Borna disease in horses

Borna disease is a sporadically occurring, progressive viral polioencephalo myelitis that primarily affects horses and sheep. The etiological agent, Bo rna disease virus (BDV), is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that ha s been classified in the new virus family Bornaviridae within the order Mon onegavirales. Serological evidence of BDV infection has been found in an in creasing number of countries throughout the world. After an incubation peri od lasting a few weeks to several months, BDV infection can cause locomotor and sensory dysfunction followed by paralysis and death. Borna disease is the result of a virus-induced immuno-pathological reaction. BDV-specific an tibodies and viral RNA have been found in humans with various psychiatric d isorders.