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Home / Equine Research Bank / Transbound Emerg Dis / New World camelids are sentinels for the presence of Borna d...
Transboundary and emerging diseases2021; 69(2); 451-464; doi: 10.1111/tbed.14003

New World camelids are sentinels for the presence of Borna disease virus.

Abstract: Borna disease (BD), a frequently fatal neurologic disorder caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), has been observed for decades in horses, sheep, and other mammals in certain regions of Europe. The bicoloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) was identified as a persistently infected species involved in virus transmission. Recently, BoDV-1 attracted attention as a cause of fatal encephalitis in humans. Here, we report investigations on BoDV-1-infected llamas from a farm in a BD endemic area of Switzerland, and alpacas from holdings in a region of Germany where BD was last seen in the 1960s but not thereafter. All New World camelids showed apathy and abnormal behaviour, necessitating euthanasia. Histologically, severe non-suppurative meningoencephalitis with neuronal Joest-Degen inclusion bodies was observed. BoDV-1 was confirmed by immunohistology, RT-qPCR, and sequencing in selected animals. Analysis of the llama herd over 20 years showed that losses due to clinically suspected BD increased within the last decade. BoDV-1 whole-genome sequences from one Swiss llama and one German alpaca and-for comparison-from one Swiss horse and one German shrew were established. They represent the first published whole-genome sequences of BoDV-1 clusters 1B and 3, respectively. Our analysis suggests that New World camelids may have a role as a sentinel species for BoDV-1 infection, even when symptomatic cases are lacking in other animal species.
© 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2021-02-21 PubMed ID: 33501762DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14003Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research paper investigates the influence of Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) in New World camelids, such as llamas and alpacas, suggesting that these animals may serve as sentinels for the disease even when other animals remain asymptomatic.

Background and Purpose of the Study

  • This study was guided by several years of observation of Borna disease (BD), a deadly neurologic disorder triggered by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). This disease was particularly observed in horses, sheep, and other mammals within certain European regions.
  • The bicoloured white-toothed shrew was previously identified as a species that persistently carried and transmitted the virus.
  • The research was also informed by recent evidence showing BD’s impact on humans, leading to fatal encephalitis.
  • The researchers aimed to explore the effects of BoDV-1 on llamas in Switzerland and alpacas in Germany, areas previously associated with high BD incidence.

Methods and Observations

  • The researchers observed abnormal behaviour and lack of interest in activities amongst the New World camelids, which necessitated euthanasia.
  • Post-euthanasia analysis revealed severe non-suppurative meningoencephalitis, a type of brain inflammation, accompanied by neuronal Joest-Degen inclusion bodies; both are signs of significant neural damage.
  • Confirmation of the BoDV-1 presence in the chosen animals was done via immunohistology, RT-qPCR, and sequencing methods.
  • Additionally, tracking the llama herd over a span of 20 years showed increased losses due to clinical doubts of BD infections, particularly in the last decade.

Findings and Analysis

  • The team established the first published whole-genome sequences of BoDV-1 clusters 1B and 3 from a Swiss llama, a German alpaca, a Swiss horse, and a German shrew.
  • Their analysis of data from over that time span, in conjunction with the first-ever confirmation of BoDV-1 in New World camelids, suggests that these species may serve as sentinel species for BoDV-1 infection.
  • This implies that even when visible disease symptoms are absent in other animal species, New World camelids might indicate the presence of the virus in the environment.

Cite This Article

APA
Malbon AJ, Dürrwald R, Kolodziejek J, Nowotny N, Kobera R, Pöhle D, Muluneh A, Dervas E, Cebra C, Steffen F, Paternoster G, Gerspach C, Hilbe M. (2021). New World camelids are sentinels for the presence of Borna disease virus. Transbound Emerg Dis, 69(2), 451-464. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14003

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 69
Issue: 2
Pages: 451-464

Researcher Affiliations

Malbon, Alexandra J
  • Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Dürrwald, Ralf
  • Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
Kolodziejek, Jolanta
  • Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Nowotny, Norbert
  • Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Kobera, Ralph
  • Tierarztpraxis Kobera, Dresden, Germany.
Pöhle, Dietrich
  • Landesuntersuchungsanstalt für das Gesundheits- und Veterinärwesen Sachsen, Dresden, Germany.
Muluneh, Aemero
  • Landesuntersuchungsanstalt für das Gesundheits- und Veterinärwesen Sachsen, Dresden, Germany.
Dervas, Eva
  • Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Cebra, Christopher
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
Steffen, Frank
  • Section of Neurology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Paternoster, Giulia
  • Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Gerspach, Christian
  • Farm Animal Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Hilbe, Monika
  • Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Borna Disease / epidemiology
  • Borna Disease / pathology
  • Borna disease virus / genetics
  • Camelids, New World
  • Encephalitis / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Dürrwald R, Kolodziejek J, Oh DY, Herzog S, Liebermann H, Osterrieder N, Nowotny N. Vaccination against Borna Disease: Overview, Vaccine Virus Characterization and Investigation of Live and Inactivated Vaccines.. Viruses 2022 Dec 2;14(12).
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