Immune-mediated Disease in Avian Species: Hypersensitivity and Autoimmune Disease

摘要

Immune-mediated diseases are defined as illnesses whose pathophysiology is at least partially driven and/or perpetuated by the host's immune reaction itself. Terms to be defined within this context include hypersensitivity and autoimmune disease. Hypersensitivity is defined as an undesirable reaction of the immune system. Autoimmune diseases are a subset of immune-mediated diseases characterized by a breakdown of self-tolerance such that the adaptive immune system responds to a self (autologous) antigen and causes tissue damage. Most of the information on immune-mediated disease in birds today still is available from poultry immunology only. However, there is some evidence that similar mechanisms exist in avian exotic species. This master class gives a condensed overview over the pathophysiology of avian immune-mediated disease with the objective to better understand exemplarily selected avian exotic cases and to provide guidance for diagnosis and treatment.