Authors: S Kamhieh J Hodgson L Bode H Ludwig C Ward R L P Flower
Publish Date: 2005/11/17
Volume: 151, Issue: 4, Pages: 709-719
Abstract
Borna disease virus BDV is a unique RNA virus that is a cause of neurological disease in horses sheep and cats The finding that BDV also infects humans has raised concern related to the impact of infection with this virus The extent to which BDV may be endemic in geographical regions outside Europe is of interest in management of international movement of animals including horses Sera from Australian horses N = 553 sampled in Sydney New South Wales NSW were analysed for BDV antigen circulating immune complexes CICs and antibodies by monoclonal antibodybased ELISAs Onetenth of the samples were investigated by further antibody tests namely immunofluorescence IFA and a peptide ELISA as well as for BDV RNA The study revealed a very low frequency of serological markers that may be associated with exposure to BDV in Australian horses from NSW with a few sera 07 displaying low range positive results in the CIC assay and no detectable BDV RNA This pattern is inconsistent with endemic BDV infection and strongly contrasts with the pattern of endemic infection particularly in Europe
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