Borna disease virus

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Borna disease virus
Scientific classification
Order: Mononegavirales Family: Bornaviridae Genus: Bornavirus Species: Borna disease virus

Description and significance

A neurotropic, noncytolytic, negative, and single-stranded enveloped RNA virus. It has a wide geographic distribution and host range, including horses, sheep, and humans. In humans, it causes a range of neurological disorders ranging from encephalitis to manic-depressive symptoms. Some studies have demonstrated a therapeutic effect of the antiviral agent amantadine in BDV-infected, depressed patients.

Genome structure

Borna disease virus has a genome size of approximately 9 kb