Demonstration of Continuously Seropositive Population against Borna Disease Virus in Misaki Feral Horses, a Japanese Strain: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study from 1998 to 2001.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Borna disease virus (BDV)-specific antibodies were monitored in Misaki feral horses annually for 4 years using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Among 130 horses examined, 35 (26.9%) with an ECLIA count above 1000 once or more were judged as BDV seropositive. Throughout the study period, p24 antibodies were more frequent than p40 antibodies in almost all positive animals. Among the 35 seropositive horses, the ECLIA count was consistently high in 12 cases. Eleven horses seroconverted from negative to positive and 7 underwent reversal. The count in the remaining 95 horses (73.1%) remained low for 4 years and these animals were judged as seronegative. KEY WORDS: antibody, Borna disease virus (BDV), Japanese feral horse.

Sero-epidemiological Study of Borna Disease Virus Infection in the Italian Equine Population

“…This fits into our results of a striking difference (15 fold) of the BDV prevalence in thoroughbred vs. in Giara wild horses (38.2 % vs. 2.7 %), a population of horses that live freely in the central area of Sardinia island. A comparable prevalence like in thoroughbred had also been reported from the Misaki feral horse population (Inoue et al, 2002) in Japan, based on other infection markers.…”

“…Furthermore, mounting evidence indicates that BDV infection occurs in humans and that it may be related to neuropsychiatric diseases. BDV infection in horses is endemic in Central Europe and apparently in Asia (Inoue et al, 2002). In Italy, BDV infection is currently regarded as an exotic disease in horses, and extensive serological investigations have been never performed.…”

Prevalence of Borna Disease Virus Antibodies in Healthy Japanese Black Cattle in Kyushu

“…Previous data indicated that the BDV P antibody was found in 20.3% of Holstein cows by Western blot analysis in Hokkaido [10]. Although BDV's natural reservoir(s) or vector(s) has not yet been identified, our data, together with previous studies [10,14], suggests that a follow-up study with area isolated cattle could be important for exploring the natural reservoir or vector of this virus.…”

“…In Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan, BDV infection and transmission were well documented in the Toimisaki herd of Japanese feral horses [14]. Inoue et al revealed that 26.9% of Misaki feral horses are seropositive for BDV after four years of surveillance using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.…”

Failure to Detect Borna Disease Virus Antibody and RNA from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Psychiatric Patients

“…However, the conflicting results regarding BDV infection cannot be attributed only to geographic factors. It has been reported that BDV is not associated with psychiatric patients in Kyushu island in Japan, a known endemic area of BDV infection 8,42,49. However, there have been two BDV-positive reports in Brazil, which has not been known to be an endemic BDV infection area 23,24.…”