Key Points
Macro- and micro-nutrients, such as dietary protein and zinc, and plant secondary compounds, such as condensed tannins, can affect the manifestations of immunity to parasites; the relationship between nutrition and immunity to parasites may be quantitative and/or qualitative. The former is often demonstrated under nutrient scarcity, where immunity may be penalized and the penalties in immune response can be rectified through nutritional supplementation. The latter is frequently related to specific nutrients and/or food compounds acting as triggers for gene expression responsible for immunity to nematodes, even under conditions of nutrient adequacy. Implementation of novel methodologies in the investigation of nutrition and immunity to parasites can help towards exploiting nutrition alone, or in combination with other treatments to improve protection towards parasitism, in animals and man.