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Book Review
Biology of Disease Vectors,
2nd ed.
William C. Marquardt, editor
Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, Massachusetts
Second Edition
ISBN: 0-12-473276-3
Pages: 785, Price US $99.95
Suggested
citation for this article
This edition is a massive, 7-section, 57-chapter medical entomology reference
text. The chapters are written by 72 experts from around the world and
provide an understanding of disease vectors on a broad front, including
biologic requirements of vectors, epidemiology, molecular biology, genetics,
principles of control, and insecticide resistance. The text consistently
emphasizes molecular biologic approaches to these topics.
This book begins by discussing the vectors themselves, with chapters
on mites, ticks, true bugs, lice, fleas, mosquitoes, and various dipterans
such as tsetse flies and sand flies. Line drawings and black-and-white
pictures abound. The number of color photos is limited; those in the kissing
bug/bed bug chapter and the flea chapter are especially beautiful. Subsequent
sections delve into the physiologic and genetic basis of vector biology.
The final 2 sections concern controlling insects and acarines and special
(laboratory) methods associated with vectors. The last section, which
deals with laboratory methods, is like a giant appendix in which updates
are given for the care, maintenance, and experimental infection of various
disease vectors, including notes on handling, housing, rearing facilities,
containment, and safety issues.
One of the most helpful chapters for this reviewer was the one entitled,
"Systematic Relationships among Disease Vectors," which defines
molecular systematics terminology and explains how phylogenetic relationships
among species are inferred from molecular data. I wish every traditional
taxonomist and systematist would read this chapter.
This book contains a few misspellings (e.g., the chapter title in the
Table of Contents, Chapter 46), but no major errors. Its only weakness
seems to be one of disunity. The title doesn't match the book's content,
and the text is so comprehensive that it seems unfocused. There are chapters
on chemical and genetic control of vectors, cell culture, and even research
safeguards for transgenic mosquitoes. How these fit under the title biology
of vectors was difficult to discern. Perhaps in future editions, the chief
editor could split the book into several separate volumes, each with a
more appropriate title.
Nevertheless, this book is an indispensable reference and a wonderful
treasure trove of information about medical entomology. Its only flaws
are organizational, not factual. The chief editor, section editors, and
authors are to be congratulated on this scholarly work.
Jerome Goddard*†
*Mississippi Department of Health, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; and †University
of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
Suggested citation
for this article:
Goddard J. Biology
of disease vectors [book review]. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet].
2005 Aug [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no08/05-0610.htm
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