The Association Between Borna Disease Virus and Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context: Recent studies on patients with psychiatric disorders suggest a possible association between borna disease virus (BDV) and mood disorders. However, a clear association remains controversial. The current systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed at investigating the association between BDV infection and mood disorders.
The current study was conducted based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. To obtain the evidence, several databases were searched including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar search engine without time limit until 2017. Heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using Q test and I2 index. A random effect model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).
Meta-analysis of 23 studies comprising 3628 cases and 5,810 controls showed that BDV infection was associated with a significantly increased risk of mood disorders (OR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.21 - 2.15, P = 0.001, I2 = 44%). Subgroup analysis was used according to diagnostic method indicating OR was 1.01 (95%CI: 0.37 - 2.8) for immunofluorescence antibody (IFA), 1.26 (95%CI: 0.5 - 3.18) for western blot (WB) assay, 1.58 (95%CI: 1.06 - 2.38) for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 1.16 (95%CI: 0.24 - 5.70) for radioligand assay (RLA), 2.55 (95%CI: 1.67 - 3.88) for enzyme immunoassay (EIA), 2.15 (95%CI: 0.68-6.80) for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 3.29 (95%CI: 1.35 - 7.98) for electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), 4.00 (95%CI: 0.89 - 17.87) for peptide array, and 1.00 (95%CI: 0.23 - 4.27) for proliferation assay method. In subgroup analysis of bipolar and unipolar disorder, OR was 1.99 (95%CI: 1.29 - 3.08, P = 0.002) and 1.16 (95%CI: 0.76 - 1.76, P = 0.481), respectively.
These results can confirm the significant role of BDV infection in mood disorders. Therefore, it might be necessary to consider BDV infection to manage psychiatric disorders.