Helminth parasites of ruminants are ubiquitous, with many tropical and sub-tropical environments of the world providing near-perfect conditions for their survival and development. Although these parasites are widely prevalent, the clinical signs they cause in infected animals can be less obvious than signs of other livestock diseases. Partly for this reason, infections with gastro-intestinal and other helminth parasites are among the most neglected areas of veterinary care in much of the developing world. The first edition of this handbook was written to help redress this imbalance.
The second edition of the handbook, in a simple style, again reviews the epidemiology of helminth parasites of ruminants, and presents procedures and techniques for their diagnosis, survey and control. It has been enlarged to encompass a broader range of helminth species in a wider geographical area. The book is designed for routine use in all types of animal health institutions, including universities, research institutes and field laboratories where diagnostic parasitology will help to improve and standardize diagnostic capabilities, as well as contribute to the collection and use of basic epidemiological data, the foundation for effective disease control programmes.
The first edition of this handbook was produced by ILRAD, in recognition of the need to address the problems of endemic helminth diseases in Africa in order to optimize the benefits from improved control of protozoan diseases, the main focus of ILRAD's research. In view of the value of effective helminth control in ruminant production systems throughout the world, FAO and ILCA have joined ILRAD in a partnership in publishing the second edition of this popular work.
A.R. Gray,
MA, VetMB, PhD, DSc, MRCVS
Director General ILRAD
