Infectious Diseases Diagnosis: Current Status and Future Trends: 117 (Parasitology, Series Number 117)

Cambridge University Press, 12/11/1999
EAN 9780521785075, ISBN10: 0521785073

Paperback, 220 pages, 29.7 x 21.3 x 1.5 cm
Language: English

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. The methods currently 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 miniaturised 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 current position 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 future trends in diagnosis by examining emerging pathogens, the risk assessment of water-borne pathogens and the development of exciting new micromethods.

List of contributions
Part I. Current Status
1. The diagnosis of prion diseases
2. The evolution of immunoassay technology
3. Detection of viruses in livestock
4. Diagnosis of schistosomiasis
antibody detection, with notes on parasitological and antigen detection methods
5. Molecular and immunodiagnosis of human filarial nematode infections
6. Molecular detection of parasitic protozoa
7. Molecular diagnosis of parasitic nematodes
8. Detection of parasites in food
9. Detection of parasites in the environment
Part II. Future Trends
10. Emerging pathogens - Isospora, Cyclospora and microsporidia
11. Overview and significance of molecular methods
what role for molecular epidemiology?
12. Electrorotation and dielectrophoresis
13. Future trends in diagnosis using laboratory-on-a-chip technologies
14. Risk assessment of waterborne protozoa
current status and future trends.