Veterinary Bacteriology

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that lack a nuclear membrane, are metabolically active and divide by binary fission. Medically they are a major cause of disease. Superficially, bacteria appear to be relatively simple forms of life; in fact, they are sophisticated and highly adaptable. Many bacteria multiply at rapid rates, and different species can utilize an enormous variety of hydrocarbon substrates, including phenol, rubber, and petroleum. These organisms exist widely in both parasitic and free-living forms. Because they are ubiquitous and have a remarkable capacity to adapt to changing environments by selection of spontaneous mutants, the importance of bacteria in every field of medicine cannot be overstated. Bacteriology is the study of bacteria and their relation to medicine. Bacteriology evolved from physicians needing to apply the germ theory to address the concerns relating to disease spreading in hospitals the 19th century. Identification and characterizing of bacteria being associated to diseases led to advances in pathogenic bacteriology. Koch's postulates played a role into identifying the relationships between bacteria and specific diseases. Since then, bacteriology has played a role in successful advances in science such as bacterial vaccines . Bacteriology can be studied and applied in many sub-fields relating to agriculture, marine biology, water pollution, bacterial genetics, veterinary medicine, biotechnology and others. The initial advances in pathogenic bacteriology were derived from the identification and characterization of bacteria associated with specific diseases. During this period, great emphasis was placed on applying Koch's postulates to test proposed cause-and-effect relationships between bacteria and specific diseases. Today, most bacterial diseases of humans and animals and their etiologic agents have been identified, although important variants continue to evolve and sometimes emerge, e.g., Legionnaire's Disease, tuberculosis and toxic shock syndrome. Bacteriological investigations are essential in clinical diagnostics and industrial quality control. Application of microscopy in bacteriology involves the staining of microorganisms with suitable methods (e.g. Gram stain) to determine the Bacteria classification. Veterinary Bacteriology is the study of bacteria that cause diseases on animals. This book is organized by animal, focusing on ruminants, horses, dogs, cats, fish, rabbits and poultry. The book is easy to consult and is intended for beginning students in veterinary bacteriology. It is also aimed at the veterinary practitioner, for whom it would serve as an update and review of veterinary bacteriology, and as a reference on different aspects of veterinary pathology, immunology, and therapy. Many tables are presented and should be very helpful for students. The main purpose of the book is to point out the interest of veterinary bacteriology and the progress in this field and to clear its importance in veterinary medicine. The book is concisely and clearly written and intended for veterinarians and clinicians and for people directly involved in animal health, management and breeding. It would also be of value to post and undergraduate veterinary students.