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Early treatment may not cure HIV
rhesus monkey
SIV re-emerged in all of the monkeys when treatment stopped after six months.
New research on rhesus monkeys “sobering”

Early treatment may not be enough to cure HIV according to new research described as “sobering” by scientists.

According to research published online in the journal Nature, the most important barrier to finding a cure for HIV is the viral reservoir, where it can lie dormant for many years, invulnerable to drugs.   

In a study carried out on rhesus monkeys, US researchers found that this viral reservoir was established surprisingly early after intrarectal infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and before it became detectable in the blood.

“The viral reservoir was seeded substantially earlier after infection than was previously recognized,” explained Dan Barouch, senior author and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

“We found that the reservoir was established in tissues during the first few days of infection, before the virus was even detected in the blood.”

Groups of monkeys were given antiretroviral therapy (ART) on days three, seven, 10 or 14, after infection with SIV. Animals treated on day three showed no evidence of SIV in the bloodstream and did not display any SIV-specific immune responses.

However, after six months of ART, all monkeys showed viral resurgence after treatment was stopped.

While there was a delay in the amount of time it took for virus replication to be seen in the blood of animals treated after three days compared to those treated on day seven, 10 or 14, scientists say further strategies will be needed to cure HIV.

The findings are a blow to hopes that early treatment may offer a cure for HIV. This follows recent news that HIV has re-emerged in the “Mississippi baby” - who was previously thought to have been cured through early treatment with ART.

“The unfortunate news of the virus rebounding in this child further emphasizes the need to understand the early and refractory viral reservoir that is established very quickly following HIV infection in humans,” said Professor Barouch.

Authors of the research wrote that their findings “present new challenges to HIV-1 eradication efforts.”

“Our data suggest that extremely early initiation of ART, extended ART duration and probably additional interventions that activate the viral reservoir will be required for HIV-1 eradication.”



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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.