Unusually high seroprevalence of Borna disease virus in clade E human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients with sexually transmitted diseases in Thailand

Abstract

The seroprevalence of Borna disease virus (BDV) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals in Thailand was examined by using recombinant BDV p24. A high (38 to 48%) rate of seroprevalence of BDV was observed in clade E-infected patients with sexually transmitted diseases, compared with those in clade E-infected prostitutes (8.3%), pregnant women (0%), clade B-infected intravenous-drug users (0%), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1-negative blood donors (1.9%).

PIP: Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic, yet unclassified, nonsegmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus which naturally infects horses and sheep, and induces a disease characterized by a progressive meningoencephalopathy. It has been suggested that BDV, or a related agent, is associated with specific psychiatric disorders. Previous seroprevalence studies of HIV-1-infected individuals identified a BDV seroprevalence of 4-8% at the early stage of HIV-1 infection which grew to 13.9% in later stages. BDV may be more widespread than previously thought and possible reactivated in immunosuppressed patients. BDV seroprevalence in HIV-1-infected individuals in Thailand was examined using recombinant BDV p24. The rates of infection were 38-48% in clade E-infected patients with sexually transmitted diseases, 8.3% in clade E-infected prostitutes, 0% in pregnant women, 0% in clade B-infected IV drug users, and 1.9% in HIV-1-negative blood donors.