the body’s first line of defense

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T1

The Body’s First Line of Defense

Skin: Covered with hair, feathers.

Mucous Coating that traps pathogens. Protects the Membranes: digestive tract and the tissues of the lungs.

Gut: Contains acids that destroy pathogens.

Cell Wall: Sometimes mucous coated and may contain cilia.

Coughing: Rids the body of disease organisms.

Urination: Cleans the ureter by washing pathogens out.

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T2

The Body’s Second Line of Defense

White Blood Cells: Helps fight infection.

Lymphatic System: Filters undesirable pathogens out of the body.

Liver: Filters blood and detoxifies poisons.

Antibodies: Fights off pathogens.

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T3

How Diseases Are Spread

• Direct contact.

• Contact with non-living objects: fence post, trucks.

• Infection from soil.

• Infection from food or water.

• Airborne infection.

• Infection from parasites: mosquitos, flies.

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T4

Good Management Skills

• Be alert to signs of ill health.

• Provide clean, disinfected quarters.

• Provide adequate ventilation.

• Provide proper drainage for holding areas, barns.

• Protect them from the sun.

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T5

• Practice rigid sanitation & manure removal pocedures.

• Provide a well balanced diet.

• Get accurate diagnosis of health problems immediately.

• Avoid unnecessary stress and strain.

• Buy disease-free stock from healthy herds and flocks.

Good Management Skills, cont’d.

Development & Types of Immunity

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement

University of California, Davis276.T6

Good Management Skills, cont’d.

• Isolate new animals for a period of time before introducing them to your herd or flock.

• Follow a set vaccination program.

• Be cautious of visitors from other operations.

• Dispose of dead animals immediately.