Textbook of Medical Parasitology (Paperback)

The last 3-4 decades have seen a massive revolution in our understanding of basic biological concepts, and the field of parasitology has benefited immensely from this revolution. For instance, we now know these organisms to be perfectly adapted to their own specific ecological niches, and to exhibit behavioral and biochemical adaptations that make them ideally suited for their development and propagation. Four decades ago, we knew little if anything about host immunological defenses against parasitic organisms. Now, studies on the host responses to parasitic infections have played a major role in our understanding of 1-cell dichotomy (Thi vs. Th2), responses to antigenic variation and the intriguing mechanisms used the parasites to fly under the radar screen of the host defense mechanisms.

This textbook of parasitology seeks to integrate some of this new knowledge into the study of medical parasitology, particularly with reference to the Indian subcontinent. It focuses primarily on those parasitic diseases that remain major public health concerns in India.

Key Features
* A comprehensive, yet easy to understand text, structured to provide information in small well identifiable steps.
* Parasites and parasitic diseases covered in five sections and 44 chapters.
* Information grouped under major headings like etiology, historical aspects, epidemiology of disease, parasite biology, clinical aspects of infection, diagnostic procedures, etc.
* Extensively illustrated. Text supplemented by diagrams, photographs. Several full colour photographs included.
* An Appendix gives a detailed description of Laboratory Techniques in Parasitology.

About the author
Dr T. V. Rajan, MD, PhD is Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA. He is an internationally known researcher in Parasitology with important contributions in the field of parasite biology.

Table of Contents
SECTION I: Introduction
1. The Scope of Medical Parasitology
2. Host-Pathogen Interactions: Parasite Strategies
3. Host-Pathogen Interactions: Host Responses
4. Impact of Recombinant DNA Technology on Parasitology
5. General Features of Protozoan Parasites
6. General Features of Nematode Parasites
7. General Features of Cestode Parasites
8.General Features of Trematode Parasites
SECTION II: Diseases of Major Publics Health Importance in India
9. Malaria
10. Lymphatic Filariasis
11. Amebiasis
12. Leishmaniasis
13. Hookworm Infections
14. Ascanasis
SECTION III:Diseases of Lesser Public Health Importance which Occur in India
15. Giardiasis
16. Hydatid Disease
17.Paragonimiasis
18. Liver Flukes
19. Fasciolopsiasis
20. Enterobiasis
21. Cryptosporidiosis
22 Sarcocystosis
23. Strongyloidiasis
24. Tapeworm Infections
25. Toxoplasmosis
26. Trichinosis
27. Trichomoniasis
28. Trichuriasis
29. Acanthamebiasis
30. Dracunculosis
31. Cutaneous Larva Migrans
32. Visceral Larva Migrans
SECTION IV: Important Parasitic Disease that are Rare or do not Occur in India
33. African Trypanosomiasis or "Sleeping Sickness"
34. American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas' Disease
35. Babesiosis
36. Cysticercosis
37. Loiasis
38. Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
39. Schistosomiasis
40. Onchocerciasis
SECTION V: Ectoparasites
41. Pediculosis
42. Scabies
43. Acariasis
44. Demodicosis
Appendix A: Laboratory Techniques in Parasitology
Appendix B: Further Readings
Index