Nachweis der Bornaschen Krankheit bei einem Pferd in Österreich

This paper presents the first documented case of equine Borna disease in Austria. A horse from Vorarlberg, the most western federal state of Austria, showed clinical signs of circling, ataxia, dysphagia and difficulties in chewing. The horse was euthanatized 6 days after presentation due to a failure of response to treatment. Histologically, a nonsuppurative leptomeningitis and panencephalitis with Joest-Degen inclusion bodies in neurons characteristic for Borna disease were found. By immunohistochemistry, Borna disease virus antigen was detected in neurons, but also in glia cells, in the neuropil and white matter of cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum.