"The purpose is to provide up-to-date information on emerging technology available for pathogen identification in farm-raised fish. ... This book clearly meets their objectives in defining and describing the bacterial pathogens of fish. The audience is aquatic microbiologists. Any investigator could learn and immediately use the techniques described in this book. ... This book presents updates on the exploding technology available for pathogen identification." (Dennis D. French, Doody's Book Reviews, February, 2017)
Brian Austin is Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at the University of Stirling. From 1975-78 he was Research Associate at the University of Maryland, USA, and from 1978-84 was Head of Bacteriology at the Fish Diseases Laboratory in Weymouth, U.K. He joined Heriot-Watt University as a Lecturer in Aquatic Microbiology in 1984, was promoted to Reader in 1989, and to Professor in 1992, before moving to the University of Stirling in 2009 as Director of the Institute of Aquaculture and Professor of Microbiology. At Heriot-Watt University, he held various positions including, Head of Department, Head of School, and Dean of the University. Professor Austin gained a B.Sc. (1972) in Microbiology, a Ph.D. (1975) also in Microbiology, both from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and a D.Sc. (1992) from Heriot-Watt University. He was elected FHEA, FRSA and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and until retirement was a member of the American Society of Microbiology, Society of Applied Bacteriology, Society of General Microbiology, European Association of Fish Pathologists, and was President of the Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics. He has written previous books on bacterial taxonomy, marine microbiology, methods in aquatic bacteriology, methods for the microbiological examination of fish and shellfish, and pathogens in the environment.
Dawn Austin is a Research Associate at Heriot-Watt University, a position she has held since 1986. Prior to this she was Research Assistant at the University of Maryland (1977-79), Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Surrey (1983-84), and Research Fellow of the Freshwater Biological Association, The River Laboratory, Dorset (1984-85). Dr. Austin gained a B.S. (1974) from City College, The City University, New York; an M.S. (1979) and a Ph.D. (1982) both from the University of Maryland.
This book puts emphasis on the isolation, taxonomy, diagnosis (phenotypic, serology and molecular biology), epizootiology, pathogenicity mechanisms, and methods of disease control (by vaccination, immunostimulation, probiotics, prebiotics, plant products, and antimicrobial compounds. Co-infections, which are attributed to more than one microbial species have been discussed. Shortcomings in knowledge have been highlighted. This sixth edition is the successorto the original version, first published in 1987, and which fills the need for an up-to-date comprehensive text on the biological aspects of the bacterial taxa which cause disease in finfish.
The book is primarily targeted at researcher workers, including postgraduate students, and diagnosticians. It is anticipated that the readership will include veterinary microbiologists, public health scientists and microbial ecologists.