Equine Infectious Anemia - Understanding the importance of the Coggins Test. An EIA (Coggins) blood test is required on horses before most organized events, and for transporting a horse from one state to another. EIA is caused by a virus that was first identified in 1904. Although this disease has affected horses for a long time, researchers have recently grown more interested because the EIA virus is closely related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

EIA is a viral disease of members of the horse family. The equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is categorized as a retrovirus: it contains genetic RNA material, which it uses to produce DNA. This DNA is then incorporated into the genetic makeup of infected cells. Identified in France in 1843 and first tentatively diagnosed in the United States in 1888, EIA has commanded a great deal of attention over the years. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease.

Equine Infectious Anemia is a viral disease for which there is no vaccine and no cure. Though most horses succumb rapidly to EIA a percentage of infected horses appear to recover. However they still harbor the virus and during times of stress may become ill again. It is because of these healthy appearing carriers that we test horses. It insures that we do not put their pasture mates at risk.

EIA is an infectious viral disease that affects only members of the equine species. The disease was first reported in the United States in 1888. It is commonly referred to as "swamp fever". EIA is an incurable disease which is characterized by three distinct forms: acute, chronic and inapparant.

EIA is a serious, sometimes fatal, blood disease in horses and other equine, including ponies, mules, asses, donkeys and zebras. Also known as swamp fever, mountain fever, slow fever or malarial fever, EIA infects the host's white blood cells. About 30 percent of known EIA cases result in death, usually within two to four weeks of the disease's onset.