Serological comparison among various strains of equine infectious anemia virus

Summary The serological relationship between 8 strains of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus was investigated by means of complement fixation and neutralization tests. All strains had a common complement fixing antigen, although there were some differences in the intensity of CF reaction in certain antigen-antiserum combinations.Cross neutralization tests revealed that all strains were only neutralized by homologous antisera. The respective antibody titers recorded ranged from 32 to 512. When horses were infected with the virus strains, neutralizing antibodies could be detected as early as 32 to 87 days after inoculation and maximum titers were demonstrable after 42 to 148 days. Of 34 horses infected with 6 strains of EIA virus, 33 horses had neutralizing antibody when they were tested 52 to 127 days after inoculation. Antibodies were only produced against the virus strains inoculated, and not against heterologous strains.