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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Neuropathol / Borna disease of horses. An immunohistological and virologic...
Acta neuropathologica1984; 64(3); 213-221; doi: 10.1007/BF00688111

Borna disease of horses. An immunohistological and virological study of naturally infected animals.

Abstract: The brains of eight horses that had suffered from natural Borna disease were examined with virologic, immunohistological, and electron-microscopic methods. All brains harbored infectious virus as shown by inoculation of experimental animals. Regional assessment of the infectivity exhibited the highest titers in the hippocampus and piriform cortex and the lowest in the cerebellum. Conventional histology yielded pathologic alterations very similar to those of the classical description of the disease. Immunohistology demonstrated the highest amounts of Borna disease virus-specific antigen in the nuclei of neurons. In the perikarya, dendrites, and axons smaller amounts of antigen were found. A comparison of the antigen distribution with the inflammatory reaction established a high concordance of these two parameters. The presence of virus-specific antigen seems to trigger the exsudation of inflammatory cells, which reflect the extension of the infectious process. Heavy inflammatory exsudates in the white matter underlying diseased cortical areas can be explained by the axonal presence of virus-specific antigen. Virus particles could not be demonstrated with the electron microscope. The most significant findings at the ultrastructural level were stacks of fine filaments, adhering closely to cytoplasmic cisterns. These structures might be related to virus components or might be involved in virus morphogenesis.
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Publication Date: 1984-01-01 PubMed ID: 6437125DOI: 10.1007/BF00688111Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the presence and effects of Borna disease virus in horses, noting changes in brain tissue and regional differences in virus concentration. The researchers concluded that the virus triggers inflammation and identified unique subcellular structures potentially related to the virus.

Research Methodology

  • The study utilized a range of methods including virology, immunohistology and electron microscopy to study the brains of eight horses affected by Borna disease.
  • The researchers inoculated experimental animals with samples from various regions of the brain to determine the presence of infectious virus.
  • They also conducted histological examinations to visualize pathological alterations linked to the virus.

Key Findings

  • All examined brains were found to harbor the infectious Borna disease virus.
  • The hippocampus and piriform cortex had the highest concentrations of the virus, whereas the cerebellum had the least.
  • Immunohistology showed that virus-specific antigens are mainly present in the nuclei of neurons. Lesser amounts were found in perikarya, dendrites, and axons.
  • The distribution of antigens was closely aligned with the regions of inflammation, indicating a correlation between the presence of virus-specific antigens and inflammatory reactions.

Implications

  • The researchers suggest that the presence of virus-specific antigen appears to set off an inflammatory response, resulting in heavy inflammation in the white matter of affected areas.
  • The findings propose that the observable pathology in brain tissue is due to this inflammatory response triggered by the presence of Borna disease virus.
  • Although virus particles were not directly observed under electron microscopy, distinctive filament-like structures, potentially related to the virus, were identified in the cytoplasm.

Significance

  • This study provides a depth of understanding on the infectivity and pathology of Borna disease in horses.
  • The correlation between the presence of virus-specific antigens and the pathway triggering the inflammatory process offers new insights into how the Borna disease virus operates.
  • This can lead to potential advancements in diagnosing and treating Borna disease in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Gosztonyi G, Ludwig H. (1984). Borna disease of horses. An immunohistological and virological study of naturally infected animals. Acta Neuropathol, 64(3), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688111

Publication

Acta neuropathologica
ISSN: 0001-6322
NlmUniqueID: 0412041
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 3
Pages: 213-221

Researcher Affiliations

Gosztonyi, G
    Ludwig, H

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Antigens, Viral
      • Borna Disease / immunology
      • Borna Disease / microbiology
      • Borna disease virus / immunology
      • Borna disease virus / isolation & purification
      • Brain / immunology
      • Brain / microbiology
      • Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
      • Horse Diseases / immunology
      • Horses
      • Viruses, Unclassified / immunology

      References

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 14 times.
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        doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04208-3pubmed: 36076225google scholar: lookup
      2. Hyndman TH, Shilton CM, Stenglein MD, Wellehan JFX Jr. Divergent bornaviruses from Australian carpet pythons with neurological disease date the origin of extant Bornaviridae prior to the end-Cretaceous extinction. PLoS Pathog 2018 Feb;14(2):e1006881.
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