EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

Book Studies on Effect of Citric Acid on in Vitro Cellulose Digestion by Rumen Microorganisms from Normal and Traumatic Gastritis Animals

Download or read book Studies on Effect of Citric Acid on in Vitro Cellulose Digestion by Rumen Microorganisms from Normal and Traumatic Gastritis Animals written by Brij M. Mitruka and published by . This book was released on 1962 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals  Bacterioses and mycoses

Download or read book Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals Bacterioses and mycoses written by Pedro N. Acha and published by Pan American Health Organization. This book was released on 2001 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, zoonoses and communicablediseases common to man and animals have gained increasing attention worldwide.Human diseases that have their origins in infected animals--such as AIDS, SARS, andCreutzfeldt-Jakob--have highlighted the need for a better understanding ofanimal diseases. The ease and speed of modern travel facilitatesthe spread of diseases once confined to specific geographic areas, as recentlyoccurred with the Covid-19 epidemic. Animal migration and trade pose a similarthreat, as was shown by the outbreaks in the United States of West Nile feverand monkeypox--two diseases not previously known in the Western Hemisphere. Eachof these examples highlights the need for accurate, up-to-date information, such as that presented here in the latest edition of Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals. This edition, published for the first time inthree volumes, covers: I.Bacterioses and mycoses II.Chlamydioses, rickettsioses, and viroses III.Parasitoses The books provide a detailed overview of themost important historic and emerging zoonotic diseases, such as Ebolahemorrhagic fever, foot-and-mouth disease, influenza, giardiasis, Japaneseencephalitis, shigellosis, and spongiform encephalopathies, with informationranging from their first appearance and most important outbreaks to the latestscientific knowledge of the diseases and their causative agents. The chaptersprovide the following key information on each disease: etiology geographicdistribution symptoms and occurrence in man and animals source of infection andmode of transmission role of animals in its epidemiology diagnostic techniques, and prevention and control measures Numerous tables and figures diagrammingmodes of transmission complement the text. The book is an essential tool for biologists, parasitologists, virologists, veterinarians, doctors, epidemiologists, andworkers in public health and animal health institutions, as well as forteachers, researchers, and students in these fields. All of them will find valuablematerial to enrich their collection of reference works in the third edition ofZoonoses and communicable diseases common to man and animals. Volumes 2(Chlamydioses, rickettsioses, and viroses) and 3(Parasitoses) are also available.

Book Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing

Download or read book Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing written by Katrina L. Mealey and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-02-07 with total page 945 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Delivers the foundational and practical knowledge required for pharmacists to become an integral part of the veterinary health care team, improving therapeutic outcome while preventing serious adverse drug reactions in veterinary patients Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing enables pharmacists and pharmacy students to expand the breadth of their pharmacological knowledge to include common veterinary species. The book offers a practical yet complete resource for dispensing drugs for canine and feline patients, with additional chapters on horses, birds, reptiles, small mammals, and food animals. Edited by a globally recognized expert in veterinary pharmacology, and including chapters written by veterinarians with expertise in pharmacotherapy and pharmacists with expertise in veterinary medicine, this book is designed to help pharmacists enhance the quality of veterinary patient care. This book is the first to combine the expertise of both veterinarians and pharmacists to enable pharmacists to apply their knowledge and skills to assure optimal therapeutic outcomes for patients of all species. Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing: Puts the information needed to safely dispense prescription and OTC drugs for veterinary patients at the pharmacists’ fingertips Focuses on crucial details of canine and feline pharmacotherapeutics Helps pharmacists avoid adverse drug reactions including pharmacogenomic and breed-related drug sensitivities Offers an authoritative resource written by leading veterinary pharmacy experts designed to integrate pharmacists into the veterinary healthcare team Includes crucial regulatory information unique to veterinary drug dispensing and compounding Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing is an essential reference for all pharmacists and pharmacy students that might find themselves dispensing drugs to veterinary patients, as well as for veterinarians and others involved with dispensing veterinary drugs. “Pharmacotherapeutics for Veterinary Dispensing is a book long overdue for the pharmacy profession....Whether you have practiced veterinary pharmacy your whole career or have never practiced veterinary pharmacy, this book has much to offer. Veterinarians are encouraged to suggest this book to pharmacists with whom they work and interact.” - JAVMA Vol 255 No. 6

Book Sheep  Goat  and Cervid Medicine   E Book

Download or read book Sheep Goat and Cervid Medicine E Book written by David G. Pugh and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2020-01-07 with total page 578 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: **Selected for Doody's Core Titles® 2024 in Veterinary Medicine** Get practical answers from the only guide on the care of sheep, goats, and cervids! Authoritative yet easy to read, Sheep, Goat and Cervid Medicine, 3rd Edition covers all the latest advances in the field, including diseases and medical treatment, surgery, pain management, theriogenology, and nutrition. Clear instructions and hundreds of full-color photographs guide you step by step through common procedures including restraint for examination, administration of drugs, blood collection, and grooming. New to this edition is coverage of deer and elk medicine, reflecting the growing interest in these ruminants. Written by an expert team led by Dr. D.G. Pugh, this comprehensive reference is ideal for veterinarians and also for owners of sheep and goats. - Clear writing style and consistent organization makes the book easy to understand and use, with disease chapters including pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. - Coverage of both surgery and medicine in each body systems chapter makes it easier to choose between treatment options for specific disorders. - Superbly illustrated surgical procedures clearly demonstrate the steps to follow in performing medical and reproductive surgery. - Diverse, expert contributors include the most experienced authorities, each providing current information on the care of valuable breeding stock as well as pets. - Useful appendixes, now including veterinary feed directives, offer convenient access to information on drugs and drug dosages, fluid therapy, and normal values and conversions. - Consistent, logical format in each body systems chapter makes information easy to find by beginning with physical examination and diagnostic procedures, followed by discussions of common diseases that involve the system. - Comprehensive Feeding and Nutrition chapter covers diet evaluation, method of balancing rations, total parenteral nutrition, and examples of nutritious diets. - Explanation of the differences in normal behavior between sheep and goats shows how they are not the same, and require different methods of treatment. - NEW! Coverage of cervids has been added to chapters throughout the book, reflecting the growing popularity of deer and elk. - NEW! Thorough content updates are made throughout the book and reflect the latest research evidence. - NEW! 170 new clinical photos have been added. - NEW! Anesthesia and Pain Management chapter includes a new section on pain management strategies, reflecting the emphasis on controlling pain in small ruminants. - NEW! Expert Consult website offers an online version of the book, making it easy to search the entire book electronically. - NEW! Two new authors are respected and well-known veterinary medicine experts and educators: Dr. Misty Edmondson and Dr. Thomas Passler.

Book The Connections Between Ecology and Infectious Disease

Download or read book The Connections Between Ecology and Infectious Disease written by Christon J. Hurst and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-08-30 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book summarizes current advances in our understanding of how infectious disease represents an ecological interaction between a pathogenic microorganism and the host species in which that microbe causes illness. The contributing authors explain that pathogenic microorganisms often also have broader ecological connections, which can include a natural environmental presence; possible transmission by vehicles such as air, water, and food; and interactions with other host species, including vectors for which the microbe either may or may not be pathogenic. This field of science has been dubbed disease ecology, and the chapters that examine it have been grouped into three sections. The first section introduces both the role of biological community interactions and the impact of biodiversity on infectious disease. In turn, the second section considers those diseases directly affecting humans, with a focus on waterborne and foodborne illnesses, while also examining the critical aspect of microbial biofilms. Lastly, the third section presents the ecology of infectious diseases from the perspective of their impact on mammalian livestock and wildlife as well as on humans. Given its breadth of coverage, the volume offers a valuable resource for microbial ecologists and biomedical scientists alike.

Book Leung s Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients

Download or read book Leung s Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients written by Ikhlas A. Khan and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-09-21 with total page 1079 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The third edition of the unparalleled reference on natural ingredients and their commercial use This new Third Edition of Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics arrives in the wake of the huge wave of interest in dietary supplements and herbal medicine resulting from both trends in health and the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This fully updated and revised text includes the most recent research findings on a wide variety of ingredients, giving readers a single source for understanding and working with natural ingredients. The Encyclopedia continues the successful format for entries listed in earlier editions (consisting of source, description, chemical composition, pharmacology, uses, commercial preparations, regulatory status, and references). The text also features an easily accessible alphabetical presentation of the entries according to common names, with the index cross-referencing entries according to scientific names. This Third Edition also features: More than 50 percent more information than the Second Edition, reflecting the greatly increased research activity in recent years A new section on traditional Indian medicine, with information on nine commonly used herbs More than 6,500 references Two new appendices explaining and illustrating the botanical terminology frequently encountered in the text A revised and expanded index Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, Third Edition will continue to provide a comprehensive compilation of the existing literature and prominent findings on natural ingredients to readers with an interest in medicine, nutrition, and cosmetics.

Book Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

Download or read book Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals written by Rotimi E. Aluko and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-06-05 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Functional food or medicinal food is any fresh or processed food claimed to have a health-promoting and/or disease-preventing property beyond the basic nutritional function of supplying nutrients, although there is no consensus on an exact definition of the term. This is an emerging field in food science, in which such foods are usually accompanied by health claims for marketing purposes, such as a company's ‘cereal is a significant source of fiber. Studies have shown that an increased amount of fiber in one's diet can decrease the risk of certain types of cancer in individuals.’ Functional foods are sometimes called nutraceuticals, a portmanteau of nutrition and pharmaceutical, and can include food that has been genetically modified. The general category includes processed food made from functional food ingredients, or fortified with health-promoting additives, like "vitamin-enriched" products, and also fresh foods (e.g., vegetables) that have specific claims attached. Fermented foods with live cultures are often also considered to be functional foods with probiotic benefits."

Book Sheep Veterinary Practice

Download or read book Sheep Veterinary Practice written by Kym A. Abbott and published by . This book was released on 2024 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ""The value of this book cannot be overstated. As a student, many years ago, there were no comprehensive textbooks on sheep medicine, so I was lucky to have Professor Abbott as an inspiring lecturer. This book is needed by students!" Following on from his first book, Sheep Veterinary Practice remains the ideal reference for veterinarians in farm animal practice, veterinary and animal science students, agriculturalists, and sheep producers. Principally addressing sheep health, welfare, and production matters in Australia, it covers issues and clinical practice of relevance in many countries of the world where sheep are raised. Sheep veterinary specialist Professor Kym Abbott informs the reader of the science underpinning the occurrence of disease syndromes, giving special attention to commonly investigated problems related to nutrition, reproduction, and helminth diseases. Other disease conditions of sheep are discussed in subsequent chapters; first on the basis of presenting signs in the case of lameness and sudden death - conditions in which signs can be attributed to disorders of a variety of body systems - and then on a body-systems basis. This new edition thoroughly revises and expands on the previous text, adding a review of the systems and strategies available to improve the welfare of sheep in extensive farming systems, a chapter on pain relief, analgesia and anaesthesia for sheep, and a chapter on metacestodes. The text is illustrated with more than 150 full-colour images and photographs"--

Book The Hologenome Concept  Human  Animal and Plant Microbiota

Download or read book The Hologenome Concept Human Animal and Plant Microbiota written by Eugene Rosenberg and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2014-01-31 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Groundbreaking research over the last 10 years has given rise to the hologenome concept of evolution. This concept posits that the holobiont (host plus all of its associated microorganisms) and its hologenome (sum of the genetic information of the host and its symbiotic microorganisms), acting in concert, function as a unique biological entity and therefore as a level of selection in evolution. All animals and plants harbor abundant and diverse microbiota, including viruses. Often the amount of symbiotic microorganisms and their combined genetic information far exceed that of their host. The microbiota with its microbiome, together with the host genome, can be transmitted from one generation to the next and thus propagate the unique properties of the holobiont. The microbial symbionts and the host interact in a cooperative way that affects the health of the holobiont within its environment. Beneficial microbiota protects against pathogens, provides essential nutrients, catabolizes complex polysaccharides, renders harmful chemicals inert, and contributes to the performance of the immune system. In humans and animals, the microbiota also plays a role in behavior. The sum of these cooperative interactions characterizes the holobiont as a unique biological entity. Genetic variation in the hologenome can be brought about by changes in either the host genome or the microbial population genomes (microbiome). Evolution by cooperation can occur by amplifying existing microbes, gaining novel microbiota and by acquiring microbial and viral genes. Under environmental stress, the microbiome can change more rapidly and in response to more processes than the host organism alone and thus influences the evolution of the holobiont. Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and phage therapy are discussed as applied aspects of the hologenome concept.

Book Toxicology in the Use  Misuse  and Abuse of Food  Drugs  and Chemicals

Download or read book Toxicology in the Use Misuse and Abuse of Food Drugs and Chemicals written by European Society of Toxicology. Meeting and published by Springer. This book was released on 1983-08 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many chemotherapeutic agents introduced for use in humans are carcinogenic in laboratory animals (Conklin et al. 1965; Shimkin et al. 1966; Griswold et al. 1968; Harris 1976). However, initially their beneficial effect in disseminated cancer was of such short duration that the inevitable death of the patient from his primary disease precluded any clinical manifestation of the carcinogenic potential. During the last decade, chemotherapy has radically changed the outlook for many patients with cancer. Combinations of drugs, administered as the primary treatment, have resulted in high rates of cure in patients with disseminated malignancies, such as stage IV Hodgkin's disease or childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. In other disseminated forms of neoplasia, induction of a remission, a substantial palliation and a prolongation of survival have been achieved. In many instances of localised disease, where surgery with or without radiotherapy are the primary form of treatment, anticancer drugs have been used with success as adjuvant therapy for distant microscopic disease. With these spectacular achievements, secondary malignancies, in particular acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), has become of major concern. Incidence Acute leukemia is the most frequent form of secondary neoplasia in patients treated for cancer (Penn 1981). In one large series, 5. 9% of all ANLL could be attributed to previous chemotherapy (Kapadia et al. 1980).

Book Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease

Download or read book Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease written by AnnMarie Kocher and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-04-15 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease delivers a comprehensive review of nitrite and nitrate biology, from basic biochemistry to the complex physiology and metabolism of these two naturally occurring molecules in the human body. Well-organized and well referenced chapters cover the rich history of nitrite and nitrate, sources of exposure, and the physiological effects when consumed through foods containing nitrite and nitrate. The chapters are written by leading experts, all of whom share their research and perspectives in order to help define the context for benefits vs. any potential risks associated with nitrite and nitrate use, either through dietary ingestion or therapeutic dosing. This diverse collection of authors includes vascular biologists, physiologists, physicians, epidemiologists, cancer biologists, registered dieticians, chemists, and public health experts from five countries in both academia and government. Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease provides a balanced view of nitric oxide biochemistry, and nitrite and nitrate biochemistry in physiology and in the food sciences.

Book Rebhun s Diseases of Dairy Cattle E Book

Download or read book Rebhun s Diseases of Dairy Cattle E Book written by Thomas J. Divers and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2007-10-25 with total page 700 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: REBHUN'S DISEASES OF DAIRY CATTLE, 2nd Edition is your all-in-one guide to bovine disease management. With thorough, up-to-date coverage of differential diagnosis methods, surgical and therapeutic treatment options, and prevention strategies, it provides vital information for battling bovine diseases in both dairy and non-dairy cattle. The book is organized by body system for quick, convenient reference, and this new edition meets the growing need for management of both diseases of individual cows and problems affecting whole herds. - Individual case presentations provide a valuable tool for differential diagnosis. - Practical overviews for procedures such as blood transfusion, abdominal paracentesis, and ECG give you reliable support for some of the most common procedures in bovine care. - Body systems organization makes diagnosis easier and more effective by isolating system-specific diseases and conditions. - Full-color design and over 200 new photographs depict disease processes in realistic clarity and ensure the most accurate diagnosis and treatment. - Emphasis on herd health addresses the dairy industry's increased concern over population medicine. - Expanded coverage of lameness highlights key problem areas in bovine feet. - Revised drug usage recommendations and legal considerations present the most current information in these critical areas to help you prevent dangerous or costly errors. - Additional public health/safety considerations identify diseases that pose a substantial public threat and detail special measures for related care of dairy cattle. - New, innovative DVD features real-time videos of neurologic case studies, ultrasound and endoscopy procedures, and imaging techniques that familiarize you with the latest technological equipment and protocols. - Features coverage of the latest treatment innovations including antibiotic residue testing, care of individual metabolic disease, troubleshooting, and much more.

Book Biofilms in Human Diseases  Treatment and Control

Download or read book Biofilms in Human Diseases Treatment and Control written by Sunil Kumar and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-11-19 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book highlights treatment strategies for bacterial biofilms in connection with a variety of human diseases. In particular, it reviews bacterial biofilm formation and its mechanism. Topics covered include biofilms in human health, the role of biofilms in mediating human diseases, and methods for testing bacterial biofilms. Further sections concentrate on biofilm-mediated diseases in different parts of the human gastrointestinal tract, while therapeutic strategies for biofilm control and natural agents that disrupt bacterial biofilms are also covered. Readers will also find the latest advances in probiotics and biofilms, as well as the use of probiotics to counteract biofilm-associated infections. Biofilms and antimicrobial resistance are discussed. Subsequent chapters address the management of inflammatory bowel disease via probiotics biofilms, as well as the role of probiotics bacteria in the treatment of human diseases associated with bacterial biofilms. The book is chiefly intended for clinicians/scientists in the fields of medical microbiology, applied microbiology, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

Book Nutrient Requirements of Nonhuman Primates

Download or read book Nutrient Requirements of Nonhuman Primates written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2003-02-01 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new release presents the wealth of information gleaned about nonhuman primates nutrition since the previous edition was published in 1978. With expanded coverage of natural dietary habits, gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology, and the nutrient needs of species that have been difficult to maintain in captivity, it explores the impact on nutrition of physiological and life-stage considerations: infancy, weaning, immune function, obesity, aging, and more. The committee also discusses issues of environmental enrichment such as opportunities for foraging. Based on the world's scientific literature and input from authoritative sources, the book provides best estimates of nutrient requirements. The volume covers requirements for energy: carbohydrates, including the role of dietary fiber; proteins and amino acids; fats and fatty acids; minerals, fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins; and water. The book also analyzes the composition of important foods and feed ingredients and offers guidelines on feed processing and diet formulation.

Book Principles of Human Nutrition

Download or read book Principles of Human Nutrition written by Martin Eastwood and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-06-05 with total page 1088 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This exciting new book is the updated and revised second edition of an extremely popular and well-received textbook. Written by Martin Eastwood, well respected internationally in nutritional sciences, this important new edition provides students with a thorough book that should be adopted for course use on many courses worldwide. Taking into account constructive comments received by students and teachers who used and enjoyed the first edition, this new edition retains the original freshness of the 1st edition, looking at nutrition as an exciting discipline. Special features within the book to help students include summaries, boxes and questions. Carefully laid out to assist learning, the book is divided broadly into sections, providing in-depth coverage of the following subjects: food in the community metabolism of nutrients by an individual, dictated by genetic makeup, measurement of an individual’s nutritional status essential, non-essential and non-nutrients; their selection, ingestion, digestion, absorption and metabolism nutritional requirements in the normal individual and for specific diseases Principles of Human Nutrition, 2nd Edition is primarily written as a course text for those studying degree courses in nutrition and dietetics and for students on modular courses on nutrition within other degree courses, e.g. food studies, medicine, health sciences, nursing and biological sciences. It is also of great value as a reference for professional nutritionists and dietitians, food scientists and health professionals based in academia, in practice and in commercial positions such as within the food and pharmaceutical industries. Multiple copies of this valuable book should also be on the shelves of all universities, medical schools and research establishments where these subjects are studied and taught. For supplementary material associated with this textbook and its contents, please visit the web pages for this book, on the publishers’ website: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/eastwood/ Martin Eastwood was formerly consultant gastroenterologist at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, U. K. and Reader in Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, U. K.

Book Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy

Download or read book Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy written by Diana Noland and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-03-27 with total page 1088 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook is a practical guide to the application of the philosophy and principles of Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy (IFMNT) in the practice of medicine, and the key role nutrition plays in restoring and maintaining wellness. The textbook provides an overview of recent reviews and studies of physiological and biochemical contributions to IFMNT and address nutritional influences in human heath overall, including poor nutrition, genomics, environmental toxicant exposures, fractured human interactions, limited physical movement, stress, sleep deprivation, and other lifestyle factors. Ultimately, this textbook serves to help practitioners, healthcare systems, and policy makers better understand this different and novel approach to complex chronic disorders. It provides the reader with real world examples of applications of the underlying principles and practices of integrative/functional nutrition therapies and presents the most up-to-date intervention strategies and clinical tools to help the reader keep abreast of developments in this emerging specialty field. Many chapters include comprehensive coverage of the topic and clinical applications with supplementary learning features such as case studies, take-home messages, patient and practitioner handouts, algorithms, and suggested readings. Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy: Principles and Practices will serve as an invaluable guide for healthcare professionals in their clinical application of nutrition, lifestyle assessment, and intervention for each unique, individual patient.

Book Comparative Protozoology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Orvil Roger Anderson
  • Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
  • Release : 2013-03-09
  • ISBN : 3662113406
  • Pages : 489 pages

Download or read book Comparative Protozoology written by Orvil Roger Anderson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 489 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The protozoa are an eclectic assemblage of organisms encompassing a wide range of single-celled and multiple-celled colonial organisms lacking tissue organiza tion, but exhibiting remarkably refined biological behavior. In some modern classifications, they are classified as a subkingdom among the Protista (eukary otic single-celled organisms). Although they are not considered a formal cate gory by some taxonomists and some biologists consider the name inappropriate (inferring that they are the first unicellular animals, although some photosynthe size), it is still convenient to consider this group of organisms as an informal collection under the heading of protozoa. Their cosmopolitan distribution, sig nificant ecological role in mineral recycling and enhancement of carbon flow through lower trophic levels of food webs, and remarkable cellular adaptations to enhance survival in diverse environments make them significant organisms for biological investigation. In some cases, biologists are introduced to this group in first level courses or in invertebrate zoology, but never develop a full appreciation for the diverse and biologically sophisticated characteristics of these organisms. This book is intended as a survey of broad concepts in protozoan biology with an emphasis on comparative data. The focus is on the zoological aspects of the group. Topics more closely related to plantlike characteristics, as presented in books on phycol ogy, are not considered in detail here. A sound background in modern biology and an introduction to cellular biology will be helpful in understanding Chapters 15 and 16, which include a substantial amount of information on biochemistry.