Different Macaques are used for HIV models, including rhesus macaque, pigtail macaque, and the cynomolgus macaque. Furthermore, to study how HIV works in the human body, the macaques are infected with SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus). It is essential to understand how the differences between these different types of species of macaques can affect the pathogenesis of SIV. HIV-1 replication is similar to SIV replication, where both result in the loss of CD4+ T cells in the body. On the other hand, SIV-infected rhesus macaques typically progress to AIDS in 1-2 years, while humans with HIV tend to progress to AIDS in 8-10 years (without receiving antiretroviral therapy).
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) infected cats can serve as a surrogate model for HIV-1 infections. FIV causes AIDS-like diseases in cats that are similar to diseases caused by HIV infections. Similar to HIV, FIV causes the depletion of CD4+ T cells. FIV can also affect the central nervous system of cats that lead to neurological symptoms that are similar to those in HIV infected humans. FIV has been a valuable animal model for HIV because it leads to antiretroviral drugs for HIV. For example, the FIV model led to the development of Tenofovir (one of the most common drugs for HIV-1). In addition FIV is also sensitive to HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. However, the FIV model is not currently used because it lacks certain accessory genes that are present in HIV-1. For instance, FIV uses CD134 as a receptor instead of CD4. Therefore, unlike HIV which only affects CD4+ T cells, FIV can affect B cells and CD8+ T cells. In addition, the chronic phase of FIV can be as long as a decade, which makes the FIV model unpredictable.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4334372/