Helminth Infections and their Impact on Global Public Health

This is a thoroughly revised edition of a well-received reference work on helminthiases and their impact on worldwide public health. The carefully presented collection covers both common and neglected helminth infections. Readers will discover an up-date overview to helminth epidemiology (including molecular typing), specific biological, immunological and immunopathological aspects, diagnosis and latest perspectives of control. New contributions give particular attention to economic consequences of helminthiases, deworming programs and future public health approaches, as well as most recent findings in host immune responses.

Helminths are long-lived multicellular organisms that have co-evolved with humans over many thousands of years. They are responsible for infections which affect around one fourth of the human population, at global level. Despite the huge efforts in research during the last years, effective control of helminth infections is still far from optimal standards and the resulting diseases remain neglected.

The highly readable link of parasitological background and clinical application makes this book a valuable read not only for parasitologists but also physicians and medical students, health professionals as well as experts in public health issues.