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Sero-epidemiological surveys have revealed that equine arteritis virus (EAV) is prevalent in most European countries. The virus causes sporadic cases of respiratory disease and abortion in horses, the incidence of which has increased in recent years. Mares and geldings eliminate virus after acute infection, but 30% to 60% of stallions become persistently infected. In these animals, EAV is maintained within the reproductive tract and is shed continuously in the semen. Persistent infection with EAV in stallions has no negative consequences for fertility but mares inseminated with virus-contaminated semen can have an acute infection. These mares shed large amounts of virus in respiratory secretions and urine, leading to lateral spread of the virus to other susceptible horses. Acute infection at later stages of gestation can lead to abortion. Effective control of the spread of EAV infection depends on the identification of virus-shedding stallions. Persistently infected stallions should not be used for breeding or should be bred only to seropositive mares. Mares bred to shedding stallions should be isolated from other animals for a period of 3 weeks following insemination to prevent the lateral spread of EAV.

A new retrovirus was recently discovered in cats affected with an immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus shows morphological and biological similarities with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS in human individuals. As the T-lymphocyte is the primary target of the virus, it is termed Feline T-Lymphotropic Lentivirus (FTLV). FTLV is not antigenically related to HIV. Transmission of the virus from animals to human subjects has not been recorded. Cats infected with this virus showed lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, anorexia, chronic stomatitis/gingivitis and other opportunistic forms of infection. Neurological symptoms were also observed. Research is focused on diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Results obtained may contribute to research on AIDS in human subjects.

This paper gives a summary of our present-day knowledge concerning etiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, pathology and pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis. Special emphasis is given to the participation of the immune system in the development of lesions. A therapy protocol is proposed and an extensive list of original literature for further study is given.