Wild birds as a possible natural reservoir of Borna disease virus

Citation
M. Berg et al., Wild birds as a possible natural reservoir of Borna disease virus, EPIDEM INFE, 127(1), 2001, pp. 173-178
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
ISSN journal
09502688 → ACNP
Volume
127
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
173 - 178
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-2688(200108)127:1<173:WBAAPN>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
The natural reservoir of Borna disease virus (BDV) is unknown. In this pape r, we show that mallards (Anas platyrhyncos) and jackdaws (Corvus monedula) can be subclinically infected carriers of this virus. From faecal samples collected at a bird pond, we were able to amplify fragments of the BDV p24 and p40 genes. Following cloning and sequencing, a phylogenetic analysis re vealed that these birds carry strains of BDV closely related to but distinc t from the reference strains BDV V and He/80, To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed finding of BDV in wild birds.