A VARIANT FORM OF FELINE BORNA-DISEASE

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic agent with capacity to infe ct and cause encephalomyelitis in a wide range of animals, including h orses, sheep, cattle and cats. Recent interest in BDV as a potential h uman pathogen has been stimulated by reports of BDV-specific antibodie s and nucleic acid in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. The pat hogenesis of Borna disease (BD) in naturally infected animals is belie ved to be immune-mediated, mainly through the action of cytotoxic T ce lls. In this paper, a case of feline ED with atypical clinical and his topathological features is reported. Clinically, the cat showed muscle fasciculation and proprioceptive defects. Despite absence of encephal itis, numerous neurons were infected with BDV as shown by in-situ hybr idization. This indicates that BDV infection may lead to various disea se patterns, depending on differences in viral pathogenicity, or on as yet unidentified host-specific factors. (C) 1998 W.B. Saunders Compan y Limited.