DETECTION OF BORNA-DISEASE VIRUS-ANTIGEN AND RNA IN HUMAN AUTOPSY BRAIN SAMPLES FROM NEUROPSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Borna disease virus (BDV) causes a central nervous system disease in s everal vertebrate species which is characterized by behavioral disturb ances. Seroepidemiological data indicate an association of BDV infecti on with certain human mental disorders. Sclerosis of the hippocampus a nd astrocytosis constitute histopathological hallmarks of BDV infectio n in animals. Therefore, we searched for human brain autopsy cases wit h such histopathological features. Five of 600 cases examined were ide ntified as having hippocampus sclerosis and astrocytosis, Using immuno cytochemistry, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization, we detected both BDV antigen and RNA in autopsy brain samples from 4 of these 5 patients, who presented with a clinical history of mental disorders involving me mory loss and depression. This is the first demonstration that BDV can infect human brain tissue, possibly contributing to the pathophysiolo gy of specific human neuropsychiatric disorders. (C) 1996 Academic Pre ss, Inc.