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HIV is an acronym for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. As the name implies, the virus causes AIDS only in humans. However, very similar strains of Viruses that look like the virus that cause AIDS in humans have been found in animals such as chimpanzees and lions. In fact, it is commonly believed that HIV was first passed from chimps to humans who probably when chopping them up for food sustained cuts and in the process got infected. However, in the chimps, the virus does not seem to cause any disease because they have genes that inhibit the virus, which humans don't have. So when they passed to humans, the human immune system did not have any weapon to fight the virus. This is one danger of cross-infection across different species. A pathogen may be harmless in one specie but deadly in another. This is why organisations such as WHO take outbreak of animal diseases such as SARS very seriously, because nobody really knows how those diseases could turn out in humans when infected.
Uche from Nigeria
uonwuemena@Yahoo.com
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoActually, it does. Most experts believe that the virus that causes AIDS "jumped" from apes to humans by mutating. But the virus attacks a specific type of white blood cell, and each type of animal has a slightly different version of that cell.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago1) They do, it was originally an animal virus that crossed to humans. It was only after it crossed to humans that it was called HIV, which means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Before it mutated to infect humans, it infected on-human primates and was called SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus).
2) All viruses tend to be species specific ... within limits.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoDoes hiv infects animals?
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HIV initially infects cells of the nervous system.?
HIV, the human immuno-deficiency virus, does not infect nerve cells, it infects white blood cells. (false)
Is it true that HIV also infects the blood of mosquitoes and dogs and can be spread by dog bites and mosquito bites?
No, HIV cannot be spread to humans from mosquito bites or dog bites. There are no animals that can infect humans with the HIV virus by biting or scratching them.
What infects and destroys T cells of the immune system?
HIV
Is HIV bacterial?
No HIV is not bacteria or any other organism. HIV is a retrovirus. It infects the T helper cells of human, cause AIDS disease.No, it is a virus.No, it is not a virus.
What type of virus infects t cells?
HIV The human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Does saliva with hiv infects you when it comes in contact with your blood?
You can't get HIV from saliva. That's true even if it comes in contact with your blood.
Can animals be zombies?
No, most animals are immune to the virus that infects human corpses.
Does HIV initially infect cells of the nervous system?
HIV, the human immuno-deficiency virus, does not infect nerve cells, it infects white blood cells. (false)
What organisms do aids infect usually?
HIV infects only humans. There are similar viruses that affect other species.
Why do so many people in Africa have AIDS if it is an STD?
many men believe that having sex with a newborn baby will cure AIDS. This, of course, infects the baby with the HIV virus. many men believe that having sex with a newborn baby will cure AIDS. This, of course, infects the baby with the HIV virus.
How is HIV different from other virus pathogens?
HIV is a retro virus, that infects your immune cells. The virus attaches to CD4 receptors on T-cell (the cells that are part of the immune system.)
What bloodsucking insect in Africa infects people and animals with sleeping sickness?
Mosquitoes
