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Ellenberger C, Heenemann K, Vahlenkamp TW, Grothmann P, Herden C, Heinrich A. Borna disease in an adult free-ranging Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber albicus). J Comp Pathol 2024; 209:31-35. [PMID: 38350270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Borna disease (BD) associated with a peracute bacterial septicaemia with Escherichia coli was diagnosed in an adult female, naturally infected, free-ranging Eurasian beaver of the subspecies Castor fiber albicus, clinically characterized by weight loss, depression, weakness and gurgled peristaltic sounds. The beaver was euthanized humanely. Necropsy and light microscopy revealed a non-purulent meningoencephalitis with typical mononuclear perivascular cuffs and parenchymal infiltrates. The diagnosis of BD was confirmed by detection of viral antigen and RNA by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR product was sequenced and cluster analysis revealed a close relationship between endemic clusters in Saxony-Anhalt. This is the first report of naturally occurring BD in a free-ranging Eurasian beaver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Ellenberger
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection of Sachsen-Anhalt, Stendal, Haferbreiter Weg 132-135, D-39576 Stendal, Germany.
| | - Kristin Heenemann
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas W Vahlenkamp
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Pierre Grothmann
- Magdeburg Zoological Garden, Zooallee 1, D-39124 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 96, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Anja Heinrich
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection of Sachsen-Anhalt, Stendal, Haferbreiter Weg 132-135, D-39576 Stendal, Germany
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2
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Lourbopoulos A, Schnurbus L, Guenther R, Steinlein S, Ruf V, Herms J, Jahn K, Huge V. Case report: Fatal Borna virus encephalitis manifesting with basal brain and brainstem symptoms. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1305748. [PMID: 38333183 PMCID: PMC10850352 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1305748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Since the first report of fatal Borna virus-1 (BoDV-1) encephalitis in 2018, cases gradually increased. There is a lack of diagnostic algorithm, and there is no effective treatment so far. Case presentation We report an acute BoDV-1 encephalitis in a 77-year-old female with flu-like onset, rapid progression to word-finding difficulties, personality changes, global disorientation, diffuse cognitive slowness, and gait ataxia and further deterioration with fever, meningism, severe hyponatremia, epileptic seizures, cognitive decline, and focal cortical and cerebellar symptoms/signs. The extensive diagnostic workup (cerebrovascular fluid, serum, and MRI) for (meningo-)encephalitis was negative for known causes. Our empirical common antiviral, antimicrobial, and immunosuppressive treatment efforts failed. The patient fell into coma 5 days after admission, lost all brainstem reflexes on day 18, remained fully dependent on invasive mechanical ventilation thereafter and died on day 42. Brain and spinal cord autopsy confirmed an extensive, diffuse, and severe non-purulent, lymphocytic sclerosing panencephalomyelitis due to BoDV-1, affecting neocortical, subcortical, cerebellar, neurohypophysis, and spinal cord areas. Along with our case, we critically reviewed all reported BoDV-1 encephalitis cases. Conclusion The diagnosis of acute BoDV-1 encephalitis is challenging and delayed, while it progresses to fatal. In this study, we list all tried and failed treatments so far for future reference and propose a diagnostic algorithm for prompt suspicion and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Lourbopoulos
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), LMU Munich University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea Schnurbus
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Ricarda Guenther
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Susanne Steinlein
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Viktoria Ruf
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Jahn
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
- German Center of Vertigo and Balance Disorders (DSGZ), University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Huge
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology, LMU Munich University Hospital, Munich, Germany
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3
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Fürstenau J, Richter MT, Erickson NA, Große R, Müller KE, Nobach D, Herden C, Rubbenstroth D, Mundhenk L. Borna disease virus 1 infection in alpacas: Comparison of pathological lesions and viral distribution to other dead-end hosts. Vet Pathol 2024; 61:62-73. [PMID: 37431864 DOI: 10.1177/03009858231185107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Borna disease is a progressive meningoencephalitis caused by spillover of the Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) to horses and sheep and has gained attention due to its zoonotic potential. New World camelids are also highly susceptible to the disease; however, a comprehensive description of the pathological lesions and viral distribution is lacking for these hosts. Here, the authors describe the distribution and severity of inflammatory lesions in alpacas (n = 6) naturally affected by this disease in comparison to horses (n = 8) as known spillover hosts. In addition, the tissue and cellular distribution of the BoDV-1 was determined via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. A predominant lymphocytic meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in all animals with differences regarding the severity of lesions. Alpacas and horses with a shorter disease duration showed more prominent lesions in the cerebrum and at the transition of the nervous to the glandular part of the pituitary gland, as compared to animals with longer disease progression. In both species, viral antigen was almost exclusively restricted to cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems, with the notable exception of virus-infected glandular cells of the Pars intermedia of the pituitary gland. Alpacas likely represent dead-end hosts similar to horses and other spillover hosts of BoDV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nancy A Erickson
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Riccò M, Zanella I, Satta E, Ranzieri S, Corrado S, Marchesi F, Peruzzi S. BoDV-1 Infection in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pediatr Rep 2023; 15:512-531. [PMID: 37755407 PMCID: PMC10534910 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric15030047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) can cause a severe human syndrome characterized by meningo-myeloencephalitis. The actual epidemiology of BoDV-1 remains disputed, and our study summarized prevalence data among children and adolescents (<18-year-old). Through systematic research on three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MedRxiv), all studies, including seroprevalence rates for BoDV-1 antigens and specific antibodies, were retrieved, and their results were summarized. We identified a total of six studies for a total of 2692 subjects aged less than 18 years (351 subjects sampled for BoDV-1 antibodies and 2557 for antigens). A pooled seroprevalence of 6.09% (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 2.14 to 16.17) was eventually calculated for BoDV-1 targeting antibodies and 0.76% (95% CI 0.26 to 2.19) for BoDV-1 antigens. Both estimates were affected by substantial heterogeneity. Seroprevalence rates for BoDV-1 in children and adolescents suggested that a substantial circulation of the pathogen does occur, and as infants and adolescents have relatively scarce opportunities for being exposed to hosts and animal reservoirs, the potential role of unknown vectors cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riccò
- Occupational Health and Safety Service on the Workplace/Servizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), Department of Public Health, AUSL–IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zanella
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (I.Z.); (E.S.); (S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Elia Satta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (I.Z.); (E.S.); (S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Silvia Ranzieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (I.Z.); (E.S.); (S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Silvia Corrado
- ASST Rhodense, Dipartimento Della Donna e Area Materno-Infantile, UOC Pediatria, 20024 Garbagnate Milanese, Italy;
| | - Federico Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (I.Z.); (E.S.); (S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Simona Peruzzi
- Laboratorio Analisi Chimico Cliniche e Microbiologiche, Ospedale Civile di Guastalla, AUSL—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42016 Guastalla, Italy;
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5
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Widerspick L, Steffen JF, Tappe D, Muñoz-Fontela C. Animal Model Alternatives in Filovirus and Bornavirus Research. Viruses 2023; 15:158. [PMID: 36680198 PMCID: PMC9863967 DOI: 10.3390/v15010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The order Mononegavirales contains a variety of highly pathogenic viruses that may infect humans, including the families Filoviridae, Bornaviridae, Paramyxoviridae, and Rhabodoviridae. Animal models have historically been important to study virus pathogenicity and to develop medical countermeasures. As these have inherent shortcomings, the rise of microphysiological systems and organoids able to recapitulate hallmarks of the diseases caused by these viruses may have enormous potential to add to or partially replace animal modeling in the future. Indeed, microphysiological systems and organoids are already used in the pharmaceutical R&D pipeline because they are prefigured to overcome the translational gap between model systems and clinical studies. Moreover, they may serve to alleviate ethical concerns related to animal research. In this review, we discuss the value of animal model alternatives in human pathogenic filovirus and bornavirus research. The current animal models and their limitations are presented followed by an overview of existing alternatives, such as organoids and microphysiological systems, which might help answering open research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Widerspick
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - César Muñoz-Fontela
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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6
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Voss A, Schlieben P, Gerst S, Wylezich C, Pfaff F, Langner C, Niesler M, Schad P, Beer M, Rubbenstroth D, Breithaupt A, Mundhenk L. Rustrela virus infection - An emerging neuropathogen of red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus). Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:4016-4021. [PMID: 36135593 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The rustrela virus (RusV) was recently described as a novel pathogen in a circumscribed area of northern Germany close to the Baltic Sea. Up to now, the virus has been detected in cases of fatal non-suppurative meningoencephalitis in zoo animals of different species and a single wild carnivore as well as in apparently healthy yellow-necked field mice (Apodemus flavicollis). Data regarding the background of this previously undiscovered pathogen, including clinical presentation of the disease, host range and distribution of the virus, are still limited. Here, three euthanized red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) from zoos of different areas in northeastern Germany were submitted for necropsy after presenting with apathy and therapeutically unresponsive neurological signs. A moderate to severe, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in all three cases. RusV was consistently detected via RT-qPCR and RNA in situ hybridization in the brains of all wallabies. Other commonly known neuropathogens could not be detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Voss
- Institute, of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patricia Schlieben
- Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Frankfurt (Oder), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sascha Gerst
- Department for Diagnostic Investigation of Epizootics, State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fishery Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rostock, Germany
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Florian Pfaff
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | | | - Petra Schad
- Veterinary Practice Pausin, Schönwalde im Glien, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Angele Breithaupt
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lars Mundhenk
- Institute, of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Tissue Distribution of Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) in Experimentally Infected Young and Adult Cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus). Viruses 2022; 14:v14102181. [PMID: 36298736 PMCID: PMC9611548 DOI: 10.3390/v14102181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) caused by parrot bornavirus (PaBV) infection is an often-fatal disease known to infect Psittaciformes. The impact of age at the time of PaBV infection on organ lesions and tissue distribution of virus antigen and RNA remains largely unclear. For this purpose, tissue sections of 11 cockatiels intravenously infected with PaBV-4 as adults or juveniles, respectively, were examined via histology, immunohistochemistry applying a phosphoprotein (P) antibody directed against the bornaviral phosphoprotein and in situ hybridisation to detect viral RNA in tissues. In both groups of adult- and juvenile-infected cockatiels, widespread tissue distribution of bornaviral antigen and RNA as well as histologic inflammatory lesions were demonstrated. The latter appeared more severe in the central nervous system in adults and in the proventriculus of juveniles, respectively. During the study, central nervous symptoms and signs of gastrointestinal affection were only demonstrated in adult birds. Our findings indicate a great role of the age at the time of infection in the development of histopathological lesions and clinical signs, and thus provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis, possible virus transmission routes, and the development of carrier birds posing a risk to psittacine collections.
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8
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Rubbenstroth D. Avian Bornavirus Research—A Comprehensive Review. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071513. [PMID: 35891493 PMCID: PMC9321243 DOI: 10.3390/v14071513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian bornaviruses constitute a genetically diverse group of at least 15 viruses belonging to the genus Orthobornavirus within the family Bornaviridae. After the discovery of the first avian bornaviruses in diseased psittacines in 2008, further viruses have been detected in passerines and aquatic birds. Parrot bornaviruses (PaBVs) possess the highest veterinary relevance amongst the avian bornaviruses as the causative agents of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD). PDD is a chronic and often fatal disease that may engulf a broad range of clinical presentations, typically including neurologic signs as well as impaired gastrointestinal motility, leading to proventricular dilatation. It occurs worldwide in captive psittacine populations and threatens private bird collections, zoological gardens and rehabilitation projects of endangered species. In contrast, only little is known about the pathogenic roles of passerine and waterbird bornaviruses. This comprehensive review summarizes the current knowledge on avian bornavirus infections, including their taxonomy, pathogenesis of associated diseases, epidemiology, diagnostic strategies and recent developments on prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
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9
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Sukmak M, Okamoto M, Ando T, Hagiwara K. Genetic stability of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) distributed in cattle in Hokkaido. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 83:1526-1533. [PMID: 34393150 PMCID: PMC8569879 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Borna disease virus (BoDV) is a neurotropic virus that causes several infections in
humans and neurological diseases in a wide range of animals worldwide. BoDV-1 has been
molecularly and serologically detected in many domestic and wild animals in Japan;
however, the genetic diversity of this virus and the origin of its infection are not fully
understood. In this study, we investigated BoDV-1 infection and genetic diversity in
samples collected from animals in Hokkaido between 2006 and 2020. The analysis was
performed by focusing on the P region of BoDV-1 for virus detection. The presence of
BoDV-1 RNA was observed in samples of brain tissue and various organs derived from
persistently infected cattle. Moreover, after inoculation, BoDV-positive brains were
isolated from neonatal rats. The gene sequences of the P region of BoDV obtained from the
rat brain were in the same cluster as the P region of the virus isolated from the original
bovine. Thus, genetic variation in BoDV-1 was extremely low. The phylogenetic analysis
revealed that BoDV-1 isolates obtained in this study were part of the same cluster, which
suggested that BoDV-1 of the same cluster was widespread among animals in Hokkaido.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manakorn Sukmak
- Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetseart University.,Kamphaengsaen Veterinary Diagnostic Center (KVDC), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetseart University
| | | | - Tastuya Ando
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
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10
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Leveraging natural history biorepositories as a global, decentralized, pathogen surveillance network. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009583. [PMID: 34081744 PMCID: PMC8174688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic reveals a major gap in global biosecurity infrastructure: a lack of publicly available biological samples representative across space, time, and taxonomic diversity. The shortfall, in this case for vertebrates, prevents accurate and rapid identification and monitoring of emerging pathogens and their reservoir host(s) and precludes extended investigation of ecological, evolutionary, and environmental associations that lead to human infection or spillover. Natural history museum biorepositories form the backbone of a critically needed, decentralized, global network for zoonotic pathogen surveillance, yet this infrastructure remains marginally developed, underutilized, underfunded, and disconnected from public health initiatives. Proactive detection and mitigation for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) requires expanded biodiversity infrastructure and training (particularly in biodiverse and lower income countries) and new communication pipelines that connect biorepositories and biomedical communities. To this end, we highlight a novel adaptation of Project ECHO’s virtual community of practice model: Museums and Emerging Pathogens in the Americas (MEPA). MEPA is a virtual network aimed at fostering communication, coordination, and collaborative problem-solving among pathogen researchers, public health officials, and biorepositories in the Americas. MEPA now acts as a model of effective international, interdisciplinary collaboration that can and should be replicated in other biodiversity hotspots. We encourage deposition of wildlife specimens and associated data with public biorepositories, regardless of original collection purpose, and urge biorepositories to embrace new specimen sources, types, and uses to maximize strategic growth and utility for EID research. Taxonomically, geographically, and temporally deep biorepository archives serve as the foundation of a proactive and increasingly predictive approach to zoonotic spillover, risk assessment, and threat mitigation.
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11
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Schulze V, Große R, Fürstenau J, Forth LF, Ebinger A, Richter MT, Tappe D, Mertsch T, Klose K, Schlottau K, Hoffmann B, Höper D, Mundhenk L, Ulrich RG, Beer M, Müller KE, Rubbenstroth D. Borna disease outbreak with high mortality in an alpaca herd in a previously unreported endemic area in Germany. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2093-2107. [PMID: 32223069 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) is the causative agent of Borna disease, an often fatal neurologic condition of domestic mammals, including New World camelids, in endemic areas in Central Europe. Recently, BoDV-1 gained further attention by the confirmation of fatal zoonotic infections in humans. Although Borna disease and BoDV-1 have been described already over the past decades, comprehensive reports of Borna disease outbreaks in domestic animals employing state-of-the-art diagnostic methods are missing. Here, we report a series of BoDV-1 infections in a herd of 27 alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany, which resulted in eleven fatalities (41%) within ten months. Clinical courses ranged from sudden death without previous clinical signs to acute or chronic neurologic disease with death occurring after up to six months. All animals that underwent necropsy exhibited a non-suppurative encephalitis. In addition, six apparently healthy seropositive individuals were identified within the herd, suggesting subclinical BoDV-1 infections. In infected animals, BoDV-1 RNA and antigen were mainly restricted to the central nervous system and the eye, and sporadically detectable in large peripheral nerves and neuronal structures in other tissues. Pest control measures on the farm resulted in the collection of a BoDV-1-positive bicoloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon), while all other trapped small mammals were negative. A phylogeographic analysis of BoDV-1 sequences from the alpacas, the shrew and BoDV-1-positive equine cases from the same region in Brandenburg revealed a previously unreported endemic area of BoDV-1 cluster 4 in North-Western Brandenburg. In conclusion, alpacas appear to be highly susceptible to BoDV-1 infection and display a highly variable clinical picture ranging from peracute death to subclinical forms. In addition to horses and sheep, they can serve as sensitive sentinels used for the identification of endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Schulze
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Reinhard Große
- Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Fürstenau
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leonie F Forth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Arnt Ebinger
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Madita T Richter
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Kristin Klose
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kore Schlottau
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Lars Mundhenk
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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12
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Nobach D, Müller J, Tappe D, Herden C. Update on immunopathology of bornavirus infections in humans and animals. Adv Virus Res 2020; 107:159-222. [PMID: 32711729 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge on bornaviruses has expanded tremendously during the last decade through detection of novel bornaviruses and endogenous bornavirus-like elements in many eukaryote genomes, as well as by confirmation of insectivores as reservoir species for classical Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). The most intriguing finding was the demonstration of the zoonotic potential of lethal human bornavirus infections caused by a novel bornavirus of different squirrel species (variegated squirrel 1 bornavirus, VSBV-1) and by BoDV-1 known as the causative agent for the classical Borna disease in horses and sheep. Whereas a T cell-mediated immunopathology has already been confirmed as key disease mechanism for infection with BoDV-1 by experimental studies in rodents, the underlying pathomechanisms remain less clear for human bornavirus infections, infection with other bornaviruses or infection of reservoir species. Thus, an overview of current knowledge on the pathogenesis of bornavirus infections focusing on immunopathology is given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nobach
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jana Müller
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Center for Brain, Mind and Behavior, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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Nobach D, Herden C. No evidence for European bats serving as reservoir for Borna disease virus 1 or other known mammalian orthobornaviruses. Virol J 2020; 17:11. [PMID: 32000801 PMCID: PMC6993374 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-1289-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature and originate from wildlife reservoirs. Borna disease, caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), is an infectious disease affecting mammals, but recently it has also been shown to cause fatal encephalitis in humans. The endemic character of Borna disease points towards a nature-bound reservoir, with only one shrew species identified as reservoir host to date. Bats have been identified as reservoirs of a variety of zoonotic infectious agents. Endogenous borna-like elements in the genome of certain bat species additionally point towards co-evolution of bats with bornaviruses and therefore raise the question whether bats could serve as a potential reservoir of orthobornaviruses. METHODS Frozen brain samples (n = 257) of bats of seven different genera from Germany were investigated by orthobornaviral RT-PCR. Additionally, tissue slides of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material of a subset of these bats (n = 140) were investigated for orthobornaviral phosphoprotein by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The brain samples were tested by RT-PCR without any evidence of orthobornavirus specific amplicons. Immunohistochemistry revealed a faint immunoreaction in 3/140 bats but with an untypical staining pattern for viral antigen. CONCLUSIONS RT-PCR-screening showed no evidence for orthobornaviral RNA in the investigated bats. However, immunohistochemistry results should be investigated further to elucidate whether the reaction might be associated with expressed endogenous bornaviral elements or other so far unknown bornaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nobach
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Niller HH, Angstwurm K, Rubbenstroth D, Schlottau K, Ebinger A, Giese S, Wunderlich S, Banas B, Forth LF, Hoffmann D, Höper D, Schwemmle M, Tappe D, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Nobach D, Herden C, Brochhausen C, Velez-Char N, Mamilos A, Utpatel K, Evert M, Zoubaa S, Riemenschneider MJ, Ruf V, Herms J, Rieder G, Errath M, Matiasek K, Schlegel J, Liesche-Starnecker F, Neumann B, Fuchs K, Linker RA, Salzberger B, Freilinger T, Gartner L, Wenzel JJ, Reischl U, Jilg W, Gessner A, Jantsch J, Beer M, Schmidt B. Zoonotic spillover infections with Borna disease virus 1 leading to fatal human encephalitis, 1999-2019: an epidemiological investigation. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:467-477. [PMID: 31924550 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2018-19, Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), the causative agent of Borna disease in horses, sheep, and other domestic mammals, was reported in five human patients with severe to fatal encephalitis in Germany. However, information on case frequencies, clinical courses, and detailed epidemiological analyses are still lacking. We report the occurrence of BoDV-1-associated encephalitis in cases submitted to the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany, and provide a detailed description of newly identified cases of BoDV-1-induced encephalitis. METHODS All brain tissues from 56 encephalitis cases from Bavaria, Germany, of putative viral origin (1999-2019), which had been submitted for virological testing upon request of the attending clinician and stored for stepwise diagnostic procedure, were systematically screened for BoDV-1 RNA. Two additional BoDV-1-positive cases were contributed by other diagnostic centres. Positive results were confirmed by deep sequencing, antigen detection, and determination of BoDV-1-reactive antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical and epidemiological data from infected patients were collected and analysed. FINDINGS BoDV-1 RNA and bornavirus-reactive antibodies were detected in eight newly analysed encephalitis cases and the first human BoDV-1 isolate was obtained from an unequivocally confirmed human BoDV-1 infection from the endemic area. Six of the eight BoDV-1-positive patients had no record of immunosuppression before the onset of fatal disease, whereas two were immunocompromised after solid organ transplantation. Typical initial symptoms were headache, fever, and confusion, followed by various neurological signs, deep coma, and severe brainstem involvement. Seven of nine patients with fatal encephalitis of unclear cause were BoDV-1 positive within one diagnostic centre. BoDV-1 sequence information and epidemiological analyses indicated independent spillover transmissions most likely from the local wild animal reservoir. INTERPRETATION BoDV-1 infection has to be considered as a potentially lethal zoonosis in endemic regions with reported spillover infections in horses and sheep. BoDV-1 infection can result in fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised and apparently healthy people. Consequently, all severe encephalitis cases of unclear cause should be tested for bornaviruses especially in endemic regions. FUNDING German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Helmut Niller
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Klemens Angstwurm
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kore Schlottau
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Arnt Ebinger
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sebastian Giese
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Silke Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Banas
- Department of Nephrology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Leonie F Forth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Donata Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Schwemmle
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Nobach
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | | | - Andreas Mamilos
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Utpatel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Saida Zoubaa
- Department of Neuropathology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Viktoria Ruf
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Rieder
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Traunstein, Traunstein, Germany
| | - Mario Errath
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Traunstein, Traunstein, Germany
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical & Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jürgen Schlegel
- Department of Neuropathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Bernhard Neumann
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kornelius Fuchs
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralf A Linker
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Salzberger
- Infectious Diseases, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Freilinger
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Passau, Passau, Germany; Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Lisa Gartner
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Passau, Passau, Germany
| | - Jürgen J Wenzel
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Udo Reischl
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Jilg
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - André Gessner
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Jantsch
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Barbara Schmidt
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
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Liesche F, Ruf V, Zoubaa S, Kaletka G, Rosati M, Rubbenstroth D, Herden C, Goehring L, Wunderlich S, Wachter MF, Rieder G, Lichtmannegger I, Permanetter W, Heckmann JG, Angstwurm K, Neumann B, Märkl B, Haschka S, Niller HH, Schmidt B, Jantsch J, Brochhausen C, Schlottau K, Ebinger A, Hemmer B, Riemenschneider MJ, Herms J, Beer M, Matiasek K, Schlegel J. The neuropathology of fatal encephalomyelitis in human Borna virus infection. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:653-665. [PMID: 31346692 PMCID: PMC6778062 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02047-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
After many years of controversy, there is now recent and solid evidence that classical Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) can infect humans. On the basis of six brain autopsies, we provide the first systematic overview on BoDV-1 tissue distribution and the lesion pattern in fatal BoDV-1-induced encephalitis. All brains revealed a non-purulent, lymphocytic sclerosing panencephalomyelitis with detection of BoDV-1-typical eosinophilic, spherical intranuclear Joest–Degen inclusion bodies. While the composition of histopathological changes was constant, the inflammatory distribution pattern varied interindividually, affecting predominantly the basal nuclei in two patients, hippocampus in one patient, whereas two patients showed a more diffuse distribution. By immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization, BoDV-1 was detected in all examined brain tissue samples. Furthermore, infection of the peripheral nervous system was observed. This study aims at raising awareness to human bornavirus encephalitis as differential diagnosis in lymphocytic sclerosing panencephalomyelitis. A higher attention to human BoDV-1 infection by health professionals may likely increase the detection of more cases and foster a clearer picture of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Liesche
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Trogerstraße 18, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Viktoria Ruf
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet München, Munich, Germany
| | - Saida Zoubaa
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gwendolyn Kaletka
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Trogerstraße 18, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Marco Rosati
- Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet München, Munich, Germany
| | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Lutz Goehring
- Division of Medicine and Reproduction, Equine Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet München, Munich, Germany
| | - Silke Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Georg Rieder
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Traunstein, Traunstein, Germany
| | | | | | - Josef G Heckmann
- Department of Neurology, Municipal Hospital Landshut, Landshut, Germany
| | - Klemens Angstwurm
- Department of Neurology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Neumann
- Department of Neurology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Märkl
- Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Augsburg University, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Haschka
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Municipal Hospital Landshut, Landshut, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut Niller
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Schmidt
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Jantsch
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Kore Schlottau
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Arnt Ebinger
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hemmer
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jochen Herms
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet München, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jürgen Schlegel
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Trogerstraße 18, 81675, Munich, Germany
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Distribution of zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 in naturally infected variegated and Prevost's squirrels. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11402. [PMID: 31388038 PMCID: PMC6684602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47767-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the zoonotic capacity of the newly discovered variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) was confirmed in humans with a lethal encephalitis. Transmission to humans occurred by variegated and Prevost’s squirrels as presumed reservoir hosts but possible ways of virus shedding and the route of infection still need to be elucidated. Thus, the tissue distribution of VSBV-1 antigen and RNA was investigated in detail via immunohistochemistry (IHC) in six variegated and eight Prevost’s squirrels and by in situ hybridisation (ISH) in one Prevost’s squirrel, respectively. VSBV-1 antigen and RNA positive cells were most numerous in the nervous system and were also found in nearly all tissues and different cell types indicating a broad organ and cell tropism of VSBV-1. Presence of VSBV-1 in several organs might indicate potential virus shedding via various routes and implies the risk of intra- and interspecies transmission, respectively.
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17
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Bourg M, Nobach D, Herzog S, Lange-Herbst H, Nesseler A, Hamann HP, Becker S, Höper D, Hoffmann B, Eickmann M, Herden C. Screening red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) for possible viral causes of encephalitis. Virol J 2016; 13:151. [PMID: 27590473 PMCID: PMC5010667 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Next to various known infectious and non-infectious causes, the aetiology of non-suppurative encephalitis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) often remains unclear. Known causes in foxes imply rabies, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, Aujeszky’s disease, as well as parvovirus, adenovirus, circovirus and flavivirus infections. In this study, particular attention was paid on bornaviruses, since red foxes are predators of bicoloured white-toothed shrews, a reservoir of Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). In addition, foxes are known to be highly susceptible for viruses of the order Mononegavirales. Methods Analyses for the presence of anti-BoDV-1 antibodies, BoDV-1-RNA and antigen were performed on 225 blood and 59 brain samples, from a total of 232 red foxes. Foxes originated from BoDV-1 endemic and non-endemic German areas. Additional investigations for the presence of rabies, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, Aujeszky’s disease, parvovirus, adenovirus and flavivirus infections were carried out on 16 red foxes with non-suppurative (meningo-) encephalitis. A metagenomic analysis was used on three representative brain samples displaying encephalitis. Results Among 225 foxes, 37 displayed anti-BoDV-1 antibodies with titres ranging between 1:40 and 1:2560, regardless of geographic origin. In 6 out of 16 foxes with encephalitis, canine distemper virus was detected. No evidence of any of the other investigated agents was found in the 16 fox brains with encephalitis. Metagenomics revealed no infectious agents, except for one already known canine distemper case. Conclusion Red foxes can exhibit BoDV-1 specific antibodies without association with geographic origin or encephalitis due to bornavirus infection. The encephalitis pattern was highly conspicuous for a viral infection, but remained unclear in 10 out of 16 foxes. Thus, presently unknown infectious and non-infectious causes need to be considered and further investigated, especially since foxes also tend to occur in human proximity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Bourg
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Daniel Nobach
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sibylle Herzog
- Institute of Virology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Sabrina Becker
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Markus Eickmann
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
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18
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Rubbenstroth D, Schmidt V, Rinder M, Legler M, Twietmeyer S, Schwemmer P, Corman VM. Phylogenetic Analysis Supports Horizontal Transmission as a Driving Force of the Spread of Avian Bornaviruses. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160936. [PMID: 27537693 PMCID: PMC4990238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Avian bornaviruses are a genetically diverse group of viruses initially discovered in 2008. They are known to infect several avian orders. Bornaviruses of parrots and related species (Psittaciformes) are causative agents of proventricular dilatation disease, a chronic and often fatal neurologic disease widely distributed in captive psittacine populations. Although knowledge has considerably increased in the past years, many aspects of the biology of avian bornaviruses are still undiscovered. In particular, the precise way of transmission remains unknown. AIMS AND METHODS In order to collect further information on the epidemiology of bornavirus infections in birds we collected samples from captive and free-ranging aquatic birds (n = 738) and Passeriformes (n = 145) in Germany and tested them for the presence of bornaviruses by PCR assays covering a broad range of known bornaviruses. We detected aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) in three out of 73 sampled free-ranging mute swans (Cygnus olor) and one out of 282 free-ranging Eurasian oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus). Canary bornavirus 1 (CnBV-1), CnBV-2 and CnBV-3 were detected in four, six and one out of 48 captive common canaries (Serinus canaria forma domestica), respectively. In addition, samples originating from 49 bornavirus-positive captive Psittaciformes were used for determination of parrot bornavirus 2 (PaBV-2) and PaBV-4 sequences. Bornavirus sequences compiled during this study were used for phylogenetic analysis together with all related sequences available in GenBank. RESULTS OF THE STUDY Within ABBV-1, PaBV-2 and PaBV-4, identical or genetically closely related bornavirus sequences were found in parallel in various different avian species, suggesting that inter-species transmission is frequent relative to the overall transmission of these viruses. Our results argue for an important role of horizontal transmission, but do not exclude the additional possibility of vertical transmission. Furthermore we defined clearly separated sequence clusters within several avian bornaviruses, providing a basis for an improved interpretation of transmission events within and between wild bird populations and captive bird collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute for Virology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Herrmann-Herder Str. 11, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Volker Schmidt
- Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Monika Rinder
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Ornamental Fish, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University Ludwig Maximilian Munich, Sonnenstr. 18, D-85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Marko Legler
- Clinic for Pets, Reptiles and pet and feral Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sönke Twietmeyer
- Department of Research and Documentation, Eifel National Park, Urftseestraße 34, D-53937, Schleiden-Gemünd, Germany
| | - Phillip Schwemmer
- Research and Technology Centre Büsum, University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, D-25761, Büsum, Germany
| | - Victor M. Corman
- Institute for Virology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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19
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Abstract
AbstractNatural bornavirus infections and their resulting diseases are largely restricted to horses and sheep in Central Europe. The disease also occurs naturally in cats, and can be induced experimentally in laboratory rodents and numerous other mammals. Borna disease virus-1 (BoDV-1), the cause of most cases of mammalian Borna disease, is a negative-stranded RNA virus that replicates within the nucleus of target cells. It causes severe, often lethal, encephalitis in susceptible species. Recent events, especially the discovery of numerous new species of bornaviruses in birds and a report of an acute, lethal bornaviral encephalitis in humans, apparently acquired from squirrels, have revived interest in this remarkable family of viruses. The clinical manifestations of the bornaviral diseases are highly variable. Thus, in addition to acute lethal encephalitis, they can cause persistent neurologic disease associated with diverse behavioral changes. They also cause a severe retinitis resulting in blindness. In this review, we discuss both the pathological lesions observed in mammalian bornaviral disease and the complex pathogenesis of the neurologic disease. Thus infected neurons may be destroyed by T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. They may die as a result of excessive inflammatory cytokine release from microglia. They may also die as a result of a ‘glutaminergic storm’ due to a failure of infected astrocytes to regulate brain glutamate levels.
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20
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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:e0137018. [PMID: 26313904 PMCID: PMC4552160 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many RNA viruses arise from animal reservoirs, namely bats, rodents and insectivores but mechanisms of virus maintenance and transmission still need to be addressed. The bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) has recently been identified as reservoir of the neurotropic Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Six out of eleven wild living bicoloured white-toothed shrews were trapped and revealed to be naturally infected with BoDV-1. All shrews were monitored in captivity in a long-term study over a time period up to 600 days that differed between the individual shrews. Interestingly, all six animals showed an asymptomatic course of infection despite virus shedding via various routes indicating a highly adapted host-pathogen interaction. Infectious virus and viral RNA were demonstrated in saliva, urine, skin swabs, lacrimal fluid and faeces, both during the first 8 weeks of the investigation period and for long time shedding after more than 250 days in captivity. CONCLUSIONS The various ways of shedding ensure successful virus maintenance in the reservoir population but also transmission to accidental hosts such as horses and sheep. Naturally BoDV-1-infected living shrews serve as excellent tool to unravel host and pathogen factors responsible for persistent viral co-existence in reservoir species while maintaining their physiological integrity despite high viral load in many organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nobach
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Manon Bourg
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sibylle Herzog
- Institute of Virology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Jorge A. Encarnação
- Mammalian Ecology Group, Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Markus Eickmann
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
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Landscape features and reservoir occurrence affecting the risk for equine infection with Borna disease virus. J Wildl Dis 2014; 49:860-8. [PMID: 24502713 DOI: 10.7589/2012-10-262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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 <350 m, low forest cover, and a high percentage of urban fabric and arable land describe the optimal habitat for C. leucodon. Occurrence probability of C. leucodon was significantly higher in Bavarian BDV-endemic areas than in random areas in Bavaria. The prevalence of BD was higher in urban areas with annual mean precipitation of 800-900 mm, annual mean temperature of 8 C, and 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.
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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 2014; 19:2064-6. [PMID: 24274262 PMCID: PMC3840852 DOI: 10.3201/eid1912.131076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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The bicolored white-toothed shrew Crocidura leucodon (HERMANN 1780) is an indigenous host of mammalian Borna disease virus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93659. [PMID: 24699636 PMCID: PMC3974811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Borna disease (BD) is a sporadic neurologic disease of horses and sheep caused by mammalian Borna disease virus (BDV). Its unique epidemiological features include: limited occurrence in certain endemic regions of central Europe, yearly varying disease peaks, and a seasonal pattern with higher disease frequencies in spring and a disease nadir in autumn. It is most probably not directly transmitted between horses and sheep. All these features led to the assumption that an indigenous virus reservoir of BDV other than horses and sheep may exist. The search for such a reservoir had been unsuccessful until a few years ago five BDV-infected shrews were found in a BD-endemic area in Switzerland. So far, these data lacked further confirmation. We therefore initiated a study in shrews in endemic areas of Germany. Within five years 107 shrews of five different species were collected. BDV infections were identified in 14 individuals of the species bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon, HERMANN 1780), all originating from BD-endemic territories. Immunohistological analysis showed widespread distribution of BDV antigen both in the nervous system and in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues without pathological alterations. Large amounts of virus, demonstrated by presence of viral antigen in epithelial cells of the oral cavity and in keratinocytes of the skin, may be a source of infection for natural and spill-over hosts. Genetic analyses reflected a close relationship of the BDV sequences obtained from the shrews with the regional BDV cluster. At one location a high percentage of BDV-positive shrews was identified in four consecutive years, which points towards a self-sustaining infection cycle in bicolored white-toothed shrews. Analyses of behavioral and population features of this shrew species revealed that the bicolored white-toothed shrew may indeed play an important role as an indigenous host of BDV.
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CHLAMYDIACEAE AND CHLAMYDIA-LIKE ORGANISMS IN FREE-LIVING SMALL MAMMALS IN EUROPE AND AFGHANISTAN. J Wildl Dis 2014; 50:195-204. [DOI: 10.7589/2013-08-194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Horie M, Kobayashi Y, Suzuki Y, Tomonaga K. Comprehensive analysis of endogenous bornavirus-like elements in eukaryote genomes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20120499. [PMID: 23938751 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bornaviruses are the only animal RNA viruses that establish a persistent infection in their host cell nucleus. Studies of bornaviruses have provided unique information about viral replication strategies and virus-host interactions. Although bornaviruses do not integrate into the host genome during their replication cycle, we and others have recently reported that there are DNA sequences derived from the mRNAs of ancient bornaviruses in the genomes of vertebrates, including humans, and these have been designated endogenous borna-like (EBL) elements. Therefore, bornaviruses have been interacting with their hosts as driving forces in the evolution of host genomes in a previously unexpected way. Studies of EBL elements have provided new models for virology, evolutionary biology and general cell biology. In this review, we summarize the data on EBL elements including what we have newly identified in eukaryotes genomes, and discuss the biological significance of EBL elements, with a focus on EBL nucleoprotein elements in mammalian genomes. Surprisingly, EBL elements were detected in the genomes of invertebrates, suggesting that the host range of bornaviruses may be much wider than previously thought. We also review our new data on non-retroviral integration of Borna disease virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Horie
- Department of Virology, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, , 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Avian bornaviruses are widely distributed in canary birds (Serinus canaria f. domestica). Vet Microbiol 2013; 165:287-95. [PMID: 23631925 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 03/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Avian bornavirus (ABV) was identified in 2008 as the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacine birds. In addition, ABV variants were detected in wild waterfowl and in a canary bird. PDD-like diseases were also reported in various other avian species, but it remains unknown whether ABV is involved. In this study we detected ABV in 12 of 30 tested canary bird flocks (40%), indicating a wide distribution of ABV in captive canary birds in Germany. Sequence analysis identified several distinct ABV genotypes which differ markedly from the genotypes present in psittacine birds. Some canaries naturally infected with ABV exhibited gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms which resembled PDD in psittacines, while others did not show signs of disease. Canaries experimentally inoculated with ABV developed infections of the brain and various other organs. The experimentally infected canaries transmitted the virus to sentinel birds kept in the same aviary, but did not show any clinical signs during a five month observation period. Embryonated eggs originating from ABV-infected hens contained ABV-specific RNA, but virus could not be re-isolated from embryonic tissue. These results indicate that ABV is widely distributed in canary birds and due to its association to clinical signs should be considered as a potential pathogen of this species.
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Kinnunen PM, Palva A, Vaheri A, Vapalahti O. Epidemiology and host spectrum of Borna disease virus infections. J Gen Virol 2012; 94:247-262. [PMID: 23223618 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.046961-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Borna disease virus (BDV) has gained lot of interest because of its zoonotic potential, ability to introduce cDNA of its RNA transcripts into host genomes, and ability to cause severe neurobehavioural diseases. Classical Borna disease is a progressive meningoencephalomyelitis in horses and sheep, known in central Europe for centuries. According to current knowledge, BDV or a close relative also infects several other species, including humans at least occasionally, in central Europe and elsewhere, but the existence of potential 'human Borna disease' with its suspected neuropsychiatric symptoms is highly controversial. The recent detection of endogenized BDV-like genes in primate and various other vertebrate genomes confirms that at least ancient bornaviruses did infect our ancestors. The epidemiology of BDV is largely unknown, but accumulating evidence indicates vectors and reservoirs among small wild mammals. The aim of this review is to bring together the current knowledge on epidemiology of BDV infections. Specifically, geographical and host distribution are addressed and assessed in the critical light of the detection methods used. We also review some salient clinical aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M Kinnunen
- Infection Biology Research Program Unit, Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Vaheri
- HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Infection Biology Research Program Unit, Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Infection Biology Research Program Unit, Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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[Genome virology: the novel interaction of RNA viruses and host genomes]. Uirusu 2012. [PMID: 23189824 DOI: 10.2222/jsv.62.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The origin of virus-like organisms probably dates back to the earliest forms of cellular life. Such a long coexistence between viruses and ourselves suggests that viruses may have crucially influenced the evolution of our species and vice versa. Sequences derived from retroviruses and retrotransposons have been shown to make up a substantial part of the human genome, suggesting a direct role of virus infection as a source of new genetic information and genomic innovation of the host species. Until very recently, retroviruses were the only viruses known to generate such endogenous copies in vertebrate genomes. However, we and others have reported recently that non-retroviral RNA viruses, including bornaviruses and filoviruses, have been endogenized repeatedly during mammalian evolution. These endogenous elements of RNA viruses not only provide evidence of ancient viral infections in each animal species but also offer novel paradigms for the interaction between RNA viruses and their hosts. Based on the presentation of the plenary lecture at the XV International Congress of Virology 2011, I will review here our recent findings regarding the generation and functions of endogenous bornavirus-like N elements in mammalian genomes, in order to reveal the unknown dynamics of RNA viruses in eukaryotic cells, and also discuss the evolutionary interaction between RNA viruses and hosts.
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Heatley JJ, Villalobos AR. Avian bornavirus in the urine of infected birds. VETERINARY MEDICINE-RESEARCH AND REPORTS 2012; 3:19-23. [PMID: 30155430 DOI: 10.2147/vmrr.s31336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Avian bornavirus (ABV) causes proventricular dilatation disease in multiple avian species. In severe clinical disease, the virus, while primarily neurotropic, can be detected in many organs, including the kidneys. We postulated that ABV could be shed by the kidneys and found in the urine of infected birds. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated viral N and P proteins of ABV within the renal tubules. We adapted a nonsurgical method of urine collection for use in parrots known to be shedding ABV in their droppings. We obtained urine without feces, and results were compared with swabs of fresh voided feces. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay performed on these paired samples from five birds indicated that ABV was shed in quantity in the urine of infected birds, and a single sample was urine-positive and fecal-negative. We suggest that urine sampling may be a superior sample for detection of birds shedding ABV, and advocate that additional birds, known to be shedding or infected with ABV, should be investigated via this method.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice R Villalobos
- Department of Nutrition & Food Science, Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USA
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Lipkin WI, Briese T, Hornig M. Borna disease virus - fact and fantasy. Virus Res 2011; 162:162-72. [PMID: 21968299 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2011.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 09/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The occasion of Brian Mahy's retirement as editor of Virus Research provides an opportunity to reflect on the work that led one of the authors (Lipkin) to meet him shortly after the molecular discovery and characterization of Borna disease virus in the late 1980s, and work with authors Briese and Hornig to investigate mechanisms of pathogenesis and its potential role in human disease. This article reviews the history, molecular biology, epidemiology, and pathobiology of bornaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10032, United States.
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Detection and characterization of a distinct bornavirus lineage from healthy Canada geese (Branta canadensis). J Virol 2011; 85:12053-6. [PMID: 21900161 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.05700-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian bornaviruses (ABV), identified in 2008, infect captive parrots and macaws worldwide. The natural reservoirs of these viruses are unknown. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to screen oropharyngeal/cloacal swab and brain samples from wild Canada geese (Branta canadensis) for ABV. Approximately 2.9% of swab samples were positive for bornavirus sequences. Fifty-two percent of brain samples from 2 urban flocks also tested positive, and brain isolates were cultured in duck embryo fibroblasts. Phylogenetic analyses placed goose isolates in an independent cluster, and more notably, important regulatory sequences present in Borna disease virus but lacking in psittacine ABVs were present in goose isolates.
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Intracerebral Borna disease virus infection of bank voles leading to peripheral spread and reverse transcription of viral RNA. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23622. [PMID: 21935357 PMCID: PMC3174072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bornaviruses, which chronically infect many species, can cause severe neurological diseases in some animal species; their association with human neuropsychiatric disorders is, however, debatable. The epidemiology of Borna disease virus (BDV), as for other members of the family Bornaviridae, is largely unknown, although evidence exists for a reservoir in small mammals, for example bank voles (Myodes glareolus). In addition to the current exogenous infections and despite the fact that bornaviruses have an RNA genome, bornavirus sequences integrated into the genomes of several vertebrates millions of years ago. Our hypothesis is that the bank vole, a common wild rodent species in traditional BDV-endemic areas, can serve as a viral host; we therefore explored whether this species can be infected with BDV, and if so, how the virus spreads and whether viral RNA is transcribed into DNA in vivo.We infected neonate bank voles intracerebrally with BDV and euthanized them 2 to 8 weeks post-infection. Specific Ig antibodies were detectable in 41%. Histological evaluation revealed no significant pathological alterations, but BDV RNA and antigen were detectable in all infected brains. Immunohistology demonstrated centrifugal spread throughout the nervous tissue, because viral antigen was widespread in peripheral nerves and ganglia, including the mediastinum, esophagus, and urinary bladder. This was associated with viral shedding in feces, of which 54% were BDV RNA-positive, and urine at 17%. BDV nucleocapsid gene DNA occurred in 66% of the infected voles, and, surprisingly, occasionally also phosphoprotein DNA. Thus, intracerebral BDV infection of bank vole led to systemic infection of the nervous tissue and viral excretion, as well as frequent reverse transcription of the BDV genome, enabling genomic integration. This first experimental bornavirus infection in wild mammals confirms the recent findings regarding bornavirus DNA, and suggests that bank voles are capable of bornavirus transmission.
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Abstract
Approximately 8% of our genome is made up of endogenous retroviral elements. Endogenous retrovirus is a fossil record of ancient retrovirus infection and, therefore, gives important insights into the evolutional relationship between retroviruses and their hosts. On the other hand, until recently, it has been believed that no endogenous non-retroviral viruses exist in animal genomes. We lately discovered endogenous elements homologous to the nucleoprotein of bornaviruses, a negative-strand RNA virus, in the genomes of many mammalian species, including humans. We also demonstrated that mRNA of extant mammalian bornavirus, Borna disease virus, is reverse-transcribed and integrated into the host genome DNA. These findings provided novel insights not only into the interaction between RNA viruses and their hosts, but also into the mechanism underlying the gain of novelty in mammalian genomes. In this review, we will briefly summarize our recent knowledge about endogenous bornavirus elements and also introduce some recent discoveries regarding endogenous elements of non-retroviral viruses in vertebrate genomes.
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Priestnall SL, Schöniger S, Ivens PAS, Eickmann M, Brachthäuser L, Kehr K, Tupper C, Piercy RJ, Menzies-Gow NJ, Herden C. Borna disease virus infection of a horse in Great Britain. Vet Rec 2011; 168:380b. [PMID: 21498268 DOI: 10.1136/vr.c6405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S L Priestnall
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA.
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