Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests
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"A very good read! Lots of parasite stories told in a compelling way."—Dickson Despommier, Emeritus Professor, Columbia University"In her newest book, Rosemary Drisdelle gives us a fresh and exciting spin on the past and current history of parasites; a far too often disdained and ignored presence among us. Drisdelle's anecdotes make one of society's most dreaded entities accessible as well as enjoyable. Parasites and its historical insights have the ability to change society's view of and response to parasites amongst us."—Richard Saffern, bedbug.com Publishers Weekly As Drisdelle, a clinical parasitologist, shows, human parasites come in many forms and use a panoply of strategies to make a living. As she writes, “[H]undreds of species live in human intestines, skin, lungs, muscle, brain, liver, blood, and everywhere else they can find a niche.” They can do remarkable damage to every physiological system, leading to death, blindness, and behavioral changes. Drisdelle discusses amoebae, roundworms, tapeworms, mites, and others, often in too much detail. She also examines the historical context in which some parasites have found their way to us and notes their effect on world events, such as the impact Plasmodium falciparum, a protozoa that causes malaria, had on the course of the Vietnam War. She notes that some scholars have even “credited malaria with bringing down the Roman Empire....” On the positive side, she demonstrates that, in some cases, with enough political will, dramatic improvements in public health can be made. This is definitely not a book for the squeamish, and readers who lack a special interest in parasites will find it tedious. 29 b&w photos, 2 maps. (June)
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Author's Note Introduction 1. Ambush Parasites that have changed human history2. Market of Peril Parasites versus food safety regulations—is anything safe to eat?3. Drinking-Water Advisory How parasites get into our water and what we try to do about it4. Illegal Aliens The unintentional but persistent global movement of parasites by humans5. Parasites in Control As in science fiction, some parasites do take over their hosts6. In the House of Mirrors Good, bad, and imaginary—the cultural meanings and practical uses of parasites, and the power of fear7. The Parasite Felonies Criminals who cast their lot in with parasites8. Emerging Parasites The ones that seem to come out of nowhere, and where they really come from9. Parasite Extinction Can we ever get rid of these unwelcome guests?Epilogue Notes Selected Bibliography and Additional Reading Index
