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this book. It would have been better if theeditor had summarized the progress madeon various aspects of the nematodes andbacteria, and presented his own vision onthe future of this field. Also, a chapter onthe efficacy data on target insect pests, themain purpose for which these nematodesare studied so intensively, would have beenvaluable. Although some leading expertsin the field were not included, I am pleasedto see a well-deserved tribute to Poinar, towhom this book has been dedicated.Overall, this book is a ‘must buy’.
Parwinder Grewal
Dept of Entomology, The Ohio StateUniversity, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.e-mail: [email protected]
All you need to know
about nematodes
The Biology of Nematodes
edited by Donald L. Lee, Taylor & Francis,2002. £120.00 (hbk) (635 pages) ISBN 0 415 27211 4
Nematoda is thesecond, mostdiverse animalphylum, afterArthropoda. Free-living nematodes,abundant in thesoil, are importantas decomposers.Several plant
parasitic nematodes cause diseases ineconomically important crops, and theanimal parasitic nematodes are responsiblefor many animal and human infectionsworldwide. Because of the medical andveterinary importance of nematodes andtheir impact on plants, an extensive bodyof knowledge in the fields of developmentalbiology, biochemistry, physiology,immunology and molecular biologyhas emerged.
The Biology of Nematodes iswell-written and organized to includevarious aspects of nematode biology,comprising the most recent scientific data.This book has 24 chapters written byscientists with expertise in their subjectareas. A detailed literature review in eachchapter is useful as a source of reference.The book is a highly coordinated effort toprovide reader with the most up-to-date
information. There are several strengthsin this book. Chapter 1 on systematics,delineates the past and presentphylogenetic frameworks, and discussesabout how the phylogenies translated intoclassifications. Chapters 2 and 3 presentan excellent review of comparative, generalnematode body-structure and life cycles.The inclusion of beautiful electronmicrographs and cartoons make it easy tofollow these chapters.
Several key concepts of developmentalbiology were understood through studiesusing Caenorhabditis elegans as a model.Current knowledge on embryology,developmental biology and the hatchingprocess, and pattern differences betweendifferent nematodes was described. It wasfascinating to learn about the host-stimulated mechanisms that restrict hostranges and hatching behavior to ensurenematode survival. The book also gives adetailed account of the feeding behavior offree-living and parasitic nematodes,metabolism, excretion–secretionmechanisms, neuromuscularorganization, locomotion and behavior.
Nematode survival involves strategiesto synchronize the development ofsuitable conditions for growth, which arepresented in detail. David Gems haselegantly summarized the advances madein the genetics of ageing. Immunology ofnematode infections in Chapter 18 coversthe specific immune responses againstnematode infections. The description ofthe roles of cytokines, and differences inT helper cell subset expression, specific tonematode infections, helps thenon-immunology reader to understandhost responses with ease.
Basic strategies of biological andchemical control of animal parasiticnematodes and anthelmintic resistancewere well described. A succinct referencelist of nematicidal drugs, their chemicalstructures and mechanisms of resistanceto several anthelmintics is welldocumented.
Entomopathogenic nematodes killtheir insect hosts within 48 h because theypossess pathogenic bacteria harmful toinsects. Nobuyoshi Ishibashi discusses theuse of these nematodes for biologicalcontrol of insect pests of economicallyimportant crops. Novel molecularapproaches to crop resistance againstnematodes, epidemiology and the controlof human nematode infections werecovered in the last two chapters.
Wolbachia spp. are unique, intracellularsymbiotic bacteria in filarial nematodes.Antibiotic treatment of filarial nematodesto clear Wolbachia causes sterility,inhibition of larval development andimpacts the viability of adult worms [1].A description of this new controlstrategy will be valuable in future editionsof this book.
This book provides ample informationfor easy reading and understanding of thesubject, and the chapters were written forindependent reading, but not intended forunderstanding the detailed parasitismand pathogenic mechanisms ofnematodes. It is an excellent referencebook, ideally suited for teachers, studentsof all levels and other academics, who seekknowledge on the nematodes.
Roman R. Ganta (G. Roman Reddy)
Dept of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology,College of Veterinary Medicine, KansasState University, 1800 Denison Ave,Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.e-mail: [email protected]
Reference
1 Taylor, M.J. and Hoerauf, A. (2001) A newapproach to the treatment of filariasis.Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. 14, 727–731
TRENDS in Parasitology Vol.18 No.11 November 2002
http://parasites.trends.com 1471-4922/02/$ – see front matter © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S1471-4922(02)02340-1
517Forum
Erratum
In the September 2002 issue ofTrends in Parasitology (Vol. 18,p. 419), the editors for the bookreview on The Encyclopedia of
Arthropod-transmitted Infectionswere given incorrectly.
The editor for this book shouldhave read M.W. Service.
Trends in Parasitology apologizesto Mike W. Service and to the
readers for any confusion caused.
PII: S1471-4922(02)02412-1
