Host-Pathogen Interactions

Abstract

Veterinarians take care of an extraordinary variety of species of vertebrates; in some countries, they care for invertebrates such as tarantulas and shrim too. As if this bewildering variety of patients was not interesting and challenging enough, consider for a moment that each individual animal under a veterinarian's care is not in fact-a single individual, but a multitudinous throng of coexisting organisms. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and insects are just some of the kinds of organisms that might be along for a ride with the average veterinary patient. Even with modem parasiticides, the average vertebrate harbors billions of microorganisms on its skin and partiCUlarly within its gastrointestinal tract. Yet, despite the profusion of potentially harmful inhabitants upon and. inside them, most veterinary patients manage to remain healthy.