Some Retroviral Diseases of Humans and Animals: A Prospectus

Abstract

This prospectus, gives an account on five, highly epidemiologically significant, virus members of the family Retroviridae and the ailments they cause. These are the human (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and three animal retroviral diseases of veterinary importance viz. the Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Virus (EBLV); the Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) and the Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV). This is expected to give a dimension that can aid field veterinarians, especially in developing countries, to help in differential clinical diagnosis, between diseases that may have similar clinical picture to retrovirus infections in animals. This article also gives enlightenment on the history, classification, properties, ecology and the interesting peculiarities of the family Retroviridae.