Human beings are increasingly vulnerable to devastating outbreaks of disease. The reasons are even discussed in a variety of popular science books–large numbers of people live in squalid, unhygienic conditions forced on them by poverty, civil war or natural disasters, infected individuals can and do move between continents more quickly than clinical symptoms develop, there is widespread development of drug resistance among potentially pathogenic organisms and the old methods used to contain plagues, such as quarantine of people in infected areas, are no longer possible.

We take better care of our livestock. There are measures in place for the surveillance and control of the most important animal diseases and the movement of animals across borders is strictly controlled in many countries. However, all these measures would be useless without reliable tests. This manual describes procedures for diagnostic tests for the most serious diseases of livestock, and those of concern in international trade.

It is a wonderfully well-written book. It starts with 10 chapters on sampling and quality control and moves on to discuss individual tests in detail. The chapters are clear and informative. Anyone involved in disease testing would benefit from reading the general chapters although the later chapters are for specialists.

This is a good book and a useful book. It definitely deserves a place in all libraries that cater for veterinary and animal scientists. Even if veterinary disease is not your primary interest, but you wish to improve the accuracy and precision of your tests, then the introductory chapters are worth reading.