Equineinfectiousanemiavirus (EIAV) isa lentivirus. It related in sequence to the humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) and reacted with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient sera.
反转录病毒科(Retrovirus)的病毒特征为其基因组是双股(+)RNA，病毒含有RNA-DNA聚合脢(RNA-directed DNA polymerase)亦即反转录脢(retrotranscriptase)做为复制之用，反转录病毒具有二十面体对称核心，内含核醣蛋白，外有包膜，一般研究认为反转录病毒具有活化致癌基因(proto-oncogene)的潜力。