The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7222 p655
2 November 2002

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Those with an interest in veterinary pharmacy will find title relevant

'Zoonoses' 1st edition, by Martin Shakespeare. Pp xii+285. Price £29.95. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2002. ISBN 0 85369 480 X

The World Health Organization defines zoonoses as "those diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man". Thus some mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, which do not have an animal reservoir are not included under the definition, whereas others, such as yellow fever, which can be found in monkeys are zoonotic infections. The definition becomes somewhat blurred when applied to food-borne diseases.

All the relevant viral, parasitic, bacterial and prion-related conditions are comprehensively covered. Chapters are organised logically into the principal animal host groups (domestic or agricultural), food-borne infections, diseases of high mortality, such as Ebola virus, and emerging infections like the Nippa virus. The conditions are presented in a standardised format of transmission, incidence, life cycle, disease presentation in humans and animals, prevention and treatment. Useful case studies are given at the end of each chapter.

Media exposure has created public concern and confusion about zoonoses such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Escherichia coli infection and West Nile Virus. This book provides useful material for any non-specialist health care professional, particularly the practising pharmacist, who may need to address such questions. The current debate concerning level of risk and means of protection from these conditions are clearly laid out. I would anticipate that the book is of particular interest to those who are involved with any veterinary aspects of pharmacy. Also a number of the diseases covered are of relevance to travel medicine.

Larry Goodyer