Borna disease virus RNA in immunocompromised patients in southwestern France

J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Dec;41(12):5577-81. doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.12.5577-5581.2003.

Abstract

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic RNA virus with a wide host range. Human infections, although controversial, have been described in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The present study investigated the existence of BDV infections in immunocompromised human beings, namely, 82 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 80 therapeutically immunosuppressed patients. BDV p40 RNAs were detected in peripheral white blood cells with reverse transcription-nested PCR and hybridization in, respectively, 11 (13.41%) and 1 (1.25%) of the two groups of patients. BDV p24 RNAs were identified in only one of those. BDV RNA was detected in the absence of any neuropsychiatrical illness, suggesting that BDV infections may occur in asymptomatic carriers. The severity and particularity of cellular immunosuppression could explain the significantly increased detection of BDV RNA in HIV-infected patients.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Borna Disease / blood
  • Borna Disease / diagnosis*
  • Borna Disease / etiology
  • Borna disease virus / genetics*
  • Borna disease virus / isolation & purification
  • DNA Primers
  • France
  • Geography
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Viral