Stress, immunity and disease resistance in poultry: a review
1995
Zulkifli I.
Prolonged stress responses cause reallocation of resources at the biological expense of productivity, health and well-being. The catabolic nature of stress response, mainly via corticosteroids mediation, may curtail humoral and cell-mediated immunities. Mechanisms of stress-elicited immunosuppression may include modifications of enzymatic activity, nucleic acid metabolism, and rate of maturation of lymphocytes, interleukin II synthesis, and programmed cell death. There is considerable evidence suggesting bidirectional interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Studies in both avian and mammalian species indicate tha stress can have both beneficial and adverse influences on resistance to infectious and non-infectious diseases. This phenomenon could be attributed to the effects of corticosteroids on either the particular pathology involved or on immunological defense mechanism.
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