Book Review
Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and
Animals
| Authors: |
Pedro N. Acha and Boris Szyfres |
| Publisher: |
Pan American Health Organization
525 Twenty-third Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037 U.S.A. |
| Publication Date: |
2003 |
| Volumes: |
I. Bacterioses and Mycoses (378 pages)
II. Chlamydioses, Rickettsioses, and Viroses (408 pages)
III. Parasitoses (395 pages) |
| Languages: |
English and Spanish |
| Cost: |
USA/$80 for all three volumes;
Latin America and the Caribbean/$60 |
Introduction and factual description from preface to the
first edition:
These three volumes consider two groups of communicable diseases: those
transmitted from vertebrate animals tohumans, which are strictly
speaking zoonoses, and those common to both humans and animals. The
content comprises more than 170 diseases that are of principal interest,
for various reasons, in the field of public health.
Diseases are listed in alphabetical order to facilitate reader
searches. There is also an alphabetical index of synonyms of diseases
and their etiological agents' names.
The chapters provide the following key information on each
disease:
- elements such as synonyms and ICD-10 statistical
classifications,
- etiology,
- geographical distribution,
- symptoms and occurrence in humans and animals,
- source of infection and mode of transmission,
- role of animals in epidemiology,
- diagnostic techniques and prevention and control measures,
- numerous tables and figures diagramming modes of transmission,
- examples of epidemics and outbreaks.
Each disease entry includes an alphabetical bibliography of the works
cited and other relevant sources the reader may want to consult.
Evaluation:
I compare these three volumes with Control of Communicable Diseases
Manual by James Chin, 17th edition, 2000. They possess many similarities
and the authors refer numerous times to Control of Communicable Diseases
Manual by A.S. Benenson, 15th edition, 1990.
This series provides the medical professional with a source of
information on zoonoses and communicable diseases common in humans and
animals. As stated in the first preface, both medical and veterinary
aspects,-which have traditionally been dealt with in different
texts,-are combined in a single, comprehensive volume.
These books are superb in content, form, and ease of use.
Veterinarians, physicians, parasitologists, virologists, biologists and
workers in public health and animal health institutions will find this
to be an essential and invaluable reference. Infection control
professionals would also find this to be useful, especially when
investigating outbreaks that are out of the ordinary. Thank you for
allowing me the opportunity to review these books.
- Rosie Fardo RN, BSN, CIC
Co-Coordinator
APIC Education Task Force Team
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