Landscape features and reservoir occurrence affecting the risk for equine infection with Borna disease virus.
Abstract: Borna disease (BD) is a severe endemic and fatal disorder caused by the neurotropic Borna disease virus (BDV) which mainly occurs in horses and sheep. Borna disease virus belongs to the order Mononegavirales, which includes many reservoir-bound viruses with high zoonotic and pathogenic properties including the filoviruses and lyssaviruses. Clinically manifest BD occurs in endemic areas of Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. A seasonal accumulation of cases in spring and summer, incidences that vary from year to year, and the recent detection of BDV in bicolored shrews (Crocidura leucodon) in Swiss endemic areas argue for a natural reservoir. We established a geographic information system analysis of the distribution of 485 equine BD cases in Bavarian (Germany) endemic areas and of the occurrence of 285 records of C. leucodon captured in Bavaria. Boosted regression trees were used to identify driving factors of habitat choice and virus prevalence. The distribution model of C. leucodon and the prevalence model for BDV had very good accuracy. Mean annual precipitation <900 mm, mean annual temperatures of 8 C, elevation 500 m. Our results indicate that the distribution model can accurately predict BD occurrence. Based on these results, practical safety precautions could be derived. The BDV model represents a suitable system for reservoir-bound, neurotropic Mononegavirales because it allows analyzing ecologic and biologic aspects that determine virus abundance, maintenance in reservoir species, and transmission to end host species.
Publication Date: 2014-02-08 PubMed ID: 24502713DOI: 10.7589/2012-10-262Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Borna Disease Virus
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Treatment
- Endemic Disease
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Public Health
- Risk Factors
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Virus
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
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This research investigates the relationship between landscape features and the reservoir occurrence in equine infection risks with Borna disease virus (BDV). The aim was to identify ecological factors that influence the spread of the disease.
Introduction
- The research targeted Borna disease, a severe and sometimes fatal disorder in horses and sheep, caused by the neurotropic Borna disease virus (BDV).
- BDV is part of the order Mononegavirales which consists of many zoonotic, reservoir-bound viruses with high pathogenic properties, including Filoviruses and Lyssaviruses.
Study Location and Methods
- The disease is primarily prevalent in specific areas in Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria.
- A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to analyze the distribution of 485 equine BD cases in Bavarian, Germany which is a BD endemic area, and the occurrence of 285 captures of bicolored shrews believed to be a natural reservoir of BDV.
- The researchers used a method called Boosted Regression Trees to identify contributing factors for habitat choice and virus prevalence.
Results: Defining the Optimal Habitat for C.leucodon
- According to the study, the ideal habitat for C. leucodon, believed to be the reservoir species, features mean annual precipitation of less than 900 mm, mean annual temperatures of 8°C, elevation less than 350 m, low forest cover, and a high percentage of urban fabric and arable land.
- The probability of occurrence of C. leucodon was considerably higher in the Bavarian areas endemic for BDV compared to some random locations in Bavaria.
Results: Impact of Landscape Features on BDV Incidence
- The model also identified that Borna disease prevalence is higher in urban areas with mean annual precipitation ranging between 800-900 mm, mean annual temperatures of 8°C, and elevation greater than 500 m.
- The study posits that the model accurately predicts areas of BD occurrence based on these identified factors.
Conclusion and Practical Implications
- The results of this study can guide the development of practical preventive measures to manage the risk of Borna disease.
- The BDV model is suitable for understanding ecological and biological aspects that determine the abundance of reservoir-bound, neurotropic Mononegavirales, their maintenance in reservoir species, and transmission to primary hosts.
Cite This Article
APA
Encarnação JA, Herzog S, Eickmann M, Becker NI, Hermes N, Herden C.
(2014).
Landscape features and reservoir occurrence affecting the risk for equine infection with Borna disease virus.
J Wildl Dis, 49(4), 860-868.
https://doi.org/10.7589/2012-10-262 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1 Mammalian Ecology Group, Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Borna Disease / epidemiology
- Borna Disease / virology
- Borna disease virus / isolation & purification
- Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
- Disease Reservoirs / virology
- Ecosystem
- Endemic Diseases
- Germany / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Risk Factors
- Shrews / virology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Barba M, Fairbanks EL, Daly JM. Equine viral encephalitis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Vet Med (Auckl) 2019;10:99-110.
- . Bornavirus : Stellungnahmen des Arbeitskreises Blut des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2019 Apr;62(4):519-532.
- Weissenböck H, Bagó Z, Kolodziejek J, Hager B, Palmetzhofer G, Dürrwald R, Nowotny N. Infections of horses and shrews with Bornaviruses in Upper Austria: a novel endemic area of Borna disease. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017 Jun 21;6(6):e52.
- Nobach D, Bourg M, Herzog S, Lange-Herbst H, Encarnação JA, Eickmann M, Herden C. Shedding of Infectious Borna Disease Virus-1 in Living Bicolored White-Toothed Shrews. PLoS One 2015;10(8):e0137018.
- Becker NI, Encarnação JA. Silvicolous on a small scale: possibilities and limitations of habitat suitability models for small, elusive mammals in conservation management and landscape planning. PLoS One 2015;10(3):e0120562.
- Dürrwald R, Kolodziejek J, Weissenböck H, Nowotny N. The bicolored white-toothed shrew Crocidura leucodon (HERMANN 1780) is an indigenous host of mammalian Borna disease virus. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e93659.
- Bourg M, Herzog S, Encarnação JA, Nobach D, Lange-Herbst H, Eickmann M, Herden C. Bicolored white-toothed shrews as reservoir for borna disease virus, Bavaria, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2013 Dec;19(12):2064-6.
- Nobach D, Raeder L, Müller J, Herzog S, Eickmann M, Herden C. Experimental infection of shrews (Crocidura russula) with Borna disease virus 1: Insights into viral spread and shedding. PNAS Nexus 2025 May;4(5):pgaf144.
- Villalobos-Segura MDC, Rico-Chávez O, Suzán G, Chaves A. Influence of Host and Landscape-Associated Factors in the Infection and Transmission of Pathogens: The Case of Directly Transmitted Virus in Mammals. Vet Med Sci 2025 Jan;11(1):e70160.
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