Borna disease: current knowledge and virus detection in France.

This research paper explores the current knowledge of Borna disease (BD), including its wider geographical distribution and broader range of warm-blooded animal hosts than previously thought. It also discusses the detection of the BD virus genome in several animal species in France.

Understanding Borna Disease

The research paper focuses on understanding Borna disease, a form of infectious meningoencephalomyelitis that is known to affect animals such as horses and sheep. Borna disease has been studied for over two centuries, predominantly in Central Europe. The disease is characterized by severe clinical signs of encephalitis and disturbing behavioral changes and often leads to the death of the affected species.

• The disease is caused by the Borna disease virus (BDV), a negative-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Bornaviridae family and the Mononegavirales order.
• This virus is enveloped and nonsegmented, contributing to its unique structural and functional characteristics.

Shifting Epidemiology of Borna Disease

The article also discusses the changing understanding of Borna disease’s epidemiology or the occurrence, distribution, and control of this disease.

• Previously, it was thought that Borna disease predominantly affected Central Europe, but recent studies suggest that its geographical reach is broader than previously estimated.
• The number of warm-blooded animal species affected by this disease is also larger than initially thought, including humans in its range.

Detection of Borna Disease Virus in France

One of the new findings presented in this article is the detection of the Borna disease virus genome in the blood and brain of various animal species in France.

• These species include horses, bovines, and foxes, indicating a broad host range for the disease.
• This recent detection in France expands our previous understanding of the geographical distribution of the Borna Disease Virus.