Parasites:
Tales of Humanity’s Most Unwelcome Guests
by Rosemary Drisdelle
QL757 .D75 2010
New Book Island, 2nd floor
As I showed this week’s featured title, shown at the right, to Ronna, her response: “Ewww.” That’s pretty much the answer that I would expect from the majority of people [except for maybe the scientists that research them].
Drisdelle, a clinical parasitologist, gives a voice to a group of organisms that have a not-so-positive reputation. She paints the picture of parasites and their involvement in shaping history – from invading food and drinking supplies to spreading far beyond their ‘birthplaces’ with humans as their traveling companions. The author explores the origins of the lifeforms that survive and thrive on others, as well as the future of them: will humans ever rid themselves of these pests? Like other researchers, the included bibliography allows you to delve further into the topic of the ‘most unwelcome’ parasites.
