The science underpinning avian immunology is crucial to understanding basic immunological principles and the exceptional features of the avian immune system, as different strategies birds have adopted can provide important evolutionary insights. This book provides the most complete picture of the avian immune system so far. The world-wide importance of poultry protein for the human diet, the threat of an avian influenza pandemic and heavy reliance on vaccination to protect commercial flocks world-wide demonstrates the need to review the important practical lessons in disease control presented here. - With contributions from 33 of the foremost international experts in the field this book provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of avian immunology of the field so far - Contains a detailed description of the avian innate immune system reviewing constitutive barriers, chemical and cellular responses; it includes a comprehensive review of avian Toll-like receptors - Contains a wide-ranging review of the 'Ecoimmunology' of free-living avian species, assessing the importance of this subject for studying population dynamics and reviewing the methods and resources available for carrying out such research