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.