Borna disease: a possible emerging zoonosis.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Borna disease virus (BDV) is an RNA virus that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of various vertebrate species.
• Advances in molecular biology have elucidated BDV's unique characteristics, including CNS persistence and expression patterns, leading to its classification in a new RNA virus family.
• BDV infection presents a wide range of clinical signs, from asymptomatic persistence to severe CNS destruction, complicating epidemiological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics of Borna disease virus (BDV) and its impact on various host species.
• To discuss the diagnostic tools available for BDV detection.
• To assess the potential presence and implications of BDV in France, considering its global distribution.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of molecular biology, virology, and epidemiology studies on BDV.
• Analysis of diagnostic methods for BDV detection across different species and geographical regions.
• Evaluation of existing veterinary and medical epidemiological data concerning BDV, particularly in France.

Main Results:

• BDV is known to infect a broad range of hosts, including horses, sheep, rats, cattle, dogs, cats, and pigeons, causing potentially fatal disease in its primary hosts.
• The virus has been detected globally, with evidence in Central Europe, USA, UK, Japan, and Iran.
• BDV is implicated in behavioral anomalies and neurological disorders, with a potential link to psychiatric disorders in humans.

Conclusions:

• BDV's unique biological features and broad host spectrum necessitate continued research.
• Despite global detection, the prevalence of BDV in France remains uncertain due to limited epidemiological data.
• Given its wide distribution, the presence of BDV in France is plausible and warrants further investigation.