Borna disease virus and mental health: a cross-sectional study.

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurological condition that primarily affects animals such as sheep, horses and potentially others. This research study measured the prevalence of BDV within farming communities in the UK over a span of several years and evaluated any risk factors and potential associations with psychiatric symptoms. The findings reveal exposure to BDV without connection to associated morbidity within these populations.

Research Methods and Results

• The investigation started as a retrospective cohort study that analyzed the seroprevalence (presence of specific antibodies in the blood) of BDV within the PHLS (Public Health Laboratory Service) Farm Cohort. This cohort represents individuals engaged in agricultural work in the UK.
• The BDV seroprevalence was comparatively measured over different periods, with 2.3% in 1994, 3.1% in 1996, and 2.6% in 1999.
• The findings were related to the type of farm environment people were involved in. Individuals working or residing on livestock farms had a slightly higher seroprevalence (2.6%) than those on mixed (2.3%) or arable (crops) farms (1.6%). Nonetheless, the researchers did not find this variation to be statistically significant. Moreover, increased exposure to horses, sheep, and cats did not result in higher risks of seropositivity (having detectable specific antibodies in the blood).
• The study also looked at the potential connection between seropositivity and neurotic psychiatry symptoms among the farm workers. It concluded that individuals who were seropositive were no more likely to exhibit psychiatric symptoms than seronegative (non-detectable specific antibodies) individuals.

Conclusions

• Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that BDV appears to be present among farming communities in the UK.
• While the farming inhabitants are exposed to BDV, the research did not establish any connection between exposure to BDV and an increased likelihood of psychiatric symptoms or morbidity in this healthy population subgroup. Hence the inference is, at least in this group, BDV does not cause psychiatric or neurologic disease.