Animal Health and Disease

Animal Health and Disease is a critical field within zoology and biology that focuses on the well-being of animals and the study of conditions that impair their normal physiological functions. This discipline investigates the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention of a wide range of ailments, including infectious diseases caused by pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as well as non-infectious conditions such as genetic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic imbalances. Its principles are fundamental to veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation efforts, and public health, particularly in understanding and controlling zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

1. Foundations of Animal Health
   1. Defining Health and Disease
      1. Homeostasis and Physiological Norms
         1. Definition of Homeostasis
         2. Mechanisms Maintaining Homeostasis
         3. Physiological Ranges in Different Species
      2. The Concept of Disease
         1. Definitions of Disease, Illness, and Disorder
         2. Classification of Diseases
         3. Disease vs. Subclinical Conditions
      3. The Health-Disease Continuum
         1. Spectrum from Optimal Health to Severe Disease
         2. Factors Influencing Position on the Continuum
   2. The Animal Body's Defense Systems
      1. Innate Immunity
         1. Physical and Chemical Barriers
            1. Skin and Mucous Membranes
            2. Secretions
               1. Saliva
               2. Tears
               3. Mucus
            3. pH and Enzymatic Barriers
         2. Phagocytic Cells
            1. Neutrophils
            2. Macrophages
            3. Dendritic Cells
         3. The Complement System
            1. Components and Activation Pathways
            2. Functions in Defense
         4. Inflammatory Response
            1. Stages of Inflammation
            2. Mediators of Inflammation
            3. Outcomes of Inflammation
      2. Adaptive Immunity
         1. Humoral Immunity
            1. B-cell Development and Activation
            2. Antibody Production and Classes
         2. Cell-Mediated Immunity
            1. Helper T-cells
            2. Cytotoxic T-cells
            3. Regulatory T-cells
            4. T-cell Activation and Function
         3. Immunological Memory
            1. Primary and Secondary Immune Responses
            2. Memory Cell Formation
         4. Antigens and Antibodies
            1. Antigen Structure and Types
            2. Antibody Structure and Function
            3. Antigen-Antibody Interactions