Infectious Disease Ecology and Conservation

Emerging infectious diseases pose an increasingly serious threat to a  number of endangered or sensitive species and are increasingly  recognized as one of the major factors driving species extinction.  Despite the significant impact of pathogens on conservation, no single  book has yet integrated
the theoretical principles underlying disease  transmission with the practical health considerations for helping  wildlife professionals and conservation biologists to manage disease  outbreaks and conserve biodiversity.

This novel and accessible  book starts with a foundational section focusing on the role of  pathogens in natural ecosystems, the dynamics of transmission in  different environments, and the factors driving wildlife disease  outbreaks. It then moves on to more applied issues concerned with the
acquisition  of field data including sampling, experimental design and analysis, as  well as diagnostic analyses in both the laboratory and field. Guidelines  for effective modelling and data analysis follow, before a final  section is devoted to disease prevention and control including the  prevention
of novel outbreaks, the use of diseases as biocontrol  agents, and the associated issues of ethics, public communication, and  outreach.

Infectious Disease Ecology and Conservation is  primarily aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and  established researchers in the fields of conservation biology, disease  ecology, population ecology, and veterinary science. It will also be a  valuable reference for conservation
practitioners, land managers, and wildlife professionals who are required to deal with disease outbreak problems.