Immune reconstitution prevents continuous equine infectious anemia virus replication in an Arabian foal with severe combined immunodeficiency: lessons for control of lentiviruses.
Acute infection with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus of horses, results in a persistent high-level viremia in Arabian foals affected with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). This observation argues against the idea that the transient nature of acute lentiviral viremia is solely a function of viral population dynamics. To extend these studies, EIAV-specific immune reconstitution was attempted prior to EIAV challenge in two SCID foals, using adoptively transferred virus-stimulated lymphocytes derived from persistently EIAV-infected half sibling donors. Following transfer, lymphocyte engraftment occurred in one foal, and EIAV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as neutralizing antibody activity developed. Following a brief period of plasma viremia in this foal, EIAV replication was controlled and plasma virus could not be detected by RT-PCR or culture. These results provide further direct evidence that a specific immune response is required for termination of plasma viremia in acute lentiviral infections.
Mealey
R H
RH
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA. rhm@vetmed.wsu.edu
Fraser
D G
DG
Oaks
J L
JL
Cantor
G H
GH
McGuire
T C
TC
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D004860:Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication