Equine immunology: offspring of the serum horse.

The history of veterinary medicine is closely associated with horses. Owing to their military potential, they were the first patients of the veterinary schools founded in the 18th century. Today, horses are no longer of such military interest and live as companion animals with humans. However, recent progress in equine immunology has shed new light on the equine immune system and this knowledge can be applied to develop disease models in horses that might be important for other species, including humans.