Immunomodulators for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in food-producing animals

The goal of immunomodulation in food-producing animals is to regulate immun ity for the benefit of the animal and production efficiency. Immunomodulato rs are substances that exert this control and include cytokines, pharmaceut icals, microbial products, nutraceuticals, and traditional medicinal plants . Although treatment and prevention of infectious diseases are the most com mon reasons to use immunomodulators, other conditions, such as amelioration of stress-induced immunosuppression, maturation of the neonate's developin g immune response, and strategies to reduce the metabolic cost of eliciting an immune response also are well suited for immunomodulation. Continued di scovery of new immune regulators and increased understanding of immunity in food-producing animals will ensure new opportunities for the use of immuno modulators in food-producing animals.