The Biology and Identification of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Carnivores of the World

The fundamental concept of The Biology and Identification of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Carnivores of the World is to provide an up-to-date reference guide to the identification, taxonomy, and known biology of apicomplexan intestinal and tissue parasites of carnivores including, but not limited to, geographic distribution, prevalence, sporulation, prepatent and patent periods, site(s) of infection in the definitive and (if known) intermediate hosts, endogenous development, cross-transmission, pathology, phylogeny, and (if known) their treatments. These data will allow easy parasite recognition with a summation of virtually everything now known about the biology of each parasite species covered. The last (very modest) and only treatise published on this subject was in 1981 so this book fills a fundamental gap in our knowledge of what is now known, and what is not, about the coccidian parasites that infect and sometimes kill carnivores and/or their prey that can harbor intermediate stages, including many domestic and game animals.

• Offers line drawings and photomicrographs of many parasite species that will allow easy diagnosis and identification by both laypersons and professionals (veterinarians, wildlife biologists, etc.)
• Presents a complete historical rendition of all known publications on carnivore coccidia for all carnivore families and evaluates the scientific and scholarly merit of each apicomplexan species relative to the current body of knowledge
• Provides a complete species analysis and their known biology of all coccidia described from each carnivore lineage and species
• Reviews the most current taxonomy of carnivores and their phylogenetic relationships to help assess host-specificity patterns that may be apparent
• Evaluates what little cross-transmission work is available to help understand the complexities of those coccidians that use two hosts (e.g., Sarcocystis, Besnoitia, and others)
• Provides known treatments for the various parasite genera/species

Researchers in biology, parasitology, animal husbandry, diseases of wild and domestic animals, veterinary medicine, faculty members in universities with graduate programs in these areas, colleges of veterinary medicine and agricultures, practicing veterinarians, farmers, students and other individuals involved in 4H (4-H is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Biology, microbiology and parasitology classrooms from high school through graduate school. Biologists, wildlife biologists, parasitologists and members of the veterinary profession both as students and in their practices

1. Introduction
2. Review Carnivore Evolution
3. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Ailuridae
4. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Canidae
5. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Mephitidae
6. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Mustelidae
7. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Phocidae
8. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Procyonidae
9. Eimeriidae in the Caniformia Family Ursidae
10. Eimeriidae in the Feliformia Family Felidae
11. Eimeriidae in the Feliformia Family Herpestidae
12. Eimeriidae in the Feliformia Family Hyaenidae
13. Eimeriidae in the Feliformia Family Viverridae
14. Adeleidae in the Carnivora
15. Sarcocystidae: Sarcocystinae in the Carnivora
16. Sarcocystidae: Toxoplasmatinae in the Carnivora
17. Cryptosporidiidae in the Carnivora
18. Treatment and Drug Therapies in Coccidiosis of Carnivora
19. Carnivores without Coccidia and Species Inquirendae 
20. Discussion, Summary, and Conclusions