The articles were based on a short course on Immunology for Practitioners that I have held at Iowa State University. If you search under swine immunology on PubMed, 748 pages of articles are available, but few review articles. When I was asked to give references, I asked a number of swine immunologists what they would recommend and all were at a similar loss. Therefore, I recommend a good basic immunology book.

The book I am currently using in my teaching is:

Immunobiology 6 by Janeway, Travers, Walport and Sclomchik. (2004) Published by Garland Press and available as a soft cover addition at approximately $70.

Another good basic immunology book is:

Cellular and Molecular Immunology by Abbas and Lichtman. (2004) Published by Saunders and available for approximately the same amount of money.

The only veterinary immunology book is:

Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction by Tizard and Schubot. (2000). This book is more specific for veterinarians, but isn't quite as good for understanding the basics of immunology.

Please feel free to email me with any comments or questions you may have.

Eileen Thacker, DVM, PhD, Dip ACVM
Associate Professor
[email protected]

The Pig Journal Immunology series comprises:

1. Immunology: The innate immune system
   The Pig Journal (2003) Vol. 52 p. 111-123.
2. Lymphocyte development and maturation
   The Pig Journal (2004) Vol. 53, p. 75-91.
3. The battle between the immune system and pathogens
   The Pig Journal (2004) Vol. 54, p 55-69.