Parasitic Protozoa of Farm Animals and Pets

• Each chapter is focused on a specific zoopathogenic protozoan species
• Offers readers vital insights into the biology of common parasitic protozoa
• Highlights the latest advances in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of protozoa-derived diseases

This book provides an in-depth yet concise overview of the most common and emerging protozoa that cause diseases in both farm animals and companion animals. For each of the featured parasitic unicellular eukaryotes, it discusses the morphology, lifecycle, epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions. In addition, the book highlights the latest developments in diagnostic methods, as well as prevention and treatment strategies.

Infections involving parasitic protozoa can cause productivity losses and/or reduce the quality of life of infected animals. Some infections are zoonotic, posing an on-going public health threat. In most cases, prevention and treatment are either non-existent or need considerable improvement. On the other hand, a great deal of research has recently been conducted on these organisms, yielding valuable new information on their global distribution and revealing the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level – and essential insights that can be used for the development of new control tools. This book includes extensive information on both basic aspects and recent scientific discoveries on these protozoa and thus constitutes a unique resource for students, veterinarians, and researchers alike.

Monica Florin-Christensen and Leonhard Schnittger are biologists and researchers with the National Council of Scientific and Technological Research of Argentina (CONICET). Further, they lead a group that is investigating molecular parasitology, focusing on pathogenic protists of veterinary importance, at the Institute of Pathobiology, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA, Argentina).