The cestodes, or tapeworms, are a group of parasitic worms many species of which cause serious, often fatal, diseases in man and domestic animals throughout the world. This book is an updated and expanded version of Professor Smyth's The Physiology of Cestodes (1969). The text has now been entirely rewritten, taking into account advances in investigative techniques such as immunocytochemistry, in vitro culture and scanning electron microscopy, which have immensely increased our understanding of these organisms. The biochemical coverage now includes the spectacular advances in molecular biology that have occured. The book also shows how cestodes are increasingly being recognized as valuable models for investigating fundamental biological phenomena such as membrane transport and asexual/sexual differentiation. Students of medicine, veterinary medicine, parasitology and zoology will find this book invaluable. Its high research content and extensive references also make it an essential reference book for researchers in these fields.

"...in the experienced hands of Smyth and McManus, the molecular biology and biochemistry of cestodes have been synthesized into meaningful and almost beautiful explanations of the basis of life of these parasites. I recommend this small volume to all biologists with even a passing interest in this group of highly adapted metazoans." The Quarterly Review of Biology

"...a compilation of information that has been reviewed insightfully with regard to its application to studies in the fields of enzymology, membrane transport and cellular differentiation, as well as parasitology." American Scientist