Spillover infections by rustrela virus, borna disease virus 1 and tick-borne encephalitis virus revealed by retrospective screening of mammalian encephalitis of unknown origin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cross-species transmission of several viral neuropathogens may lead to fatal disease in incidental hosts. The newly discovered rustrela virus (RusV) as well as Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of hemagglutinin subtype H5 may cause fatal lymphocytic meningoencephalitis in a broad range of mammalian species after crossing species borders. Here, we tested brain tissue samples from 191 animals representing 19 mammalian species diagnosed with lymphocytic meningoencephalitis from 1989 to 2024 for these four neuropathogens by RT-qPCR. Positive samples were analysed for cell-associated viral RNA or viral antigen by RNA in situ hybridisation or immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Voss A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12619152 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature