Mean blood CD4+ T cell levels were significantly suppressed in FIV [+] animals at weeks 8 and 12 post-infection compared to FIV [-] animals (p < 0.001) (Figure 7B) and mean blood CD8+ T cell levels were elevated in FIV [+] animals at week 8 post-infection (p < 0.01) (Additional file 3: Figure S3A). This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and infection.