Parasites

A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease. We owe our good health to a humble parasite -- a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system -- even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them. But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives . . . and will do anything to get them. ParasitologyParasiteSymbiont Chimera For more from Mira Grant, check out: Newsflesh FeedDeadlineBlackout Newsflesh Short Fiction (e-only novellas)Apocalypse Scenario #683: The BoxCountdownSan Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California BrowncoatsHow Green This Land, How Blue This SeaThe Day the Dead Came to Show and TellPlease Do Not Taunt the Octopus

This textbook provides an up-to-date overview of the most important parasites in humans and their potential vectors. For each parasite, the book offers a concise summary including its distribution, epidemiology, life cycle, morphology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapeutic measures. Numerous tables, diagrams and over 200 colorful illustrations highlight the main aspects of parasitic infestations and present suitable control measures. 60 questions help to test readers’ theoretical knowledge of the field. In short, the book is highly recommended for anyone looking to delve into the field of human parasitology. It is intended for students of biology and human medicine, medical doctors, pharmacists and laboratory staff alike. Furthermore, persons who plan to visit or live longer in endemic regions will find essential information on necessary preventive and control measurements.

The completion of the Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence in late 2002 heralded a new era in malaria research. The search began in earnest for new drugs and vaccines to combat malaria, a disease which afflicts up to 500 million people worldwide and is responsible for the deaths of more than one million people each year. The new genomic data is aiding a greater understanding of the living parasite and its interaction with the insect vector and human host. In this book internationally renowned experts provide up-to-date reviews of the most important aspects of post-genomic malaria research. Topics covered include: the P. falciparum genome and model parasites, bioinformatics and genome databases, microsatellite analysis, analysis of chromosome structure, cell cycle to RNA polymerase I and II mediated gene expression, role of the nuclear genome, the parasite surface and cell biology, and much more. The book is essential to all researchers working in this highly topical field and is recommended reading for scientists in other areas of biology and medicine.

Invertebrates; Effects of parasites on animal and meat production; Means of dissemination of parasites; Control of parasites by Chemotherapy; Genetic control of parasites; Biological control of parasites; Parasiticides and the environment; Public health significance of animal parasites; Intestinal Protozoa; Blood Protozoa; Flukes of domestic animals; Tapeworms; Trichostrongylosis in ruminants; Ascaridoses of domesticated animals; Equine strongylosis; Lungworms of ruminants; Flies and myiasis; Mange mites and other parasitic mites; Ticks; Importance of immunology in relation to parasitism and animal production; Vertebrates; Vertebrate predators, competitors and disease carriers of livestock introduction and overview; Predators of Southern Africa; Asian predators of livestock; Australian predators of livestock; Large mammal and bird predators of livestock in North America; Reptilian and small mammalian predators of livestock in North America; Wild Ungulates as competitors of livestock; European rabbit and hare as pests of livestock; Competition of rodents and other small mammals with livestock in the United States; Livestock diseases caused; Effects of vampire bats and paralytic rabies on livestock production.

This book tackles a number of different perspectives concerning the parasitic helminth Ascaris, both in animals and in humans and the disease known as ascariasis. It seeks to identify interesting, exciting and novel aspects, which will interest readers from a broad range of disciplines. Over a quarter of the world's population are infected with the human roundworm, and the equivalent in pigs is equally ubiquitous. Both contribute to insidious and chronic nutritional morbidity, and this has been quantified, in humans, as disability adjusted life years approximating 10.5 million. Ascaris larvae develop in host parenteral tissues, and the resultant pathology has been condemnation. Ascariasis, despite its staggering global prevalence and the sheer numbers of people it infects, remains a classic neglected disease. However, renewed interest in the consequences of early infection with worms from the perspective of immune modulation, co-infections and the development of allergy further enhances the relevance of these parasites. Brings together a wide range of topics and approaches and recent, comprehensive and progressive research concerning the neglected parasite Ascaris Provides a blueprint of how a single parasite entity can stimulate interest in basic biology, clinical science, veterinary science, public health and epidemiology Presents a wealth of new insights given that a book on this parasite has not been published for over 20 years 16 chapters from a range of top authors from around the world