Evidence that In Vitro Susceptibility of CD3+ T Lymphocytes to Equine Arteritis Virus Infection Reflects Genetic Predisposition of Naturally Infected Stallions To Become Carriers of the Virus

We investigated the correlation between in vitro susceptibility of CD3(+) T lymphocytes to equine arteritis virus (EAV) infection and establishment of persistent infection among 14 stallions following natural infections. The data showed that carrier stallions with a CD3(+) T lymphocyte susceptibility phenotype to in vitro EAV infection may be at higher risk of becoming carriers than those that lack this phenotype (P = 0.0002).