AVIAN IMMUNITY

Avian Immunity

Just like we have a very sophisticated system to fight of infections, birds have a similar immuunsystem. But there are however important differences.

The bird's immune system mainly consists of lymphatic vessels and lymphoid tissue. Primary tissues are the thymus, located in the neck , and the bursa of Fabricius, located in the cloacal cavity. Secondary lymphatic organs and tissues are the spleen, bone marrow, mural lymph nodules and lymph nodes. There is also, just like we have a lymphatic circulatorysystem of vessels and capillaries that transport lymph fluid through thebird's body and communicate with the blood supply.

The immune system defends against foreign cells. This may be in the form of an invading organism like a virus or bacteria, or an abnormal body cell.



There are three majortypes of response in a bird's immune system:

1. Specific consisting of the humoral en cell mediated respons

The humoral and cell mediated responses need a processed antigen to stimulate response. Their respons is to create a specific antibody for each particular antigen. The B (bursal produced) lymphocytes are associatedwith humoral response and the T (thymus produced) lymphocytes areassociated with the cell-mediated response.

2. Nonspecific

The nonspecific immune system responds to all antigens. Macrophages,heterophilsand thrombocytesare the main cells associated with the nonspecific immune system.

The first line of defense of the avian body is the physical blockade of the skin, cilia and mucous membranes. If these fail, the non-specific immune response comes on-line. Macrophages, heterophils, thrombocytes and Natural Killer(NK) cells converge on the invader, killing it or slowing it down until the components of the specific immune system can join the battle.

For the specific immunesystem to come on line, the invading antigen must be processed by an antigen presenting cell such as a macrophage, then appropriately presented to the B and T cells. Once the antigen is presented and in turn processed by the B and T cells, the antibody is produced that will mark it and bind it to be disposed of from the body by the spleen and liver. This encounter is also filed away in memory cells so response will be faster should this same antigen be confronted again.

Hatchlings

Birds are very different from mammals in the way their immune system develops and becomes diverse enough in order to fight off infections for the rest of their lives. This is provided by a unique organ to avians called the bursa of Fabricius and a process called gene conversion.



Hatchlings are born with an incomplete immune system. Maternal immunity is passed on in the amniotic fluid and yolk.. It is transferred to the embryo when it swallows amniotic fluid during hatch and absorps the left over yolk. This is transported into the digestive system. These antibodies give the hatched chick's immunity a start while it's own system is developing.

The bird's immunesystem begins developing before hatch and is complete by sexual maturity. One of the most important stages of this development happens in the first six weeks of the life of the eyas, when gene conversion is taking place inthe bursa.

Gene conversion

Gene conversion is the "education" of the B lymphocytes, cells that respond to a disease antigen by producing antibodies. These antibodies bind the antigen for removal from the blood by the spleen and liver.

However unlike mammals, when eyases are born they do not have a database of genetic information for the B cells to use in their production of antibodies. Birds have only one variable function gene encoded in the germlineDNA. If left this way, the B lymphocytes will not be able to produce the different antibodies needed to resist specific diseases. In the first six weeks of the bird's life, these B cells are going to be trained to able to do so in the bursa. They are rearranged there in order to provide the diversity needed to protect against the great variety of potential pathogens. These educated B cells leave the bursa to seed other organs of the immune system.

Although "school" is open in the bursa for six weeks, it is the first three that are considered the most critical. School closes down after six weeks and what diversity has been achieved by then is what the bird will have for its lifetime. The bursa continues to produce B cells until it involutes at sexual maturity. The blood marrow takes over the task of producing the B cells. The bursa does continue to play a role in the immune system through the life of the bird, though not as critical a one as it does in the beginning

The mess in the Zurich nest

It's often a total mess in a peregrine nest. Leftover bodyparts of prey, birddroppings, flies just love it all. The Zurich nest is a fair example. many people wonder if this mess isn't affecting the eyases.

Peregrines , birds in general, have a very different immuunsystem than we have. When the eyases are born they've just consumed what's left of the yoke and amnionfluid. That's the first time they really consume it. In the egg, nutrients are extracted from the yolk and transported by the blood. In the leftover yoke are a few antibodies the mother put in the egg in order for the chicks to stay alive in the first days. Because the eyases are born with an incomplete immuunsystem.
Immunity starts its developement after hatching. Most important are the first 6 weeks of their life. Peregrine chicks are not born with a kind of genetic databank of information B-cells can use to produce antibodies. As we have. White bloodcells who produce antibodies are B-lymfocytes. B stands for Bursa. This Bursa is a very unique organ only found in birds. Its situated in the cloaca.

It's a kind of "university" where just created B-lymfocytes migrate to, to learn to create antibodies. In order to do so they have to be brought into contact there with a diversity of pathogens like bacteria, virusses, parasites etc. Besides the pathogens in the food they eat they do this by cloacal drinking. The little eyases are able to suck up nest material with their cloaca to bring to the Bursa where the B-lymfocytes are trained to make antibodies to these specific pathogens. Once been into contact with a pathogen, the B-cells know for the rest of the peregrines live how to make antibodies. Pathogens which haven't been brought into contact with the B-cells in these first 6 weeks will be very sickening in the rest of the peregrines life. Maybe even deadly, like the West Nile virus and the Avian Flu.

So it is very important for the peregrine chicks to get into contact with as many pathogens as possible, because after 6 weeks, it's over. The university closes and that's it. A messy nest provides in a lot of pathogens.

But the mess creates a very nice enviroment for all kinds of pathogens as well, like bacteria, flees, lice, protozoa and flies. And these can be and are very dangerous for little eyases. All of them have lice and flees, which can be deadly as soon as the eyases don't get enough food.

When the eyases get older parents leave prey leftover in the nestbox, and when the juvies leave the mess is complet. Rain, sun, autumn storms, winter cold, it cleans a nest, but not enough. Especially not the ones that have a roof. It is recommended to clean those every fall.