How is Borna disease diagnosed?

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Multiple Choice

How is Borna disease diagnosed?

Antibody detection against Borna disease virus in serum or cerebrospinal fluid is the most practical and informative way to diagnose this infection because the virus is neurotropic and not reliably found in the blood. BDV is difficult to isolate and BDV RNA or virus is often not present at detectable levels in blood, so direct detection methods like PCR for viral DNA (or RNA) in blood or virus isolation from CSF have limited sensitivity and real-world usefulness. In contrast, identifying virus-specific antibodies in serum shows that the animal has been exposed and mounted an immune response, and antibodies in CSF—especially with intrathecal synthesis—support CNS involvement by BDV. Imaging findings are nonspecific and cannot confirm the diagnosis, so serologic testing for BDV antibodies best fits the question.

Antibody detection against Borna disease virus in serum or cerebrospinal fluid is the most practical and informative way to diagnose this infection because the virus is neurotropic and not reliably found in the blood. BDV is difficult to isolate and BDV RNA or virus is often not present at detectable levels in blood, so direct detection methods like PCR for viral DNA (or RNA) in blood or virus isolation from CSF have limited sensitivity and real-world usefulness. In contrast, identifying virus-specific antibodies in serum shows that the animal has been exposed and mounted an immune response, and antibodies in CSF—especially with intrathecal synthesis—support CNS involvement by BDV. Imaging findings are nonspecific and cannot confirm the diagnosis, so serologic testing for BDV antibodies best fits the question.

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