This book summarizes the results achieved so far by application of various biological systems (including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) involved in the pathomechanisms and early diagnosis of periparturient diseases as specific biomarkers of disease in cattle. These emerging technologies help to extensively enhance our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of periparturient diseases of transition dairy cows. The book includes a chapter dedicated to 'omics' sciences and one that discusses the myths established in animal and veterinary sciences in recent decades and emerging, new paradigms. The diseases discussed include metritis, mastitis, laminitis, ketosis, rumen acidosis, periparturient immunosuppression, gastrointestinal microbiota and their involvement in disease, infertility, fatty liver, milk fever, and retained placenta. This book is intended for academics, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, researchers, and graduate students working in the field of 'omics sciences' with a special interest in dairy cattle health.

Rugged fitness landscapes, and emerging area of biological science, underline both molecular and morphological evolution. Mathematical descriptions of such landscapes can be expected to lead to new experimental studies that actually test and establish their structure. In addition, current experimental techniques now allow one to carry out applied molecular evolution in the laboratory, opening up the possibility of evolving biomolecules for medical and industrial use. "Molecular Evolution on Rugged Fitness Landscapes," based on a Santa Fe Institute workshop, is the first book to serve as a comprehensive introduction to these tools that permit researchers to study the structures of complex, rugged, multipeaked fitness landscapes.The first section of the book outlines a number of the general issues concerning the structure of rugged fitness landscapes. The second section examines both the history and status of experimental work on somatic mutation and the maturation of the immune response, and discusses the hypercycle model of the origin of life. This proceedings volume is an excellent reference for graduate students and professionals in immunology, population biology, physics and molecular biology.

Foundations of Wildlife Diseases is a comprehensive overview of the basic principles that govern the study of wildlife diseases. The authors integrate theoretical foundations with a thorough examination of the factors that can affect the health and fitness of animals. They include specific information on a wide array of infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, arthropods, fungi, protista, and helminths, as well as immunity to these agents. Also provided is a foundation for the study of noninfectious diseases, cancers, and prion diseases that affect wildlife. Supporting students, faculty, and researchers in areas related to wildlife management, biology, and veterinary sciences, this volume fills an important gap in wildlife disease resources, focusing on mammalian and avian wildlife while also considering reptiles and amphibians. Foundations of Wildlife Diseases provides students with a structure for thinking about and understanding infective agents and their interactions with wildlife. Each chapter includes an outline, select definitions and concepts, an overview and summary, and literature cited.

This book is a comprehensive presentation of health and diseases in reindeer and caribou, or just Rangifer, a key Circumarctic species with broad social and ecological value. It is an essential reference for anyone interested in the biology and health of wild or semi-domesticated reindeer and caribou, and is more broadly relevant for those with interests in other species of free-ranging and captive cervids. Beginning with a general introduction to Rangifer as a species, it then focuses on Rangifer "health" as a concept and describes the determinants of health at an individual and population level. Chapters cover a range of topics from nutrition and feeding to stress, non-infectious and infectious diseases, meat hygiene, capture and restraint, diagnosis and treatment of health issues, and finally, potential impacts of climate change on health of Rangifer. Reindeer and Caribou: Health and Disease compiles extensive research and experience-based information on issues ranging from drug doses for chemical immobilization, blood chemistry values, and raising an orphaned calf. In addition, it contains hundreds of high quality colour illustrations that contribute to its value as a diagnostic resource for recognizing various parasites, pathogens and signs of disease, both in live and dead animals. Each chapter is followed by a comprehensive list of references and a list of contact information for all the contributors, identifying world experts in the different areas of health for this circumpolar and fascinating species. This book is compulsory reading and an indispensable resource for anyone dealing with health in reindeer and caribou, including veterinarians, wildlife biologists and managers, reindeer herders/game ranchers, zoological husbandry personnel, and students with wildlife health.

Hematology data from in vivo toxicology studies remains one of the most predictive measures for human risk, as the same measurements made in pre-clinical toxicology studies can be made in early clinical trials. Covering the three main blood cell types - erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes, this work is designed to clarify topics for new entrants to the fields of laboratory animal hematology and toxicology, especially those topics where the rules for human hematology do not always apply. An entire chapter is devoted to immunotoxicology, a scientific discipline that is closely aligned with hematology. The text also addresses pre-analytical and analytical variables that affect animal studies, as these play a far more important part when interpreting data in contrast to humans where many of these variables can be well controlled or have less physiological effect. Information has been collated from published papers, textbooks and unpublished data: Readers are provided with key references to encourage further study

Regulations based on animal diseases, demands for accountability in use of research funds, and pressure for economic justification of animal health regulatory and diagnostic activities call for a comprehensive text dealing with these issues. M.D. Salman answers the call in the book "Animal Disease Surveillance and Survey Systems: Methods and Applications."

"This valuable text addresses" a growing need in veterinary epidemiology and regulatory medicine. With contributions from more than a dozen scientists around the world, Salman offers readers practical information on monitoring, surveillance, control, and eradication of animal disease.

Technologies for conducting an animal disease surveillance program and developing an animal health monitoring system are thoroughly covered. Offering a "recipe book" for these systems by explaining modern techniques, this text emphasizes the fundamentals and principles behind these methods. The book targets epidemiologists and other animal health authorities who work in national, regional, and international programs, but also can be used as a text for professional and postgraduate training. The emphasis on fundamentals ensures that this book will not go out of date and is a valuable addition to regulatory medicine literature.

Fish Pathology is the definitive, classic and essential book on the subject, providing in-depth coverage across all major aspects of fish pathology. This new, fully updated and expanded fourth edition builds upon the success of the previous editions which have made Fish Pathology the best known and most respected book in the field, worldwide.Commencing with a chapter covering the aquatic environment, the book provides comprehensive details of the anatomy and physiology of teleosts, pathophysiology and sytematic physiology, immunology, neoplasia, virology, parasitology, bacteriology, mycology, nutritional pathology and other non-infectious diseases. A final chapter provides extremely useful details of the most widely-used and trusted laboratory methods in the area. Much new infomation is included in this new edition, including enhanced coverage of any diseases which have become commercially significant since publication of the previous edition Beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout with many exceptional photographs, Fish Pathology, Fourth Edition, is an essential purchase for fish pathologists, fish veterinarians, biologists, microbiologists and immunologists, including all those working in diagnostic services worldwide. Personnel working in fish farming and fisheries will also find much of great use and interest within the book's covers. All libraries in universities and research establishments where biological and veterinary sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this landmark publication on their shelves.

Emerging infectious diseases pose an increasingly serious threat to a number of endangered or sensitive species and are increasingly recognized as one of the major factors driving species extinction. Despite the significant impact of pathogens on conservation, no single book has yet integrated the theoretical principles underlying disease transmission with the practical health considerations for helping wildlife professionals and conservation biologists to manage disease outbreaks and conserve biodiversity. This novel and accessible book starts with a foundational section focusing on the role of pathogens in natural ecosystems, the dynamics of transmission in different environments, and the factors driving wildlife disease outbreaks. It then moves on to more applied issues concerned with the acquisition of field data including sampling, experimental design and analysis, as well as diagnostic analyses in both the laboratory and field. Guidelines for effective modelling and data analysis follow, before a final section is devoted to disease prevention and control including the prevention of novel outbreaks, the use of diseases as biocontrol agents, and the associated issues of ethics, public communication, and outreach. Infectious Disease Ecology and Conservation is primarily aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and established researchers in the fields of conservation biology, disease ecology, population ecology, and veterinary science. It will also be a valuable reference for conservation practitioners, land managers, and wildlife professionals who are required to deal with disease outbreak problems.

Parasites and infectious diseases are everywhere and represent some of the most potent forces shaping the natural world. They affect almost every aspect imaginable in the life of their hosts, even as far as the structure of entire ecosystems. Hosts, in turn, have evolved complex defences, with immune systems being among the most sophisticated processes known in nature. In response, parasites have again found ways to manipulate and exploit their hosts. Ever since life began, hosts and parasites have taken part in this relentless co-evolutionary struggle with far-reaching consequences for us all. Today, concepts borrowed from evolution, ecology, parasitology, and immunology have formed a new synthesis for the study of host-parasite interactions. Evolutionary parasitology builds on these established fields of scientific enquiry but also includes some of the most successful inter-disciplinary areas of modern biology such as evolutionary epidemiology and ecological immunology. The first edition of this innovative text quickly became the standard reference text for this new discipline. Since then, the field has progressed rapidly and an update is now required. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to provide a state-of-the-art overview, from the molecular bases to adaptive strategies and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. It includes completely new material on topics such as microbiota, evolutionary genomics, phylodynamics, within-host evolution, epidemiology, disease spaces, and emergent diseases. Evolutionary Parasitology is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate level students, and interdisciplinary researchers from a variety of fields including immunology, genetics, sexual selection, population ecology, behavioural ecology, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology. Those studying and working in adjacent fields such as conservation biology, virology, medicine, and public health will also find it an invaluable resource for connecting to the bases of their science.

The first edition of Tanada and Kaya s "Insect Pathology" is the standard reference in the field for researchers and both undergraduate and graduate students and is well known worldwide among entomologists. However, the field has seen rapid advances in the 20 years since its original publication, and the new edition brings together an essential and updated resource for researchers with 13 chapters edited by Fernando E. Vega and Harry K. Kaya.

Many of these advances involve new insights on ecology as well as phylogenetics and molecular biology of viruses, bacteria, fungi, microsporidia, nematodes, and protists. All these aspects, as well as basic biology, diagnosis, infectious process and pathogenesis, host response, transmission and more, are covered by renowned experts in their respective fields. The second edition of "Insect Pathology" includes chapters on the history of this discipline, principles of microbial control and epizootiology, diseases of beneficial insects, host resistance, and Wolbachia. This thoroughly illustrated and up-to-date revision will provide insect pathologists, entomologists, microbiologists, mycologists, nematologists, protistologists, ecologists, and practitioners of biological control of insect pests with a solid and much-needed reference.
Covers all major groups of insect pathogens Includes chapters on the history of insect pathology, principles of microbial control and epizootiology, host resistance, Wolbachia and diseases of beneficial insectsIncludes contributions from the leading researchers and emerging leaders in their fields"

Evolutionary developmental biology or evo-devo is a field of biological research that compares the underlying mechanisms of developmental processes in different organisms to infer the ancestral condition of these processes and elucidate how they have evolved. It addresses questions about the developmental bases of evolutionary changes and evolution of developmental processes. The book's content is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses the theoretical background of evo-devo. The second part highlights new and emerging model organisms in the evo-devo field, while the third and last part explores the evo-devo approach in a broad comparative context. To the best of our knowledge, no other book combines these three evo-devo aspects: theoretical considerations, a comprehensive list of emerging model species, and comparative analyses of developmental processes. Given its scope, the book will offer readers a new perspective on the natural diversity of processes at work in cells and during the development of various animal groups, and expand the horizons of seasoned and young researchers alike.

This is the companion volume to Daniel Klionsky s "Autophagy: Lower Eukaryotes, " which features the basic methods in autophagy covering yeasts and alternative fungi (aspergillus, podospora, magnaporthe). Klionsky is one of the leading authorities in the field. He is the editor-in-chief of "Autophagy." The November 2007 issue of "Nature Reviews" highlighted his article, Autophagy: From phenomenology to molecular understanding in less than a decade. He is currently editing guidelines for the field, with 230 contributing authors, that will publish in "Autophagy."
Particularly in times of stress, like starvation and disease, higher organisms have an internal mechanism in their cells for chewing up and recycling parts of themselves. The process of internal house cleaning in the cell is called autophagy - literally self-eating. Breakthroughs in understanding the molecular basis of autophagy came after the cloning of ATG1 (autophagy-related gene 1) in yeast. (To date, 30 additional yeast genes have been identified.) These ATG genes in yeast were the stepping stones to the explosion of research into the molecular analysis of autophagy in higher eukaryotes. In the future, this research will help to design clinical approaches that can turn on autophagy and halt tumor growth."

"Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, Second Edition" provides thorough, yet concise descriptions of viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic and noninfectious diseases in an exhaustive number of fish species. Now in full color with over 500 images, the book is designed as a comprehensive guide to the identification and treatment of both common and rare problems encountered during the clinical work-up. Diseases are discussed following a systems-based approach to ensure a user-friendly and practical manual for identifying problems.

"Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, Second Edition" is the must-have reference for any aquaculturists, aquatic biologists, or fish health specialists dealing with diagnosing or treating fish diseases.

This book is a collation of translational research outcomes in the area of life research, which was formerly used mainly for academic pursuits. The studies described focus on innovative interdisciplinary approaches to unraveling problems in life sciences and biomedicine using biodiversity exploration and green technology. The techniques and models presented offer a ready reckoner for researchers in academic institutions and industry, and also provide valuable insights into fundamental research. The book discusses topics such as tissue engineering to create lineage-specific cells for tissue-specific regeneration; how combination cultures of commensalistic bacteria can help boost immunity; development of functional food from natural products from plant, animal, and microbial sources in the nutraceuticals domain; as well as synthesis and mechanisms in nanomedicine and nanoscaffolds in biomedicine. The studies and discourses described touch upon topics that explore biodiversity for the development of disease models, toxicity studies, developmental studies, and harvesting of bioactive compounds for alternative income generation and poverty alleviation, and as a result, bring about economic and ecologic sustainability. This multidimensional and multidisciplinary book focuses on tissue-specific targeting by nanodrugs, development of bioengineering formats for cell- based, nutraceutical-based, functional-food-based and antibody-based green therapy designed tackle multifaceted diseases and syndromes.

This manual explains how to diagnose and respond to a case or outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). It includes general information on the disease and its causes, including epidemiology, transmission pathways and geographic distribution. It presents the different phases chronologically, from detection and diagnosis (clinical signs, postmortem findings and differential diagnosis) to laboratory confirmation (main techniques for detecting both virus and antibodies).African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that affects pigs of all ages, inducing a haemorrhagic fever. It is most often recognized in the acute form with an associated lethality of up to 100 percent, and is a severe threat to pig production systems. Not only does it threaten food security and challenge the livelihoods of pig producers and other actors in the supply chain, but it can have major consequences on international trade.Since there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment, the manual suggests that the best strategy for countries/zones that are still free of the disease is to prevent entry of the virus through improved border control, awareness-raising and better biosecurity. Infected countries will also need to be able to implement quick outbreak controls though movement restrictions and stamping-out policies.

This third and final volume in the acclaimed Fish Diseases and Disorders trilogy addresses infectious diseases of finfish and shellfish caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Topics covered include infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, infectious hematopoictic necrosis virus, viral diseases of cold and warm-water fish, rickettsial and chlamydial infections, furunculosis, motile aeromonads, vibriosis, flavobacterial diseases and shellfish diseases. Written by experts in each discipline and updated throughout to reflect new developments in the field, including new chapters on alphaviruses, oncogenic viruses and genomics and proteomics, this is a must-have reference for fish health specialists and veterinarians, microbiologists, zoologists and researchers and students in aquaculture.

This volume reviews available mouse models of atherosclerosis, basic aspects of disease initiation and progression, and the visualization of atherosclerotic lesions with invasive and non-invasive techniques that are widely used both in basic research and in the clinic. The chapters catalogue a wide range of in vitro and in vivo experimental methods used for atherosclerosis research, including thorough protocols and valuable notes based on the authors' personal wet lab experience. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Methods in Mouse Atherosclerosis will be a valuable working guide for researchers performing mouse-based atherosclerosis studies.

Animal Models in Toxicology is a single-source reference for the use of animal models in toxicology. Chapters cover nine species used in toxicology and experimental biology. With contributions from experts in toxicology, toxicological pathology, and species-specific metabolism, each of these chapters provides an excellent introductory "course" along with guidance to the literature for a more detailed understanding. This edition includes five new chapters. The first of these provides specific and detailed guidance on the humane, efficient, and effective performance of necropsies for laboratory animals. Other new chapters discuss new technologies available for laboratory animal research-imaging technologies, use of telemetry in animal studies, transgenic animal models, and immunology endpoint for assessment. Also provided is an overview of the increasingly complex laws and regulations that govern how laboratory animals are obtained, maintained, and utilized. A helpful appendix provides a quick guide to commercial sources of laboratory animals.

Insects are seldom mentioned in discussions surrounding human history, yet they have dramatically impacted today's societies. This book places them front and center, offering a multidisciplinary view of their significance. Diseases vectored by insects have killed more people than all weapons of war. Fleas are common pests, but some can transmit illnesses such as the bubonic plague. In fact, three pandemics can be traced back to them. Epidemics of typhus have been caused by lice. Conversely, humans have also benefitted from insects for millennia. Silk comes from silkworms and honey comes from bees. Despite the undeniably powerful effects of insects on humans, their stories are typically left out of our history books. In The Silken Thread, entomologists Robert. N. Wiedenmann and J. Ray Fisher link the history of insects to the history of empires, cultural exchanges, and warfare. The book narrows its focus to just five insects: a moth, a flea, a louse, a mosquito, and a bee. The authors explore the impact of these insects throughout time and the common threads connecting them. Using biology to complement history, they showcase these small creatures in a whole new light. On every page, the authors thoughtfully analyze the links between history and entomology. The book begins with silkworms, which have been farmed for centuries. It then moves to fleas and their involvement in the spread of the plague before introducing the role lice played in the Black Death, wars, and immigration. The following section concerns yellow fever mosquitos, emphasizing the effects of yellow fever in the Americas and the connection to sugar and slavery. After discussing the importance of western honey bees, the authors tie these five insects together in an exciting closing chapter.

A focused, accessible introduction to this key aspect of cancer biology. It covers the individual cell signalling pathways that are known to be involved in cancer development, and, most important, includes the cross- interactions between the pathways together with the current therapeutic approaches. This is a must-have for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying and researching within the field of cancer biology.

The first volume in the new Cambridge Handbooks in Behavioral Genetics series, Behavioral Genetics of the Mouse provides baseline information on normal behaviors, essential in both the design of experiments using genetically modified or pharmacologically treated animals and in the interpretation and analyses of the results obtained. The book offers a comprehensive overview of the genetics of naturally occurring variation in mouse behavior, from perception and spontaneous behaviors such as exploration, aggression, social interactions and motor behaviors, to reinforced behaviors such as the different types of learning. Also included are numerous examples of potential experimental problems, which will aid and guide researchers trying to troubleshoot their own studies. A lasting reference, the thorough and comprehensive reviews offer an easy entrance into the extensive literature in this field, and will prove invaluable to students and specialists alike.

The book describes the natural history of myxoma virus in American rabbits and the history of its introduction into European rabbits at length. The changes in rabbit and virus over the last forty years provide the classical example of coevolution of a virus and its vertebrate host and a paradigmatic model for the understanding of an emerging infectious disease. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus has been spreading in Australia for only three years, but in some areas has been very effective. Written by leading world experts in animal virology and the history of medicine.

Regulatory Mechanisms in Transcriptional Signaling, volume of Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, includes in-depth discussion on
roles of Chromatin remodeling proteins in nuclear receptor signaling, and ANCCA regulator in cancer.
This important resource, edited by Dr. Debabrata (Debu) Chakravarti, offers research on the progesterone receptor action in leiomyoma and endometrial cancer and emerging roles of the ubiquitin protein system in nuclear hormone receptor signaling, in order to provide the reader with expert discussions of up-to-date research.

Evolutionary medicine has been steadily gaining recognition, not only in modern clinical research and practice, but also in bioarchaeology (the study of archaeological human remains) and especially its sub-discipline, palaeopathology. To date, however, palaeopathology has not been necessarily recognised as particularly useful to the field and most key texts in evolutionary medicine have tended to overlook it. This novel text is the first to highlight the benefits of using palaeopathological research to answer questions about the evolution of disease and its application to current health problems, as well as the benefits of using evolutionary thinking in medicine to help interpret historical disease processes. It presents hypothesis-driven research by experts in biological anthropology (including palaeopathology), medicine, health sciences, and evolutionary medicine through a series of unique case studies that address specific research questions. Each chapter has been co-authored by two or more researchers with different disciplinary perspectives in order to provide original, insightful, and interdisciplinary contributions that will provide new insights for both palaeopathology and evolutionary medicine. Palaeopathology and Evolutionary Medicine is intended for graduate level students and professional researchers in a wide range of fields including the humanities (history), social sciences (anthropology, archaeology, palaeopathology, geography), and life sciences (medicine and biology). Relevant courses include evolutionary medicine, evolutionary anthropology, medical anthropology, and palaeopathology.

The "Forebrain Atlas of the Short-tailed Fruit Bat, "Carollia perpicillata, is unique among brain atlases. Not only is this the first quality atlas treatment of a bat species, but the atlas is also unique in its use of NeuN staining.
"Carollia perpicillata," a tropical species, is the only bat that has essentially been domesticated and can be maintained and propagated in a research environment utilizing simple, inexpensive husbandry procedures. The NeuN preparations used in this atlas selectively stain neurons in a sharp black coloration that fills not only the cell body but extends a short distance along the proximal dendrites. Thus, as distinct from the traditional nissl stains, which generate a shade of blue largely restricted to the cell body, the NeuN generates a quasi Golgi-like image of the neurons. This provides a more intimate view of the neurons than can be obtained from nissl staining. In addition, the background is essentially white, facilitating high-contrast photography and allowing for gray-tone illustration without any loss of information. The NeuN procedure does not stain axons, and since it does not stain glial cells or their nuclei, the noise ordinarily generated in nissl stains by the presence of glial cells among the neurons and in the white matter is entirely eliminated.
The "Forebrain Atlas of the Short-tailed Fruit Bat" also includes nissl stained sections for two reasons: One, since some readers may be unfamiliar with the NeuN images, it is useful to include familiar images for comparison. More importantly, it is known that NeuN is not expressed in certain neurons, such as Purkinje cells, olfactory bulb mitral cells, and the cells of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. The nissl stained sections are thus included to provide complementary views of such structures.
The atlas will be useful for students and investigators doing neuroscience research on bat and other mammalian species, as well as students of comparative biology, zoology, brain evolution, and the history of neuroanatomical analysis.