Sero-epidemiological analysis of vertical transmission relative risk of Borna disease virus infection in dairy herds

Abstract

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a virus that causes a neurological disease in domestic animals, including a variety of animal species in Japan. Few studies have examined the mode of transmission of this virus in cattle, and the exact mechanisms underlying the transmission of the virus need to be elucidated. This study aimed to examine the contribution of vertical transmission of the virus, which occurs when the virus is transmitted from the mother to offspring during gestation or birth. We used an epidemiological approach. The relative risk (RR) was calculated for cattle born to BDV sero-positive cows from farms with a higher within-herd prevalence of BDV (56.8%). We tested the sera of 1,122 dairy cattle from 24 dairy herds in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, for BDV infection using the ELISA and western blotting method. The overall level of BDV sero-prevalence was 22.1%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in closed-breeding herds that do not have buying in cows (39.7%) than in farms that restock cattle by buying in cows (4.4%, P<0.01). The overall RR of BDV vertical transmission from infected mothers to their daughters was 1.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54–2.56). Our results show that vertical transmission contributes significantly to BDV transmission in the farms tested in this study.

Genetic stability of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) distributed in cattle in Hokkaido

“…Similarly, clinical signs of viral infection of PNS ganglia should be noted in future clinical observations. Vertical transmission of BoDV-1 has been demonstrated in mouse models as well as in humans, horses, and cattle [ 3 , 5 , 17 , 34 ]. Interestingly, BoDV-1 was detected in aborted fetuses obtained from cattle farms in this study.…”

Association of Borna disease virus with autism spectrum disorder in Turkish children

“…Behavioral disease studies in animals have led to the thought that this disease may be associated with some neuropsychiatric diseases in humans. It is thought that BDV may infect humans and animals by direct contact with infected secretions, contaminated food, and vertical routes [8,11]. Serologic evidence in humans was first reported in 1985 [12].…”

Bornaviruses in naturally infected Psittacus erithacus in Portugal: insights of molecular epidemiology and ecology

“…From those, 10 species are associated with the development of severe neurological and/or gastrointestinal disease and death of its hosts [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] (Figure 2). The disease has been reported in humans, several species of pets, production and wild animals [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Namely, two species infect mammals (Mammalian 1 to 2 orthobornavirus), five infect birds (Passeriform 1 to 2 orthobornavirus, Psittaciform 1 to 2 orthobornavirus and Waterbird 1 orthobornavirus) and three infect reptiles (Queensland carbovirus, Southwest carbovirus and Elapid 1 orthobornavirus) [4] (Figure 2).…”