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Pathogenesis
: Infected horses have lifelong infection of their leucocytes until stressed
(eg by pregnancy, corticosteroids, surgical operation, disease) or new virus variants
arise. Viraemia then increases by 100-fold. The high levels of virus coats the rbc's which
are then lysed by complement to cause jaundice, oedema, hemorrhagic diarrhoea, petechial
hemorrhages and a high chance of mortality. Bouts of fever and jaundice can occur and
worsen, from the increased immune response, every few months. |