Borna Disease

Borna disease was first described over 200 years ago in what is now Southeastern Germany as a fatal neurologic affliction of horses. The causative agent was unknown and the animal species thought to be infected in nature were limited to horses and sheep.Today, as described in this volume, the disease has been found to have worldwide distribution and the host range has been extended to include all warm-blooded animals. Furthermore, the causative agent has been identified as a novel viral pathogen, Borna Disease Virus (BDV).Although infectious virus has not been isolated from human subjects, several groups in North America and Europe have found antibodies reactive with BDV in patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders. As described in this volume, BDV proteins have also been detected in blood monocytes obtained from these patients. It is thus possible that humans suffering from some central nervous system diseases are infected with BDV or a similar agent.