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Epidemiology and pathology of avian bornaviruses

Avian bornavirus (ABV) is the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacine birds. Recent data suggest that ABV has a broader host range and that closely related viruses may infect additional bird species, including finches and wild waterfowl (see figure).

Phylogenetic tree based on partial N gene sequences of bornaviruses from mammals and birds. Bootstrap values are given as percentages for the main nodes. Brackets illustrate the rationale for grouping known psittacine bornaviruses into five distinct genotypes. The GenBank accession number, strain name, and country and year of isolation are given. (Figure from Staeheli et al. 2010)

Open questions presently being investigated include:
a) Clinical aspects of PDD including prevalence studies of ABV genotypes in pet bird facilities, mode of virus transmission and experimental therapy of infected birds.
b) Analysis of pathological mechanisms of ABV infections using experimental animal model systems.

Selected Publications from our group

1. Rinder M, Ackermann A, Kempf H, Kaspers B, Korbel R, Staeheli P. Broad tissue and cell tropism of avian bornavirus in parrots with proventricular dilatation disease. J. Virol. 83: 5401-5407 (2009).
2. Staeheli P, Rinder M, Kaspers B. Avian bornavirus associated with fatal disease in psittacine birds. J. Virol. 84: 6269-6275 (2010)

Collaboration

Dr. Monika Rinder, Prof. Rüdiger Korbel and Prof. Bernd Kaspers, LMU Munich