The book is divided into four sections that deal with Protozoa, Helminths, etc that are of importance to human health and disease. Each section deals with general concepts including commonly used terminologies and their definitions which will help the reader to understand their implications when used later in the text. Every chapter is designed in a thematic manner with a brief classification including classification based on the habitat and site of infection. This is followed by description of the parasite's morphology, epidemiology of the disease and pathogenesis. Clinical spectrum of the disease is described with emphasis on pathology, clinical features and stages of the parasite that are encountered in the human host. Life cycle outside the human host and natural habitat in the environment or animals have been explained in detail in the respective chapter.

Thee chapters are interspersed with relevant illustrations. Photomicrographs are clear emphasizing the natural appearance in clinical material. Diagrams and flow charts of life cycles are clear and well represented. The authors have collected original images from several sources to highlight the actual microscopic images seen in the laboratory and in situ appearance in tissue sections.

Laboratory methods to detect the agents in relevant clinical material have been described in detail in easy procedural steps. Several additional and supportive tests to diagnose the infections have been mentioned in each chapter. Recent techniques and current tests including specific antigen and antibody detection methods used in the laboratories have been described. This will help a fresh graduate in clinical practice to use the information in day to day practice.

An interesting feature in each chapter is the preventive aspect of commonly encountered parasitic diseases, with a note on vaccination. An additional feature of the book is an up-to-date information on the parasitic diseases of public health importance in India including national programs for prevention and control. Opportunistic parasitic infections in the immunocompromised patients including HIV infected individuals have been described along with the specific indicators for detection.

Each chapter ends with a set of self assessment questions which will help a student to prepare for the examination. This is a well planned and executed parasitology book which both MBBS undergraduate students and postgraduates pursuing a course in Medical Microbiology will find useful. I congratulate the authors for bringing out this comprehensive textbook on parasitology.

Medical students always complain that there is no standard Indian textbook on parasitology at present which can fulfil the need of the examination and for the management of the parasitic diseases.

Currently available Indian medical parasitology books are neither updated with recent advances nor presented in a student‐friendly manner. Day-to-day developments in the field of parasitology and the unavailability of a standard textbook fulfilling the needs and expectation of the students, motivated us to write a book in an updated format with recent epidemiological data, laboratory techniques, treatment strategies, etc in such a way that student can grasp it easily.

The whole content of the book has been arranged in a bulleted format and use of sub heads has increased the readability. Entire book is divided into four sections—General introduction, Protozoology, Helminthology and Miscellaneous. At the end, six appendices have been incorporated which will be of immense use and initiate interest among the students. Expected questions including MCQs have been added at the end of each chapter which will help to reinforce and understand the related topic in a better way. Life cycles are drawn in lucid and easy-to-grasp manner, exactly according to the text. Real microscopic images of parasites and specimens from various sources are being incorporated to correlate their impressions with the related parasitic diseases. Laboratory diagnosis and treatment boxes are introduced as a different entity for a quick review for students as well as for physicians.