Equine Infectious Anemia
Andrea Jensen
&
Emily French
Discovery History
Horsey AIDS?… NOT
Species Infects Primary SymptomEIAV Horses Macrophages AnemiaFIV Cats T Cells ImmunosuppressionHIV Humans T Cells Immunosuppression
Lentiviruses
Retrovirus Family Single Strand (+) RNA virus Contains 2 copies Can infect non-dividing cells Contains regulatory proteins Latent or active viral states Spread by blood and other
bodily fluids Long lived virus leading to
reservoir for persistent infection
Virus type present in many vertebrate species
The next 30 minutes of your life…
Transmission
Pathology
Testing and Control
Vaccine research, EIAV/FIV
What does it mean to Me?
Transmission
Vicki 15 min of fame
Viral Life Cycle
Primary Pathology Mature RBC’s destroyed by immune system
Maturation of RBC precursor cells prevented
Other EIAV Symptoms
Depression Fever Enlarged Lymph Nodes Weakness Weight Loss Anorexia Edema Nasal Discharge DEATH
How EIAV Stacks Up
HIV “generally” fatal
EIAV has 30% mortality
FIV is “Kitty AIDS”
So now you know…..
What EIAV is and what it means for the horse.
But what are we doing about it? Mandatory Testing
Federally Mandated Control Measures Vaccine Research
Current Testing • Agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID or Coggin’s)
• Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (cELISA)
AGID / Coggin’s
cELISA
Control Measures
Life-long quarantine
Slaughter
Research
Euthanasia
What this means is…
70% of horses that contract EIAV would
effectively manage the infection….
But…..
100% of horses who have a positive Coggin’s Test
will die as a result of the test.
Vaccines
No.
Yes.
Well, Maybe…
Why do we even care?
Vaccine Research Therapeutic Vectors Immune System
The End
