This viral disease was first described more than 200 years ago
in a small town named Borna in Saxony in southern Germany. It is
a fatal neurologic disease of horses and sheep. A large number
of horses died during an epidemic in 1885. Although outbreaks of
Borna disease are rare, serological survey has indicated that
many horses in various geographic regions have been exposed to
the virus. This suggests that natural infection of horses with
this virus may be subclinical.
Although horses are the natural host of the virus, other
equidae, sheep, cattle, rabbits, goats, deer, alpacas, llamas,
cats, pygmy hippopotamus, sloths and ostriches can be infected
with BDV. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with
saliva, nasal discharge or conjunctival secretions of infected
animals. Direct exposure
to contaminated food or water can also be a source of infection.
Infected horses or sheep usually take about 4 weeks to show
signs of infection, but the signs are non-specific. These signs
include hyperthermia, anorexia, colic, and constipation in the
initial phase of the disease. During the acute phase, neurologic
signs such as ataxia, depression, circular movement, standing in
awkward positions, collapsing, running into obstacles, and
paralysis, may develop. Clinical symptoms last 1 to 3 weeks, and
death rates for diseased horses are 80% to 100%.
Diagnosis of Borna disease can be by serological methods or by
molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction. PCR is rapid, sensitive and specific (Wensman et al.,
2012), and does not require infected animals to develop full
immune responses. Thus, PCR is especially suitable for early
detection of the virus.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Identify Borna virus carriers
-
Help ensure that herds are free of
Borna virus
-
Early prevention of spread of this virus among horses and
other animals
-
Minimize human exposure to this virus
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from
animals
References:
Wensman, J.J., Jäderlund, K.H., Gustavsson, M.H.,
Hansson-Hamlin, H., Karlstam, E., Lilliehöök, I., Oström, I.L.,
Belák, S., Berg, M. and Holst, B.S. (2012) Markers of Borna
disease virus infection in cats with staggering disease. J.
Feline Med. Surg. 14:573-582.
Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood
in EDTA (purple top) tube, or oral swabs, or
nasal swabs, or 0.2 ml fresh or
frozen tissue.
