CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF FELINE BORNA-DISEASE IN SWEDEN

A questionnaire-based, retrospective case control study of 174 Swedish cats was used to identify possible risk factors for feline Borna dise ase. The questionnaire consisted of 32 questions on a wide range of su bjects, including lifestyle and possible modes of virus transmission. Two control groups were used: a healthy-control and a hospital-control . Variables with significant odds ratios in either the Borna disease:h ealthy-control or Borna disease:hospital-control comparison were inclu ded in multiple logistic regression analyses. Overall, the models sugg ested that feline Borna disease has a predominantly rural/woodland dis tribution, that affected cats were more likely to be males than female s and intact than neutered, and that they were more likely than not to have hunted mice, The results indicate that, in contrast to other fel ine viral infections, Borna disease virus is not readily transmitted b etween cats. The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown. The fact t hat exposure to mice by hunting was a risk factor for the disease sugg ests that rodents may be subclinically infected and act as virus carri ers.