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IntroductionChimeric Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (SHIV) causes persistent infection characterized by CD4+ T cell lymphopenia in rhesus monkeys. The SHIV model infection closely resembles HIV-1 infection and disease in humans, except that it progresses at an accelerated rate. During the early stages of HIV-1 infection, viral replication is at its highest rate and there is a rapid decline of the immune system. Cell death induced by apoptosis, a feature in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-like syndromes of many lentiviral infections, is thought to be important in the progressive decline of lymphocytes and the cell mediated immunity of infected individuals. The apoptosis is not specific for lymphocytes, this phenomenon also occurs in numerous cell types of the immune system, including the polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Abnormalities of neutrophil function and number because of HIV-1 and other retroviral infections have been recognized.