosomiasis, 20) malaria, 21) babesiosis, 22) theileriosis, 23) hepatozoonosis, 24) lymphatic filariasis, 25) onchocerciasis, 26) mansonelliasis, 27) loiasis, 28) dirofilariosis, 29) thelaziosis, and 30) habronemosis. Each chapter starts with an abstract, followed by discussion on the pathogen, disease symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, control, protection, and references. Part III: Diseases Caused by Arthropods has six chapters. These include chapter 31) flies, 32) sucking and chewing lice, 33) fleas and diseases, 34) diseases caused by Acari (ticks and mites) 35) other irritating arthropods (beetles, bugs, centipedes) and 36) allergy to hematophagous arthropod bites. Each chapter in this section varies in composition and layout. Part IV: Additional Considerations covers the last two chapters, the first of which is chapter 37 on geoprocessing and expected distribution of diseases, including deforestation and global warming. The second and last chapter 38 deals with Wolbachia: influence on pathogeny, treatment, and control of arthropod diseases. The general layout of the book and its contents are quite appealing. All sections and subsections are numbered by chapter with ample use of tables, figures, and other illustrations in color, thus making the reading easier. Each disease topic presents a historical background of the disease, followed by epidemiology, transmission cycle, treatment, prevention, and control. Finally, the book is well organized and generally well written with plenty of old and contemporary information on vector borne diseases. It is a good addition to the literature in medical and veterinary entomology and vector ecology. The book will be useful to students and professionals in medical entomology, vector ecology, environmental heath, epidemiology, and public health.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association