This unique book provides a comprehensive and comparative guide to the immune systems of major vertebrate species, including domestic and wild animals of veterinary or medical interest, fish and amphibia. Data in this essential reference work has been compiled by world-renowned editors and an international group of authors. For each species, the information is presented in a structured 'user-friendly' format allowing easy cross reference and comparison between the various species.
This book will be considered the definitive reference work on vertebrate immunology and will be essential for scientists and professionals working in Immunology, Vaccinology or with Animal Models, for students of Veterinary or Human Medicine, Biology and researchers in Comparative Medicine and Physiology.
Each section, devoted to a major animal group covers:
* Lymphoid organs and their anatomical disposition
* Leukocytes and their markers
* Leukocyte traffic and associated molecules
* Cytokines
* T cell receptors
* Immunoglobulins
* MHC antigens
* Ontogeny of the immune system
* Passive transfer of immunity
* Neonatal immune responses
* Non-specific immunity
* Complement system
* Mucosal immunity
* Immunodeficiencies
* Tumours of the immune system
* Autoimmunity

Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants tells the story of how, by the year 2010, scientists are set to globally eradicate one of the great historic plagues that has ravaged human livestock for centuries. Descriptions of the disease in Europe date back to the 4th century and it was regularly re-introduced following wars and other civil unrest until late in the 19th century. It was introduced with devastating effect into Africa towards the end of the 19th century and is now widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Southern Asia. Its causative agent, rinderpest virus, a morbillivirus very closely related to human measles virus, decimates the cattle population along with those of other susceptible domestic ruminants and many wildlife species wherever it is present.
* The history of Rinderpest including the history of vaccines and vaccination
* Details other Morbillaviruses
* Epidemiology and transmission of Rinderpest