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Hendra virus disease in horses
1Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Animal Health Laboratory, P.O. Bag 24, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
Revue Scientifique Et Technique (International Office of Epizootics)
|February 24, 2001
Summary
A newly discovered Hendra virus (HeV) causes lethal disease in horses and humans. This zoonotic virus, related to Nipah virus, naturally infects bats but transmission routes remain unclear.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Zoonotic Diseases
Background:
- Discovery of an unknown equine disease prompted etiological investigations.
- Identification of a novel virus, Hendra virus (HeV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae family.
- HeV represents a new genus within the Paramyxoviridae family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the discovery and etiological studies of a novel horse disease.
- To characterize the newly identified Hendra virus (HeV) and its properties.
- To understand the natural hosts, transmission, and pathogenicity of HeV.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological investigation of disease outbreaks in horses.
- Isolation and characterization of the causative viral agent.
- Experimental infection studies in various animal models (cats, guinea pigs, mice).
Main Results:
- Hendra virus (HeV) identified as the causative agent of the novel equine disease.
- HeV is a lethal zoonotic virus causing disease in horses, humans, and experimentally in cats, guinea pigs, and mice.
- Megachiroptera (bats) are the natural hosts, with subclinical infections and efficient inter-bat transmission; horse-to-human transmission is limited.
Conclusions:
- Hendra virus (HeV) is a significant zoonotic pathogen with bats as natural reservoirs.
- Understanding HeV transmission dynamics is crucial for preventing future outbreaks in horses and humans.
- HeV shares characteristics with Nipah virus, highlighting the importance of monitoring related paramyxoviruses.