Borna Disease Virus

Paper Summary:

The first cases of Borna disease in the 17-19th century in Southern Germany exposed a fatal disease affecting the neurological systems of horses and sheep, causing behavioral and neurological symptoms. It has since been discovered, however, that the disease affects other animals and even human beings. The paper shows that research into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the BDV is impeded, however, by a lack of universally accepted standard for its detection, especially in humans. This paper covers in detail the various methods used to detect the BDV virus and analyzes their efficiency in doing so. This is done with reference to the epidemiology of the virus that is changing significantly and speedily with the use of analytical techniques. The paper also compares these processes and gives suggestions for future research in the light of modern day studies.

From the Paper:

"A reason for renewed interest and research into the pathogenesis and characteristics of the BDV is the possibility recently discovered of the BDV being an etiological factor in human behavioral disorders as well. [Jrgen 1997] Numerous scientific studies are being done to accumulate evidence to clarify this issue. One study showed that 10-15% of psychiatric patients had anti-BDV antibodies as compared to only 2% in the general population. [Schizophrenia and Borna Disease Virus as a Zoonosis' 2000] Another on patients with severe depression detected anti-BDV antibodies in 30% of the hospitalized cases. [Schizophrenia and Borna Disease Virus as a Zoonosis' 2000] BDV was also detected and isolated in patients with mood disorders while BDV nucleic acids and antigens have been detected in both sera and brain tissue of psychiatric patients."

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