Therefore, we propose three hypotheses to explain this boost in HVT load at 8 weeks in SL feathers: (i) a massive arrival of latently HVT-infected CD4+ T cells in the feathers associated with vitiligo onset, (ii) a positive effect of the inflammatory context on HVT reactivation from latently infected T cells, already present in feathers, (iii) a positive effect of the inflammatory context on HVT replication in keratinocytes. Here, CD4 is linked to vitiligo.