Markers of Borna disease virus infection in cats with staggering disease

Abstract

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a RNA-virus causing neurological disorders in a wide range of mammals. In cats, BDV infection may cause staggering disease. Presently, staggering disease is a tentative clinical diagnosis, only confirmed at necropsy. In this study, cats with staggering disease were investigated to study markers of BDV infection aiming for improvement of current diagnostics. Nineteen cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria based on neurological signs and pathological findings. In 17/19 cats, BDV infection markers (BDV-specific antibodies and/or BDV-RNA) were found, and antibodies in serum (13/16, 81%) were the most common marker. BDV-RNA was found in 11/19 cats (58%). In a reference population without neurological signs, 4/25 cats were seropositive (16%). The clinical history and neurological signs in combination with presence of BDV infection markers, where serology and rRT-PCR on blood can be helpful tools, improve the diagnostic accuracy in the living cat.

Published in

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
2012, volume: 14, number: 8, pages: 573-582

SLU Authors

• Johansson Wensman, Jonas

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hultin Jäderlund, Karin

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hagberg Gustavsson, Malin

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hamlin, Helene

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lilliehöök, Inger

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Belak, Sandor

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Veterinary Institute (SVA)

• Berg, Mikael

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ström Holst, Bodil

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Veterinary Institute (SVA)

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science
Other Veterinary Science
Pathobiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X12446638

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57722