for the design of control programs; in extreme cases (as dis­ cussed below, by Fine et al. , this volume, and elsewhere) it can happen that immunization programs, although they protect vaccinated individuals, actually increase the overall incidence of a particular disease. The possibility that many nonhuman animal populations may be regulated by parasitic infections is another topic where it may be argued that conventional disciplinary boundaries have retarded investigation. While much ecological research has been devoted to exploring the extent to which competition or predator-prey interactions may regulate natural populations or set their patterns of geographical distribution, few substan­ tial studies have considered the possibility that infectious diseases may serve as regulatory agents (1,8). On the other hand, the many careful epidemiological studies of the trans­ mission and maintenance of parasitic infections in human and other animal populations usually assume the host population density to be set by other considerations, and not dynamically engaged with the disease (see, for example, (1,2)). With all these considerations in mind, the Dahlem Workshop from which this book derives aimed to weave strands together -- testing theoretical analysis against empirical facts and patterns, and identifying outstanding problems -- in pursuit of a better un­ derstanding of the overall population biology of parasitic in­ fections. For the purpose of the workshop, the term "parasite" was de­ fined widely to include viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi, and helminths.

Inhalt

Impact of Infectious Diseases on Host Populations Group Report.- Impact of Infectious Disease Agents on the Population Growth and Geographical Distribution of Animals.- The Impact of Infectious Disease on Human Demography Today.- Transmission: Patterns and Dynamics of Infectious Diseases Group Report.- Overall Population Patterns in the Transmission Cycle of Infectious Disease Agents.- Transmission Cycles and Broad Patterns of Observed Epidemiological Behavior in Human and Other Animal Populations.- Control of Infectious Diseases Group Report.- Transmission Dynamics and Control of Infectious Disease Agents.- Practical Problems in the Control of Infectious Diseases.- Use of Pathogenic Viruses As Agents for the Biological Control of Insect Pests.- Evolution of Parasites and Hosts Group Report.- Co-evolution Between Hosts and Infectious Disease Agents and its Effects on Virulence.- Pathogens As Causes of Genetic Diversity in their Host Populations.- List of Participants.- Author Index.