Ebinger, ArntArntEbingerSantos, Pauline DPauline DSantosPfaff, FlorianFlorianPfaffDürrwald, RalfRalfDürrwaldKolodziejek, JolantaJolantaKolodziejekSchlottau, KoreKoreSchlottauRuf, ViktoriaViktoriaRufLiesche-Starnecker, FriederikeFriederikeLiesche-StarneckerEnsser, ArminArminEnsserKorn, KlausKlausKornUlrich, ReinerReinerUlrichFürstenau, JennyJennyFürstenauMatiasek, KasparKasparMatiasekHansmann, FlorianFlorianHansmannSeuberlich, TorstenTorstenSeuberlich0000-0002-6800-5129Nobach, DanielDanielNobachMüller, MatthiasMatthiasMüllerNeubauer-Juric, AntonieAntonieNeubauer-JuricSuchowski, MarcelMarcelSuchowskiBauswein, MarkusMarkusBausweinNiller, Hans-HelmutHans-HelmutNillerSchmidt, BarbaraBarbaraSchmidtTappe, DennisDennisTappeCadar, DanielDanielCadarHomeier-Bachmann, TimoTimoHomeier-BachmannHaring, Viola CViola CHaringPörtner, KirstenKirstenPörtnerFrank, ChristinaChristinaFrankMundhenk, LarsLarsMundhenkHoffmann, BerndBerndHoffmannHerms, JochenJochenHermsBaumgärtner, WolfgangWolfgangBaumgärtnerNowotny, NorbertNorbertNowotnySchlegel, JürgenJürgenSchlegelUlrich, Rainer GRainer GUlrichBeer, MartinMartinBeerRubbenstroth, DennisDennisRubbenstroth2024-11-132024-11-132024-09-10https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/103496Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) is the causative agent of Borna disease, a fatal neurologic disorder of domestic mammals and humans, resulting from spill-over infection from its natural reservoir host, the bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon). The known BoDV-1-endemic area is remarkably restricted to parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. To gain comprehensive data on its occurrence, we analysed diagnostic material from suspected BoDV-1-induced encephalitis cases based on clinical and/or histopathological diagnosis. BoDV-1 infection was confirmed by RT-qPCR in 207 domestic mammals, 28 humans and seven wild shrews. Thereby, this study markedly raises the number of published laboratory-confirmed human BoDV-1 infections and provides a first comprehensive summary. Generation of 136 new BoDV-1 genome sequences from animals and humans facilitated an in-depth phylogeographic analysis, allowing for the definition of risk areas for zoonotic BoDV-1 transmission and facilitating the assessment of geographical infection sources. Consistent with the low mobility of its reservoir host, BoDV-1 sequences showed a remarkable geographic association, with individual phylogenetic clades occupying distinct areas. The closest genetic relatives of most human-derived BoDV-1 sequences were located at distances of less than 40 km, indicating that spill-over transmission from the natural reservoir usually occurs in the patient´s home region.enarticle10.48620/761853925640110.1038/s41467-024-52192-x