How does sermus sickness occur?

➢ SS can be developed as a result of exposure to antibodies derived from animals. ➢ These sera or antitoxins are generally administered to prevent or treat an infection or envenimation ➢ SS is a reaction to a large doses of proteins in antiserum derived from a non-human animal source, occurring 4– 10 days after exposure; an interval that corresponds to the time required to mount a primary immune response that switches from IgM to IgG antibody against the foreign antigens in horse serum. ➢ The body produces antibodies, which combine with these proteins to form IC ➢ The formation of ICs causes clearance of the foreign antigen and so serum sickness is usually a selflimiting disease. ➢ SS is characterized by the deposition of these antigenantibody complexes in blood vessel walls, especially in the kidneys and joints