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Infection with Menangle virus in flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia
A W Philbey1, P D Kirkland, A D Ross
1New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle NSW, Australia. Adrian.Philbey@vet.gla.ac.uk
Objective:
To examine flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) for evidence of infection with Menangle virus.
Design:
Clustered non-random sampling for serology, virus isolation and electron microscopy (EM).
Procedure:
Serum samples were collected from 306 Pteropus spp. in northern and eastern Australia and tested for antibodies against Menangle virus (MenV) using a virus neutralisation test (VNT). Virus isolation was attempted from tissues and faeces collected from 215 Pteropus spp. in New South Wales. Faecal samples from 68 individual Pteropus spp. and four pools of faeces were examined by transmission EM following routine negative staining and immunogold labelling.
Results:
Neutralising antibodies (VNT titres > or = 8) against MenV were detected in 46% of black flying foxes (P. alecto), 41% of grey-headed flying foxes (P. poliocephalus), 25% of spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) and 1% of little red flying foxes (P. scapulatus) in Australia. Positive sera included samples collected from P. poliocephalus in a colony adjacent to a piggery that had experienced reproductive disease caused by MenV. Virus-like particles were observed by EM in faeces from Pteropus spp. and reactivity was detected in pooled faeces and urine by immunogold EM using sera from sows that had been exposed to MenV. Attempts to isolate the virus from the faeces and tissues from Pteropus spp. were unsuccessful.
Conclusion:
Serological evidence of infection with MenV was detected in Pteropus spp. in Australia. Although virus-like particles were detected in faeces, no viruses were isolated from faeces, urine or tissues of Pteropus spp.
Insights
Flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia show serological evidence of Menangle virus (MenV) infection. While virus-like particles were found in feces, MenV was not isolated from flying foxes.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Wildlife Health
- Zoonotic Disease Research
Background:
- Menangle virus (MenV) is a known cause of reproductive disease in pigs.
- Flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) are widespread in Australia and can harbor various pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Menangle virus infection in Australian flying fox populations.
- To determine if flying foxes act as a reservoir or vector for Menangle virus.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing (virus neutralization test) of 306 flying foxes from various Australian locations.
- Virus isolation attempts from tissues and feces of 215 flying foxes.
- Transmission electron microscopy (EM) and immunogold labeling of fecal samples.
Main Results:
- Antibodies to MenV were detected in 46% of black, 41% of grey-headed, 25% of spectacled, and 1% of little red flying foxes.
- Virus-like particles were observed in feces via EM, with some reactivity to sow sera.
- Virus isolation attempts from flying fox samples were unsuccessful.
Conclusions:
- Serological evidence confirms Menangle virus infection in Australian flying foxes.
- The role of flying foxes in Menangle virus transmission remains unclear, despite the detection of virus-like particles.
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