Considerable progress has been made since the 1990s in unravelling the complexities of the snail parasite relationship. The articles in this text cover many different aspects of this subject, including ecology, parasite transmission, parasite interactions, evolutionary biology, molecular systematics and snail-defense systems, emphasizing the topical nature of this important area of parasite biology. Many techniques are now used to investigate the intricacies of host parasite relationships. Genome and post-genomic studies, such as the schistosome genome project, are set to revolutionise parasite biology and unravel molluscan genomes.This volume provides a succinct overview and is intended to generate impetus for future research.

Humans and animals are frequently infected with at least one species of parasite and most also harbor other parasitic or infectious agents. The interactions between these agents are often subtle and are subsequently ignored by parasitologists, ecologists and immunologists. This volume explores these interactions in detail, with particular emphasis on their immunological and ecological aspects. Included are contributions on parasitic infections and AIDS, and the problems of treating patients with multiple infections. This book is of interest to researchers and clinicians dealing with parasitic, viral, or bacterial infections in the laboratory or in the field.

The papers in this volume draw attention to both new and recent information on the mechanisms employed by infectious pathogens to underpin their survival in the immunocompetent host and to facilitate their transmission between hosts.

The diagnosis of infectious agents in humans and animals and the detection of pathogens in food and water are not without problems and are often difficult to validate. Methods in use range from rather simple, easily managed and routine techniques to the extremely complex cutting-edge technologies of modern molecular biology and high-throughput miniaturized methods. There is a clear need for rapid, accurate and unambiguous results. This volume considers the principles behind such diverse methods and describes in some detail how diagnostic and detection methods are employed. The first part deals with the position in the late-1990s and considers prions, viruses, protozoa, and helminth parasites both in host organisms and in food, drinking water and the environment. The second part focuses on advances being made in diagnosis by examining emerging pathogens, the risk assessment of water-borne pathogens and the development of exciting new micromethods.