%0 Journal Article
%T Borna disease in an adult free-ranging Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber albicus).
%A Ellenberger C
%A Heenemann K
%A Vahlenkamp TW
%A Grothmann P
%A Herden C
%A Heinrich A
%J J Comp Pathol
%V 209
%N 0
%D 2024 Feb 12
%M 38350270
%F 1.083
%R 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.01.003
%X Borna disease (BD) associated with a peracute bacterial septicaemia with Escherichia coli was diagnosed in an adult female, naturally infected, free-ranging Eurasian beaver of the subspecies Castor fiber albicus, clinically characterized by weight loss, depression, weakness and gurgled peristaltic sounds. The beaver was euthanized humanely. Necropsy and light microscopy revealed a non-purulent meningoencephalitis with typical mononuclear perivascular cuffs and parenchymal infiltrates. The diagnosis of BD was confirmed by detection of viral antigen and RNA by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR product was sequenced and cluster analysis revealed a close relationship between endemic clusters in Saxony-Anhalt. This is the first report of naturally occurring BD in a free-ranging Eurasian beaver.