Abstract

Avian malaria is a disease caused by mosquito-borne blood parasites. In the host, parasites infect organs and tissues causing cellular damage, thus affecting body condition and survival. The development of the disease is characterized by an initial acute phase, which decrease by the action of the immune response. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes encode for MHC molecules, central proteins involved in the adaptive immune response because its role in the activation of B and T cells. Due to this fundamental function, MHC has been the subject of studies in birds the last decades, highlighting the importance of this genetic region in resistance and susceptibility to avian malaria. In this review we present the main results of the work carried out in the study of avian malaria and MHC, specially in the ecological context.