Bornavirus encephalitis (Q84989)

A subacute to acute and often fatal disease caused by infection with a bornavirus as a result of spill-over transmission from an animal reservoir. Bornavirus encephalitis begins with unspecific symptoms/signs (e.g., severe fatigue, weakness, headache, psychomotor slowing) followed by progressively impaired locomotor functions, tetraparesis, sopor, and coma. In most described cases the disease will lead to death several weeks after the onset of symptoms. Lesions are typically characterised as non-purulent encephalitis. The incubation period is unknown but considered to last weeks to months. The etiologic viruses are restricted mainly to the central nervous system, absent in blood, and viral shedding by humans has not been documented. There is no evidence of natural person-to-person transmission, but iatrogenic transmission by solid organ transplantation is possible.