Book Reviewed: Parasites: The Inside Story Hardcover by Scott Lyell Gardner, Judy Diamond, and Gabor R. Rácz

Diversity in living systems Parasites are usually described in negative terms, often as blood suckers, freeloaders, scroungers, flunkies, and deadbeats. In this book, the authors describe how parasites evolve by focusing on three kinds of parasites: the nematodes, the flat­ worms or platyhelminths, and the thorny-headed worms. These are endoparasites that live and thrive inside their hosts. The scientific data obtained with regards to parasite-host relationships between trematodes and snails, and tapeworms and whales makes an interesting read. Geohelminths manipulate and suppress their hosts' immune systems enabling them to reduce inflammation and decrease the likelihood that the host can expel them. It is also interesting to learn how species of parasitic helminth evolved independently to its specific lifestyle using a wide choice of hosts. Recently, scientists using an artificially streamlined version of Mycoplasma mycoides, a parasitic bacterium found in the guts of goats, synthetically eliminated 41 percent of its genes leaving all but the most essential sequences, which produced free-living cells without the need for a host tissue. Genetic drifting plays an important role in evolutionary mechanisms. The authors suggest deforestation, loss of native habitats and global warming may destroy the ecosystem that includes parasites-host relationship. But no scientific data is presented to show global warming has a direct impact on this relationship. This is a short book of 224 pages, in many sections, the discussion is insufficient and not stimulating.