Immunopathology of Equine Infectious Anemia

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Abstract
Horses have been inoculated with the virus of equine infectious anemia (EIA) and the pathogenesis of the lesions investigated. The virus initiates a series of events that culminate in the immunologic destruction of erythrocytes with resultant anemia. Glomerular deposition of gamma globulin and C3 (possibly as antigen- antibody complexes) causes the glomerular alterations in the disease. The hepatic lesions may be due to immunologic events, but definite proof is lacking. Hypergammaglobulinemia composed of a mixture of immunoglobulin classes occurs, as does a decline of circulating C3, in active disease. These findings indicate that infection with EIA virus causes a variety of changes in multiple organ systems, many of which are immunologically mediated.

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