In this fascinating but frightening book, Nagami presents numerous case studies of infections contracted around the world from ants, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects and from such larger animals as snakes, rats, alligators, dogs, cats, horses, monkeys and humans. Culling the research of doctors and scientists, Nagami (The Woman with a Worm in Her Head
) describes, in accessible language, the symptoms and conditions. Many of the biters and stingers look harmless—like a sand fly that transmits an infection called leishmaniasis, which can eat away a person's nose. Some have a more frightening appearance, like the Indonesian Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, which is known to have eaten humans. But even the most familiar can pose grave threats to human health: mosquitoes, which carry West Nile virus, yellow fever and malaria; dogs, whose bites can transmit rabies; and humans, whose mouths contain a virulent bacterium. Insects also travel across continents, surprising unaware victims—and physicians: for example, the red fire ant, a native of South America, and the hobo spider, a native of Europe, both of which have venomous bites, have spread to large areas of the U.S. As Nagami points out, "despite our technological sophistication and urban sprawl, we can never isolate ourselves from the natural world." She adds to this absorbing read an extensive glossary and bibliography. Agent, B.J. Robbins.
(July)
