It is well accepted, that the Bornavirus infection is a multifaceted disease of many mammals (horses, cats..) and birds. Research of the last decade has put this virus in the dock as a source of human mood disorders. In cooperation with the pace-making researchers from the Berlin Robert-Koch-Institute and Free University of Berlin, Dr. Bode and Prof. Ludwig, we were able to test their novel method of Bornavirus-detection in a large group of children and their family members. In this way, we gained insight into the prevalence and many symptoms elicited by this unique virus. It is dormant in the hippocampus, a brain area involved in learning and mood regulation. We found out that the symptoms of a Bornavirus infection are age-specific. In babies refusal of feeding is observed, in toddlers disturbances of gait may occur and in school children memory deficits, depression and fluctuations of mood prevail, thus resembling the symptoms in adults.
The Bornavirus can be frequently detected in the blood very early in infancy but remains silent if the immune system effectively suppresses its proliferation. Thus, most children remain symptom free. As the Chickenpoxvirus, the Bornavirus settles in nervous cells but can be reactivated in times of a weak immune system. Modern tests can then detect the virus circulating in the blood stream. If the circulation lasts for weeks, then diseases can develop. After relevant differential diagnoses are ruled out, a treatment of the Bornavirus infection may suppress the virus replication and can reduce or eliminate the severe symptoms in many patients.
