Gastrointestinal nematodes: Immune response, development of resistance, nutrition, and nutrigenomics in sheep

In tropical regions with warm and temperate climates, gastrointestinal nematode infections (GIN) are the main problems affecting the health and welfare of sheep. One of the strategies to control these infections is the selection of individuals genetically resistant to GIN. Such resistance implies the optimal development of the immune response, where animal nutrition plays an essential role. The objective is to describe the immune response, the development of resistance against GIN in sheep, and the use of nutrigenomics as a tool to evaluate the effect of dietary nutrients on the expression of genes involved in the immune response using a literature review. The conclusion is that for the proper functioning of the immune system, it is essential that animals have energy, protein, and micronutrients for cellular synthesis and other functions that demand a lot of energy during an infectious event.