title: Borna disease virus--does it infect humans and cause psychiatric disorders?
abstract: Antibodies recognizing Borna disease virus (BDV) antigens were first demonstrated in the blood of psychiatric patients approximately 15 years ago. Since that time, a highly controversial debate arose whether BDV infects humans and whether it causes psychiatric disorders. In this review, we critically discuss the results of numerous studies that assessed this possibility by using virological and serological methods. We conclude that there is presently no strong experimental evidence supporting the notion that BDV is a human pathogen. The possibility remains, however, that an antigenically related agent is associated with human psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staeheli
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001890:Borna Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000547:Amantadine