Equine Infectious Anemia is a disease that infects the equids (horses, zebras and donkeys). It is caused by a Retroviris lentivirus which is genetically and antigenically related to other lentiviruses like maedi-visna, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAE), ovine progressive pneumonia virus (OPPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), bovine immunodeficiency virus, etc.

Once the animal is infected it becomes a carrier for life and its blood can transmit the disease to other animals, mainly through the bite of insects (horse fly). This is the reason why the disease is endemic in swamps and regions without insect control. The transmission may also occur during mating, pregnancy or through contaminated instruments (syringes, etc).

The animal can show several unspecific symptoms, which can change according to the clinical forms: acute, chronic and inapparent.

The symptoms may vary from fever and depression to rapid loose of weight, edema and anemia. Fever episodes are due to virus mutations, which are recurrent and frequent in the firsts years of the disease. Some animals are inapparents and don't show symptoms, but they are carriers and can transmit the disease.

Diagnosing EIA is essential to control the disease and identify infected animals.

Equine Infectious Anemia is a controlled disease, and only veterinarians and laboratories approved by State and Federal Animal Health Offices can purchase the EIA Bruch kit and perform the EIA AGID tests.