Epistola publishing house is a family-owned company founded in 2009. We seek to provide quality reading with variety of themes to enrich the lives of young readers. Our books have distinctively educational purpose, inspiring discussion with parents, teachers or other children. In order to provide the best possible reading and achieve quality, we collaborate with renowned domestic and foreign authors.
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Singapore's largest independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction for all ages. Check out our latest catalogue here: July – December 2018 (PDF.)
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This book is contemporary, topical and global in its approach, and provides an essential, comprehensive treatise on bovine tuberculosis and the bacterium that causes it, Mycobacterium bovis. Bovine tuberculosis remains a major cause of economic loss in cattle industries worldwide, exacerbated in some countries by the presence of a substantial wildlife reservoir. It is a major zoonosis, causing human infection through consumption of unpasteurised milk or by close contact with infected animals. Following a systematic approach, expert international authors cover epidemiology and the global situation; microbial virulence and pathogenesis; host responses to the pathogen; and diagnosis and control of the disease. Aimed at researchers and practising veterinarians, this book is essential for those needing comprehensive information on the pathogen and disease, and offers a summary of key information learned from human tuberculosis research. It will be useful to those studying the infection and for those responsible for controlling the disease.
Paratuberculosis, also referred to as Johne's disease, affects cattle, goats, sheep, buffalo, deer and other ruminants. Examining the epidemiology of paratuberculosis, the organism that causes the disease, and practical aspects of its diagnosis and control, the book also addresses the link between paratuberculosis in the food chain and human health implications, including Crohn's disease. This timely new edition: - builds on a strong foundation to update, streamline and better structure existing chapters with important new developments from the last decade; - includes new chapters discussing the fast-growing field of whole genome based comparative genomics, and the increasing opportunities for disease control in low- and middle-income countries; - Brings on board rising star new authors from diverse backgrounds to include varied perspectives. A truly comprehensive, critical reference resource, this book is an essential reference for large animal veterinarians, livestock industry personnel and those involved in the dairy and meat industries, as well as microbiologists, researchers and students in these fields.
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Goats are the predominant domestic livestock, and certainly the predominant small ruminant, in most of Asia, Africa and the warmer parts of Europe. Important for meat, milk, fibre and leather production, their widescale production and husbandry allows many opportunities for the spread of disease between livestock and their keepers. Taking a One Health approach to the issue, this book provides clear, accurate and comprehensive coverage of the zoonotic diseases of goats. Including information on aetiology, the epidemiology and transmission cycle, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention and control strategies, the book: - Helps readers quickly locate information about the disease's severity, mode of spread, treatment, and safety precautions; - Discusses the importance of educating animal owners about the public health implications of zoonotic diseases; - Reviews bacterial, viral, parasitic, rickettsial, and fungal diseases. An invaluable resource for veterinary practitioners and public health experts around the world, this book also provides a useful reference for researchers and students of animal disease and human health.
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This new edition of Lyme Disease provides up-to-date evidence-based research and covers the significant advances in our understanding of the disorders referred to as Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis. This book explores the causative organism, its requisite ecosystem, disease epidemiology, host-Borrelia interactions, diagnostic testing, clinical manifestations, therapeutic options, the role of host immunity on pathogenesis and long term prognosis. The authors provide balanced perspectives on all aspects of Lyme disease and explicitly review both the basic biology of the infection and practical clinical aspects. This new edition: Includes new borrelial pathogens that have been identified (B. miyamotoi, B. mayonii and B. bavariensis among others). Provides updated information on the molecular biology of the organism, neuroborreliosis, and the role of the C6 peptide in diagnosis. Discusses the controversies about 'chronic Lyme disease', post Lyme disease syndrome and other ongoing but non-specific symptoms that have been attributed to this infection. As the endemic footprint of Lyme disease continues to grow, this book provides a broad and detailed guide for clinicians and researchers involved with the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Covering biology, epidemiology and therapeutics, it is also essential reading for students of global health and infectious disease.
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The fungal genus Ganoderma includes around 80 currently recognized species that are widely distributed in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions, and cause disease in a range of economically important perennial crops and tree-like plants. Ganoderma root and lower stem rots have a significant impact on yields from crops including oil palm, coconut, beverage crops, Acacia and rubber. The identification of species responsible for stem and butt rots is often ambiguous as closely related species may only be distinguished by subtle morphological differences. Within species there can be considerable morphological plasticity and this can make morphology-based identification difficult, particularly for species described from a single specimen. Molecular techniques are helping to slowly resolve Ganoderma taxonomy but it will be some time (if ever) before the taxonomy is fully resolved. This book brings together information on Ganoderma species that are reported to be responsible for crop diseases in tropical and sub-tropical agriculture and covers taxonomy, biology, genetics, aetiology, epidemiology and control. This book is an essential resource for researchers in Ganoderma in crop science and tropical agriculture, as well as practitioners and industry.
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Genetic epidemiology plays a key role in discovering genetic factors influencing health and disease, and in understanding how genes and environmental risk factors interact. There is growing interest in this field within public health, with the goal of translating the results into promoting health and preventing disease in both families and populations. This textbook provides graduate students with a working knowledge of genetic epidemiology research methods. Following an overview of the field, the book reviews key genetic concepts, provides an update on relevant genomic technology, including genome-wide chips and DNA sequencing, and describes methods for assessing the magnitude of genetic influences on diseases and risk factors. The book focuses on research study designs for discovering disease susceptibility genes, including family-based linkage analysis, candidate gene and genome-side association studies, assessing gene-environment interactions and epistasis, studies of Non-Mendelian inheritance, and statistical analyses of data from these studies. Specific applications of each research method are illustrated using a variety of diseases and risk factors relevant to public health, and useful web-based genetic analysis software, human reference panels, and repositories, that can greatly facilitate this work, are described. Concluding with a review of ethical issues and a framework for translating human genomics research to clinical practice and public health benefit, this textbook is an essential new resource for graduate students in epidemiology and public health genetics.
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Globally, the way the animal production industry copes with infectious diseases is changing. The (excessive) use of antimicrobials is under debate and it is becoming standard practice to implement thorough biosecurity plans on farms to prevent the entry and spread of pathogenic micro-organisms. Not only in farm animal production, but also in facilities where companion animals are kept, including in veterinary practices and clinics, awareness of the beneficial implications of a good biosecurity plan has raised. The book Biosecurity in Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine is the first compilation of both fundamental aspects of biosecurity practices, and specific and practical information on the application of the biosecurity measures in different animal production and animal housing settings. The book starts with a general introductory chapter on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, followed by a chapter explaining the general principles of biosecurity. Specific topics of biosecurity, including rodent and insect control, cleaning and disinfection, hygiene and decontamination of feed, drinking water and air, and measuring the biosecurity status of farms, are detailed in dedicated chapters. Explanations on the relevance of the implementation of biosecurity plans in order to improve animal health and performance and reduce antimicrobial usage are described, and a chapter on ways to motivate farmers to implement a biosecurity plan has been included. Practical chapters deal with biosecurity in the poultry, pig and cattle industry, horse facilities, dog kennels, veterinary practices and clinics and laboratory animal facilities. The book is a practical guide that can be used by farm and animal facility managers, consultants, veterinarians, animal caretakers, and people with an interest in prevention of diseases in animals. Academics and students will benefit from the book because it contains all relevant information on animal biosecurity.
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Lyme borreliosis commonly known as lyme disease is now acknowledged as the most highly prevalent arthropod-borne human disease in northern temperate regions of the world. This book describes the basic characteristics of the disease, the biology of the pathogens in their vectors and vertebrate hosts, their ecology in different regions of the world and the global epidemiology of the disease. The final chapters address the prevention and control measures that have resulted from this knowledge.
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Providing the medical practitioner with a broad scientific understanding, this book discusses the causative organism, its requisite ecosystem, disease epidemiology, host-Borrelia interactions, diagnostic testing, clinical manifestations, therapeutic options, and long term prognosis. It explicitly reviews both the basic biology of the infection and practical clinical aspects, linking the two to demonstrate what is and is not attributable to this infection. It is a broad and detailed guide for medics and researchers involved with diagnosing and treating Lyme, covering biology, epidemiology and therapeutics.
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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a sexually transmitted disease seen in women, and is usually caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia. PID most often occurs in adolescent and young women, and can be a silent infection that may go undetected for years. Undiagnosed and untreated, PID leads to many potentially severe and devastating health consequences in women of reproductive age, including infertility.Pelvic Inflammatory Disease discusses the epidemiology of PID, as well as outlines the epidemiology of gonorrhea and chlamydia in the United States. It highlights, through one young woman’s personal story, the severity, the symptoms, and the consequences of PID. Although effective medications have been available for decades, the disease continues to occur and can result in several health complications in young women.
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Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. As such, they have many potential uses for promoting health and combating disease. This book covers the many facets of phage-bacterial-human interaction in three sections: the role and impact of phages on natural bacterial communities, the potential to develop phage-based therapeutics and other aspects in which phages can be used to combat disease, including bacterial detection, bacterial epidemiology, the tracing of fecal contamination of water and decontamination of foods.
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Worldwide eradication of the devastating viral disease of smallpox was devised as a distant global policy, but success depended on implementing a global vaccination programme within nation states. How this was achieved remains relevant and topical for responding to today's global communicable disease challenges. The small and poor Himalayan kingdom of Nepal faced enormous geographical and infrastructure challenges if it was going to succeed in a nationwide vaccination programme. This book acknowledges the key role of the WHO but disrupts the top-down, centre-led standard narrative. Against a background of widespread internal political and social change, Nepal's programme was expanded, effectively decentralised and a vaccination strategy introduced that aligned with people's beliefs. Few foreign personnel were involved.
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Understanding parasite biology and impact is essential when giving advice on parasite control in farm animals. In the first review devoted to parasites of domestic cattle and sheep alone, this book provides in-depth, focused advice which can be tailored to individual farms. It considers the impact of parasites, both as individual species and as co-infections, as well as epidemiological information, monitoring, and diagnostic procedures. Supported throughout by diagrams and photos to aid diagnosis, it also reviews the basis for control measures such as the responsible use of parasiticides, adaptive animal husbandry and other management practices. This book: Focuses on common parasites of domestic sheep and cattle; Places emphasis on understanding host responses and epidemiology so that the impact and seasonality of parasitism can be incorporated into advice and decision making; Highlights the fundamental importance of the individual farm and farmer in assessing endemic parasitism and tailoring control options accordingly; Provides a comprehensive reference listing, including important historical citations, to underpin the content. An important resource for students, veterinarians and researchers of farm animal health, this book maintains a focus on ruminant parasitology in order to deliver evidence-based advice and also context for the application of basic research.
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Disease vector control is rapidly changing, both because of the emergence of resistance to conventional methods and the development of new and potentially game-changing techniques. This book reviews several current and future measures for controlling mosquito vectors of disease, with an emphasis on malaria vectors. Beginning with an introduction to the topic of mosquito ecology and sampling methods, the book then covers several vector-borne disease control methods. The emphasis in many of these methods is for the sufferers of the diseases to take charge of their monitoring and control. Tackling the problems facing mosquito control, the authors review the important issues of education, economic considerations and climate change before concluding with a consideration of the politics and practicalities of method choice and implementation. This book is a thought-provoking concise and practical resource for anyone interested in primary healthcare and tackling or studying mosquito disease vectors.
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Today, forest health and the management of threats towards it are attracting more and more attention on a global scale. This book covers the most recent advances in the management of forest diseases, including the epidemiology and infection biology of forest pathogens, and forest protection based on integrated pest and disease management approaches. A comprehensive range of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other organisms are discussed in detail, making this book essential reading for forest managers and extension specialists. Written by recognised authorities in the subject of forest health, this book also provides a wealth of information useful for researchers and lecturers of forest pathology and ecology.
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Cultivated turfgrass is an assemblage of mown, perennial grasses or prostrate-growing forb plants and a suite of microbes all competing with each other in a common environment. This book approaches turfgrass diseases from an ecological perspective and explains with examples how wild plants and microbes have co-evolved. It addresses the identification, biology and integrated management of both common turfgrass diseases and newly emergent diseases. It includes the common and lesser-known turfgrass species, their surrounding environment and the range of beneficial and pathogenic microbes which in combination explain why disease occurs. For disease identification purposes, fungal diseases are arranged according to their predominantly cool season and warm season occurrence. Turfgrass bacterial and viral diseases, and plant parasitic nematodes are also covered. Written by a team of international authors, it combines technical expertise and practical experience. Essential for anyone involved in managing turfgrass, this book provides the know-how to identify the early warning signs of diseases, in order to manipulate the environment and minimise the damage.
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Take-all is the most important root disease of cereals worldwide and a major disease problem in northern European wheat-growing regions. It is regarded by many as an intractable problem because of the lack of economically-viable chemical controls and resistant cultivars. It remains one of the great challenges of plant pathology and serves as an ideal model for many of the problems of root diseases in general. This book, an initiative of the IACR/ADAS/Universities Cereal Root Pathology Group, is the first since 1981 to provide an up-to-date review of the practical aspects of take-all research. It contains the experience of several contributors with long and active careers in take-all research or the advisory services and includes a comprehensive worldwide bibliography of relevant literature published over the last 15 years. The book concentrates on Europe, particularly the UK and France, and this regional theme is developed through comparisons with approaches used in, for example, North America and Australia. Chapters deal with history, disease and epidemiology, take-all in relation to cereal production systems, strategies for management, the pathogens and related fungi, field techniques and future prospects. This book is essential reading for advanced students and professionals in cereal crop protection research and will be of interest to plant pathologists as well as agricultural advisors.
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Comprehensive information on diseases of the most important tropical fruit cropsChapters are devoted to a single or, in some cases, a related group of host plantsThe history, distribution, importance, symptoms, aetiology, epidemiology and management of diseases of each crop are described in detailThis book offers a comprehensive review of diseases of important tropical and some subtropical fruit crops. The history, distribution, importance, etiology, epidemiology and control of diseases of each host crop are covered, along with brief summaries on the taxonomy, origins and characteristics of each host. Additional information is given on the biology and pathology of the causal agents and on new advances that change or otherwise enhance our understanding of the nature and cause of these diseases. Plant pathologists, plantation and nursery managers, lecturers and those who are involved in tropical agriculture and horticulture will find this an essential reference.
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Over the last decade epidemiological studies have suggested that the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke mortality and hypertension is, in part, related to the environment encountered during fetal life. In particular, maternal undernutrition during pregnancy has been highlighted as a causal factor in the long-term programming of disease risk.This book, which brings together the perspectives of leading researchers from Europe, the USA and Australasia, provides the reader with a detailed account of the evidence for and against the nutritional programming of human disease, and considers the biological basis of programming. The book addresses a topic of great current interest and consists of three sections: programming the fetus; programming human disease; and the biological basis of nutritional programming.
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This book brings together expert opinions from scientists to consider the evidence for climate change and its impacts on ticks and tick-borne infections. It considers what is meant by 'climate change', how effective climate models are in relation to ecosystems, and provides predictions for changes in climate at global, regional and local scales relevant for ticks and tick-borne infections. It examines changes to tick distribution and the evidence that climate change is responsible. The effect of climate on the physiology and behaviour of ticks is stressed, including potentially critical impacts on the tick microbiome. Given that the notoriety of ticks derives from pathogens they transmit, the book considers whether changes in climate affect vector capacity. Ticks transmit a remarkable range of micro- and macro-parasites many of which are pathogens of humans and domesticated animals. The intimacy between a tick-borne agent and a tick vector means that any impacts of climate on a tick vector will impact tick-borne pathogens. Most obviously, such impacts will be apparent as changes in disease incidence and prevalence. The evidence that climate change is affecting diseases caused by tick-borne pathogens is considered, along with the potential to make robust predictions of future events. This book contains: Expert opinions and predictions. Global coverage of trends in ticks and disease. In-depth examination of climate change and tick distribution links. This book is suitable for researchers and students studying zoology, biological sciences, medical entomology, animal health, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, parasitology, and climate change impacts; and for those concerned with public health planning or livestock management where ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a threat.
