Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV): what has HIV?s country cousin got to tell us?

Abstract

-Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus, of the Retrovirus family, with an almost worldwide distribution, infecting equids. It causes a persistent infection characterized by recurring febrile episodes associating viremia, fever, thrombocytopenia, and wasting symptoms. The disease is experimentally reproducible by inoculation of Shetland ponies or horses with EIAV pathogenic strains. Among lentiviruses, EIAV is unique in that, despite a rapid virus replication and antigenic variation, most animals progress from a chronic stage characterized by recurring peaks of viremia and fever to an asymptomatic stage of infection. The inapparent carriers remain infective for life, as demonstrated by experimental transfer of blood to naive animals. The understanding of the correlates of this immune control is of great interest in defining vaccine strategies. Research on EIAV, this "country cousin" of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), over the last five decades has produced some interesting results on natural immunological control of lentivirus replication and disease and on the nature and role of virus variation in persistence and pathogenesis. These studies are of interest in the context of HIV and efforts to develop a vaccine. This review will focus on some of the most recent results. equine infectious anemia virus / lentivirus / equids / vaccine / viral evolution

Restriction of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus by Equine APOBEC3 Cytidine Deaminases

“…The Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) (family Retroviridae, genus Lentivirus) infects equids almost worldwide, causing a persistent infection characterized by recurring viremia, fever, thrombocytopenia, and wasting symptoms (40). EIAV infections are used as a model for natural immunologic control of lentivirus replication and virus persistence and as a test system to improve vaccines against lentiviruses (10,40,41,82).…”

“…EIAV infections are used as a model for natural immunologic control of lentivirus replication and virus persistence and as a test system to improve vaccines against lentiviruses (10,40,41,82). In vivo EIAV replicates predominantly in macrophages (77).…”

Reproductive changes in a stallion after a clinical diagnosis of bronchopneumonia

“…As especially in the northern hemisphere contact to the bovine, feline and equine FVs (BFV, FFV, EFV) - Figure 1 -is far more likely, the potential of corresponding zoonosis will be discussed after a brief summary of the biology of FVs. In summary, Leroux et al (2004), Weiss (2006) and Miyazawa (2009) inferred that at present, no diagnostic and experimental data support the idea of intensive zoonotic transmission of FFV, BFV, or EFV into humans. However, recent zoonosis have significantly raised the public and health-system awareness for such scenarios with unpredictable and even fatal consequences.…”

“…175, Art. 1180, 2011 ideally suited for communicating cutting edge information to a large audience quickly Leroux et al (2004).…”

“…According to Boulanger et al (1972) Wherefore, this Lentivirus constitutes a challenge to two centuries for humanity, that to example of the other viruses of the group Retroviridae which continue exterminating humans (AIDs) and animals (EIA) (LEROUX et al, 2004;WEISS, 2006). All races and age groups of horses are susceptible.…”