Borna disease virus 1 infection in alpacas: Comparison of pathological lesions and viral distribution to other dead-end hosts.
Authors: Fürstenau Jenny, Richter Madita T, Erickson Nancy A, Große Reinhard, Müller Kerstin E, Nobach Daniel, Herden Christiane, Rubbenstroth Dennis, Mundhenk Lars
Journal: Veterinary pathology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Borna Disease Virus in Alpacas Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) causes progressive meningoencephalitis in horses and sheep through spillover infection, yet the pathological presentation and viral distribution in New World camelids—despite their known susceptibility—remained poorly characterised. Researchers examined naturally infected alpacas (n = 6) and horses (n = 8), mapping inflammatory lesions and BoDV-1 antigen distribution using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to establish whether alpacas behave as dead-end hosts similar to traditional spillover species. Both species presented with predominant lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, though lesion severity and location varied; animals with shorter disease duration displayed more pronounced cerebral inflammation and pathology at the cerebral-pituitary junction, whereas longer-affected individuals showed more diffuse changes. Viral antigen localised almost exclusively to central and peripheral nervous system cells in both species, with the notable exception of glandular cells in the pituitary's Pars intermedia, suggesting a consistent tropism pattern across spillover hosts. These findings confirm alpacas as dead-end hosts with a similar pathological fingerprint to horses, which has implications for producers working with camelids in regions where BoDV-1 is endemic—understanding that alpacas are unlikely to serve as reservoirs should inform biosecurity protocols and veterinary investigation of neurological disease in these animals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Alpacas with progressive neurological signs and meningoencephalitis should be considered at risk for BoDV-1 infection, particularly in endemic regions where horse cases occur
- •Early in disease progression, lesions are most prominent in the cerebrum; prolonged disease may show different lesion distributions, which may affect clinical presentation and diagnosis timing
- •Alpacas, like horses, are dead-end hosts for BoDV-1, so infection control should focus on vector management (Tabanidae flies) rather than animal-to-animal transmission protocols
Key Findings
- •Alpacas (n=6) naturally infected with BoDV-1 showed predominant lymphocytic meningoencephalitis similar to horses (n=8), confirming they are susceptible to spillover infection
- •Shorter disease duration correlated with more prominent inflammatory lesions in the cerebrum and pituitary gland transition zone in both species
- •Viral antigen was almost exclusively localized to central and peripheral nervous system cells, with the exception of pituitary gland (Pars intermedia) glandular cells
- •Alpacas function as dead-end hosts for BoDV-1, similar to horses and other spillover hosts, with limited potential for onward transmission