Human Parasitology (2nd edn), by B.J. Bogitsh and T.C. Cheng

Academic Press, 1999. $59.95 (xix + 484 pages)ISBN 012 11870 8Symbiosis is the driving force of evolution, which has produced the present state of diversity of life on earth. From a human perspective, parasitism is viewed as the ‘dark side' of the force, functioning as a selector of populations resistant to, or tolerant of, agents that attempt to commandeer some of our essential resources. The process is never ending (errant asteroids aside). It is somewhat ironic to consider that we humans would not have evolved into such sophisticated organisms, armed with a very impressive set of immune response genes, if it had not been for the fact that we do present such a diverse set of niches to parasites. There are now 18 known interleukins; many of which were discovered by working on parasite–host relationships involving mammals and eukaryotic agents.Elucidation of the molecular basis of survival strategies employed by eukaryotic parasites to avoid being excluded from the host, or from being killed once inside, never cease to amaze us, no matter how involved the mechanism. Yet, their ‘inventiveness' and biological relevance to our own existence is impossible to appreciate fully, given our biological proclivity to do everything possible to reduce the effects of parasites on our species through epidemiological, behavioral and medical interventions.We are also painfully aware that there are no worldwide shortages of parasite species that have succeeded in hitching a free ride at our expense. At the last count, there were some 50 species of protozoans and at least 342 species of helminths1xA Guide to Human Helminths. Cooms, I. and Crompton, D.W.T. See all References1 capable of completing at least a part of their lives within us. Little wonder that as our population continues to increase, so does theirs. Billions of people the world over are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms, malaria and other noxious eukaryotic critters.Drugs that once worked no longer offer us even brief moments of respite from the ‘wolf at the door'. New drugs are constantly being discovered and tried, some with modest effects, most with no effect whatsoever. But, when a drug does work, we usually find out (partly, at least) how it does its job.Even if drugs are not available, it is still essential to know who has, and who does not have, a parasitic infection. Hence, diagnosis is key and is left up to the laboratory-based personnel at most hospital complexes. Training of new technical help is essential in maintaining an efficient staff.Human Parasitology is, as the authors state, written for medical technicians, students of biology and pre-medical students. Its main focus is parasite biology, physiology, biochemistry and functional morphology; thus, its intent is to convey the excitement of the field of parasitology to several new audiences. Unfortunately, it does not succeed in any of these categories. No new developments in parasitic disease research are described; none of the new developments in revealing the intricacies of the host–parasite relationship, or the employment of modern molecular biological methods, are even mentioned; none of the rationale for parasite vaccine development is elucidated; and no modern description of any molecular or immunologically based methodology for diagnosing parasitic infections is documented. Any student new to the subject of parasitism would do well to avoid this book. There is virtually no documentation for any statement of ‘fact', merely a ‘Selected Readings' at the end of each section. Any science editor worthy of the title should have pointed out the consequences of such a miscalculation on the part of the authors and immediately corrected that flaw or refused to publish the book. The small body of references provided is sparse, uninformative and essentially out-of-date. A grand total of 126 references are listed, of which only 17 are from 1997 to the present. Less than half (40) are from 1990 to the present. How can anyone expect to get excited about a subject that chronicles the past, not the fast-moving and exciting present? Lastly, the photographs are uninspiring and the drawings of life cycles are crudely done, and often incomplete.This reviewer can see no redeeming feature of this book.