Experimental and natural borna disease virus infections: presence of viral RNA in cells of the peripheral blood.
Abstract: Cells of the peripheral blood of experimentally and naturally borna disease virus (BDV)-infected animals and of human psychiatric patients and healthy individuals were analyzed for the presence of viral RNA using a BDV-p40-specific nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The assay proved to be highly sensitive as 10 RNA molecules were reproducibly amplified. BDV RNA was detected in blood cells of experimentally infected immunocompetent mice and rats. Mice were persistently infected without showing clinical signs of borna disease (BD), whereas the rats suffered from acute BD. Among 19 horses examined, five were positive for viral RNA in the blood. In a flock of sheep with a history of BD, 1 out of 25 clinically healthy animals was positive. BDV RNA was also detected in cells of the peripheral blood of 10 out of 27 selected humans with psychiatric disorders, and in 2 out of 13 healthy individuals. Remarkably, BDV-specific RNA was present in some cases in the absence of BDV-specific antibodies. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed the specificity of the amplification system. The presence of BDV RNA in the blood of naturally and experimentally BDV-infected individuals may point to an incidental but relevant role of blood for the spread of BDV in the infected organism, as well as for the transmission of BDV to other individuals.
Publication Date: 2000-09-06 PubMed ID: 10973698DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(00)00242-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article examined the presence of Borna disease virus (BDV) RNA in peripheral blood cells of both experimentally and naturally infected animals as well as humans. The study used a highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method which yielded promising results, even suggesting an unexpected role of blood in the transmission of BDV.
Methodology
- The researchers analyzed peripheral blood cells from BDV-infected animals and humans (including healthy individuals and those with psychiatric disorders) for the presence of viral RNA. This was done using a BDV-p40-specific nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- The RT-PCR assay used in the study demonstrated high sensitivity, with the ability to amplify as few as 10 RNA molecules reliably.
Results
- In the case of experimentally infected mice and rats, BDV RNA was found in the blood cells. Mice showed persistent infection without clinical signs of Borna disease (BD), whereas rats experienced the acute manifestation of BD.
- Out of 19 tested horses, five were found to have viral RNA in their blood. Among 25 sheep from a flock with a history of BD, one clinically healthy individual tested positive for BDV RNA.
- The study also tested humans and found BDV RNA in peripheral blood cells in 10 out of 27 individuals with psychiatric disorders and in 2 out of 13 healthy individuals. Notably, in some cases, BDV-specific RNA was present even when there were no BDV-specific antibodies.
- The researchers confirmed the specificity of their amplification system through sequence analysis of PCR products.
Implications
- The findings of the research suggest the possible role of blood in the transmission or spread of BDV within an infected organism, and also in the transmission of BDV to other individuals.
- Moreover, the presence of BDV RNA in humans, including healthy individuals, implicates a potential association with psychiatric disorders, warranting further investigation.
- The high sensitivity of the RT-PCR assay used in the study could potentially be employed in future diagnostics and research for BDV and other viral infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Vahlenkamp TW, Enbergs HK, Müller H.
(2000).
Experimental and natural borna disease virus infections: presence of viral RNA in cells of the peripheral blood.
Vet Microbiol, 76(3), 229-244.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1135(00)00242-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. virology@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Borna Disease / genetics
- Borna Disease / virology
- Borna disease virus / isolation & purification
- Humans
- Injections, Intraventricular
- Leukocytes
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Molecular Sequence Data
- RNA, Viral / blood
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Lew
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Sensitivity and Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Majde JA. Neuroinflammation resulting from covert brain invasion by common viruses - a potential role in local and global neurodegeneration.. Med Hypotheses 2010 Aug;75(2):204-13.
- Na KS, Tae SH, Song JW, Kim YK. Failure to detect borna disease virus antibody and RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of psychiatric patients.. Psychiatry Investig 2009 Dec;6(4):306-12.
- Cotto E, Neau D, Cransac-Neau M, Auriacombe M, Pellegrin JL, Ragnaud JM, Fillet AM, Belnard M, Fleury H, Lafon ME. Borna disease virus RNA in immunocompromised patients in southwestern France.. J Clin Microbiol 2003 Dec;41(12):5577-81.
- Bode L, Ludwig H. Borna disease virus infection, a human mental-health risk.. Clin Microbiol Rev 2003 Jul;16(3):534-45.
- Hornig M, Briese T, Lipkin WI. Borna disease virus.. J Neurovirol 2003 Apr;9(2):259-73.
- Planz O, Rziha HJ, Stitz L. Genetic relationship of Borna disease virus isolates.. Virus Genes 2003 Jan;26(1):25-30.
- Vahlenkamp TW, Konrath A, Weber M, Müller H. Persistence of Borna disease virus in naturally infected sheep.. J Virol 2002 Oct;76(19):9735-43.
- Enbergs HK, Vahlenkamp TW, Kipar A, Müller H. Experimental infection of mice with Borna disease virus (BDV): replication and distribution of the virus after intracerebral infection.. J Neurovirol 2001 Jun;7(3):272-7.
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