Book excerpt: Handbook of Animal Models of Infection is a complete revision of a three-volume text that was published in 1986. It incorporates the major advances in the field during the past decade, in particular those concerning molecular biological procedures and new models that have been developed. It focuses on both methods and techniques, which makes it an essential and comprehensive reference as well as a benchtop manual. The Handbook will help investigators save time and effort in formulating an approach to test a new potential therapeutic agent or combination of agents for in vivo efficacy and to position the therapy for specific infections where it may have therapeutic promise. The book is divided into five sections; the first covering the general methodologies, followed by sections describing experimental bacterial, mycotic, parasitic, and viral infections. - Discusses ethical and safety aspects in an introductory background section - Covers principles of animal care and current techniques appropriate for the use of animal models of infection - Details a wide range of animals including rodents, rabbits, cats, and primates - Provides hands-on descriptions of how to set up the model - Discusses the major advantages and limitations of each model - Ensures full coverage of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections