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Proper Functioning of the Animal Body Is Essential for Good Health, Growth, Reproduction and Survival

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Proper functioning of the animal body is essential for good health, growth, optimum reproduction and survival. Due to that animal body must be protected from pathogenic foreign bodies such as bacteria, protozoa, ricketssia, viruses and fungi which when they enter into animals bodies they multiply and cause disease to animals by killing cells and releasing toxins within the animal body. This consequently affects animals’ health, reproductive potential and might eventually cause death. Animal body posses various defense mechanisms to keep unwanted diseases and parasites away. There are two main defense mechanisms against foreign bodies within the animals’ body. There is a primary line of defense and secondary line of defense mechanism. Primary line of defense against foreign bodies is achieved majorly with the help of skin. Skin acts as the first line defense. Skin is the outermost layer of the animals’ body and is the first barrier to entry of microbes. The skin is the largest organ of the animals’ body, it accounts for about 15% of an animal body weight. Skin defends the body by providing barrier and also has additional chemical weapons on the surface which keep pathogens away. For instance oil and sweat glands maintain an acidic skin PH of 3 to 5 which inhibits the growth of many microorganisms. Skin is thickened with several layers of dead cells; it has hairs and secretions which act on foreign bodies besides others. The anatomy of the skin present a formidable barrier to

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