Evolution of infectious disease /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:	Ewald, Paul W.
Imprint:	Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1994.
Description:	1 online resource (vii, 298 pages) : illustrations
Language:	English
Subject:	Host-parasite relationships. Communicable diseases. Evolution. Communicable Diseases -- etiology. Biological Evolution. Host-Parasite Interactions. Communicable diseases. Evolution. Host-parasite relationships. Electronic book.
Format:	E-Resource Book
URL for this record:	http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/11163668

Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:	1423734696 9781423734697 9780195345193 0195345193 1280524200 9781280524202 9780195060584 019506058X 019506058X 0195111397 (pbk) 9780195111392
Digital file characteristics:	data file
Notes:	Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-292) and index. Print version record.
Summary:	Findings from the field of evolutionary biology are yielding dramatic insights for health scientists, especially those involved in the fight against infectious diseases. This book is the first in-depth presentation of these insights. In detailing why the pathogens that cause malaria, smallpox, tuberculosis, and AIDS have their special kinds of deadliness, the book shows how efforts to control virtually all diseases would benefit from a more thorough application of evolutionary principles. When viewed from a Darwinian perspective, a pathogen is not simply a disease-causing agent, it is a self-replicating organism driven by evolutionary pressures to pass on as many copies of itself as possible. In this context, so-called "cultural vectors"--Those aspects of human behavior and the human environment that allow spread of disease from immobilized people - become more important than ever. Interventions to control diseases don't simply hinder their spread but can cause pathogens and the diseases they engender to evolve into more benign forms. In fact, the union of health science with evolutionary biology offers an entirely new dimension to policy making, as the possibility of determining the future course of many diseases becomes a reality. By presenting the first detailed explanation of an evolutionary perspective on infectious disease, the author has achieved a genuine milestone in the synthesis of health science, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology. Written in a clear, accessible style, it is intended for a wide readership among professionals in these fields and general readers interested in science and health.
Other form:	Print version: Ewald, Paul W. Evolution of infectious disease. Oxford [England] ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1994 019506058X

Review by Choice Review

Ewald presents in detail why pathogens that cause AIDS, malaria, and smallpox have their special kind of virulence. A pathogen is not simply a disease-causing agent but a self-replicating organism pushed by evolutionary pressures to make as many copies of itself as possible. The author mentions that variability is an evolutionary tool that can cause an organism to increase its virulence within a host. There is little scientific evidence for the idea that organisms evolve toward benign coexistence with their hosts. By using evolutionary tactics, we can change the deadlines of pathogens before they attack us. Many ideas in the book broaden the application of evolution to health care and the manifestation of disease. This milestone approach to disease may provide a new dimension in controlling virtually all diseases. High readability, up-to-date references, and a thorough discussion of infectious diseases make this an important work for health-care professionals interested in evolutionary biology. R. H. Davis; Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine

Review by Choice Review

Evolution of infectious disease /

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