The Immune System

Objectives  State the structures that make up the immune system  Describe the functions of the immune system  Describe common disorders of the immune system

Introduction  Responsible for keeping the body healthy and protecting animals from disease  Immunity is the term used to mean protection

Vaccines  Vaccinations are placed within the body as antigens  Foreign materials used to create an immune response  Young animals receive booster shots to slowly build the immune system  Primary response of a vaccine provides antigens that need 3-14 days to build an immune response  Secondary response provides a quick, repeated exposure to an antigen that creates immunity to prevent disease development

Vaccines Continued  Modified live vaccines: made from altered antigens created from disease pathogens that place small amount of a disease into the animal’s body  Killed vaccine: manufactured from dead pathogens of a disease and placed into the animal’s body in an inactive form  Active Immunity: developed from exposure of a pathogen through the process of vaccination  Passive immunity: developed through antibodies acquired from one animal or source to another  Can be provided through colostrum, commercial diets, or formulas and plasma donated from related animals

Vaccination Routes  Subcutaneous (SQ): under the skin  Intramuscular (IM): into the muscle  Intranasal (IN): by applying in the nostril  Common route for kennel cough  Intraocular: into the eye (eye drop)  Intradermal (ID): into the dermis layer of skin

Infection  Immune system controls body temperature and prevents infection  Infection is response to abnormal condition  Immune system helps to control and destroy diseases  Inflammation- sign of infection within the body  Causes white blood cells to build up in the site that is affected and may cause pus to form, redness around the area, warm to hot skin temperatures, increased body core temperatures, edema and pain

Normal Body Temperatures AnimalTemperature (F) Dog Cat Cow Horse Pig Goat102 Sheep103 Rabbit

Allergies  Common clinical condition with animals  Develop from allergens, which are pollens in the air that cause an allergic reaction  Hypersensitivity: causes release of histamine when allergy reaction occurs  Many treated with antihistamines or drugs