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==Description==
==Description==
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is an exotic viral disease affecting horses, donkeys and mules characterised by immuned-mediated haemolytic anemia. It is caused by Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), an equid-specific lentivirus in the retrovirus family that is closely to related to HIV in humans.
==Signalment==
All equids are susceptible to EIA but donkeys and mules appear to be less severely affected. No breed, age or sex predilection has been reported.
====Pathogenesis====
====Pathogenesis====
==Clinical signs==
==Clinical signs==
The incubation period of the disease ranges from 10 to over 45 days and initial clinical signs may be vague or unnoticed. IAnimals may be affected acutely, chronically or sub-clinically and clinical signs vary according to the stage of the disease. Inapparent carriers may be clinically normal. The history may include a period of inappetance, fever, lethargy, depression or weight loss. Clinical signs may include petechial haemorrhages of the mucosae, oedema of the head, limbs and trunk, pyrexia, poor body condition and pale mucous membranes.
The incubation period of the disease ranges from 10 to over 45 days and initial clinical signs may be vague or unnoticed. A large number of affected horses do not display any clinical signs. Animals may be affected acutely, chronically or sub-clinically and clinical signs vary according to the stage of the disease. Inapparent carriers may be clinically normal. In the acute stages, clinical signs may include mucosal petechial haemorrhages, depression, fever, lethargy and inappetance. Horses that have been infected for thirty days or may display the characteristic signs of EIA including ventral and limb oedema, anemia, icterus, 'spiking' fever and cachexia.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
The 'gold standard' for diagnostic confirmation is an agar gel immunodiffusion test (the Coggins test) which detects serum antibodies against the EIA virus. False positives may be obtained from foals that have absorbed colostrum from affected mares and false negatives may occur during acute stages of EIA. The Coggins test may be performed in combination with an ELISA in order to increase the test sensitivity.
==Control==
==Control==