Serological evidence for infections with Borna disease virus in Turkey.

This research article investigates the presence of Borna disease virus (BDV) in different animals in Turkey, including horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and cats.

Research Methodology

• The scientists analyzed serum samples from a total of 437 animals, which consisted of 282 horses, 50 sheep, 25 goats, 50 cattle, and 30 cats.
• These samples were tested for anti-BDV antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), a technique used to detect antibodies in a patient’s serum.

Results

• Anti-BDV antibodies were found in varying proportions across the animals tested: 4.9% of horses, 12% of sheep, 4% of goats, 14% of cattle, and 6.6% of cats.
• There was no significant difference in seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum) between Arabic and English purebred horses from four different racing centers. This suggests that the virus does not discriminate between different breeds of horses.
• The levels of anti-BDV antibodies (measured in titers) ranged between 1:10 and 1:320.
• The highest levels of antibodies were found in sheep and horses, while the lowest levels were detected in cattle.
• Despite the presence of anti-BDV antibodies, none of the animals tested displayed any clinical symptoms of Borna disease, an infectious neurological syndrome. This suggests that the animals may have been exposed to the virus but did not develop the disease.

Conclusions

• This study confirms the presence of BDV infection in racing horses and cats in Turkey, aligned with past research from other geographies.
• The research also, for the first time, found evidence of anti-BDV antibodies in sheep, goats, and cattle in Turkey, suggesting that these animals may also be hosts for the virus.
• The lack of disease symptoms in the animals carrying the virus suggests a possible existence of asymptomatic or latent infections.