Clinical review of two fatal equine cases of infection with the insectivorous bat strain of Australian bat lyssavirus.
Abstract: The first two confirmed cases of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) infection in horses are presented. Both cases occurred in the same week in May 2013 in paddock mates in south-east Queensland. Australia has been one of only a few countries considered free from rabies-like viruses in domestic animal species. ABLV infection had previously only been confirmed in bats and humans. All three confirmed human cases were fatal, the latest in February 2013. An additional human case of possible abortive infection in 1996 has also been reported. Both equine cases reported here resulted in euthanasia. The risks of infection across other mammalian species are still to be determined. Conclusions: These two equine cases highlight that ABLV should be considered as a differential diagnosis in animals with similar clinical presentations in Australia. There is a need for greater awareness regarding the zoonotic risk, use of personal protective equipment, pre- and post-exposure prophylactic measures and laboratory diagnostic options. The authors recommend ABLV testing for all Australian cases of progressive equine neurological disease.
© 2014 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2014-08-27 PubMed ID: 25156050DOI: 10.1111/avj.12227Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the first two cases of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) infections in horses. The findings show a significant zoonotic risk and need for preventative measures and laboratory diagnostic options, urging for ABLV testing in cases of progressive equine neurological disease in Australia.
Background of the Research
- The research focuses on the first two confirmed cases of a particular strain of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) in horses in Australia, a country previously considered free from rabies-like viruses in domestic animals. This disease was previously confirmed in bats and humans only, with all three human cases being fatal.
- The two cases of horses infected with ABLV took place in May 2013 and both resulted in euthanasia. These incidents indicate that the risks of infection across other mammalian species need further investigation.
Findings and Implications
- The findings highlight the zoonotic risks of ABLV, as it appears animals can pass it to humans, and vice versa.
- This research underscores the importance of early diagnosis and the need to consider ABLV as a possible illness in animals presenting with similar clinical presentations anywhere in Australia.
- Given the high mortality rate and the potential for the disease to cross species, the researchers stress the importance of personal protective equipment, pre- and post-exposure prophylactic measures, and laboratory diagnostic options. The researchers also advocate for a stronger awareness of this zoonotic risk.
- To avoid or minimize the detrimental effects triggered by the ABLV, the researchers recommend that ABLV testing should be carried out for all Australian cases of progressive equine neurological disease.
Concluding Remarks
- The research concludes that the two recorded equine cases of ABLV infection suggest that the disease might not just be limited to bats and humans. Other mammalian species could also be potentially at risk.
- It also calls for more robust protective and prophylactic measures and suggests ABLV testing should become routine for diagnoses of progressive neurological diseases in horses in Australia.
Cite This Article
APA
Annand EJ, Reid PA.
(2014).
Clinical review of two fatal equine cases of infection with the insectivorous bat strain of Australian bat lyssavirus.
Aust Vet J, 92(9), 324-332.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12227 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Randwick Equine Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. edannand@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- DNA, Viral / chemistry
- DNA, Viral / genetics
- Fatal Outcome
- Female
- Histocytochemistry / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Lyssavirus / genetics
- Lyssavirus / isolation & purification
- Male
- Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Nervous System Diseases / virology
- Queensland
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Rhabdoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Rhabdoviridae Infections / virology
- Zoonoses / virology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Rupprecht CE, Belsare AV, Cliquet F, Mshelbwala PP, Seetahal JFR, Wicker VV. The Challenge of Lyssavirus Infections in Domestic and Other Animals: A Mix of Virological Confusion, Consternation, Chagrin, and Curiosity. Pathogens 2025 Jun 13;14(6).
- Annand EJ, Horsburgh BA, Xu K, Reid PA, Poole B, de Kantzow MC, Brown N, Tweedie A, Michie M, Grewar JD, Jackson AE, Singanallur NB, Plain KM, Kim K, Tachedjian M, van der Heide B, Crameri S, Williams DT, Secombe C, Laing ED, Sterling S, Yan L, Jackson L, Jones C, Plowright RK, Peel AJ, Breed AC, Diallo I, Dhand NK, Britton PN, Broder CC, Smith I, Eden JS. Novel Hendra Virus Variant Detected by Sentinel Surveillance of Horses in Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2022 Mar;28(3):693-704.
- O'Connor TW, Finlaison DS, Kirkland PD. What can we learn from over a decade of testing bats in New South Wales to exclude infection with Australian bat lyssaviruses?. Aust Vet J 2022 Apr;100(4):172-180.
- Iglesias R, Cox-Witton K, Field H, Skerratt LF, Barrett J. Australian Bat Lyssavirus: Analysis of National Bat Surveillance Data from 2010 to 2016. Viruses 2021 Jan 27;13(2).
- Steele SG, Booy R, Manocha R, Mor SM, Toribio JLML. Towards One Health clinical management of zoonoses: A parallel survey of Australian general medical practitioners and veterinarians. Zoonoses Public Health 2021 Mar;68(2):88-102.
- Mastraccio KE, Huaman C, Warrilow D, Smith GA, Craig SB, Weir DL, Laing ED, Smith IL, Broder CC, Schaefer BC. Establishment of a longitudinal pre-clinical model of lyssavirus infection. J Virol Methods 2020 Jul;281:113882.
- Barrett J, Höger A, Agnihotri K, Oakey J, Skerratt LF, Field HE, Meers J, Smith C. An unprecedented cluster of Australian bat lyssavirus in Pteropus conspicillatus indicates pre-flight flying fox pups are at risk of mass infection. Zoonoses Public Health 2020 Jun;67(4):435-442.
- Sack A, Oladunni FS, Gonchigoo B, Chambers TM, Gray GC. Zoonotic Diseases from Horses: A Systematic Review. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Jul;20(7):484-495.
- Shipley R, Wright E, Selden D, Wu G, Aegerter J, Fooks AR, Banyard AC. Bats and Viruses: Emergence of Novel Lyssaviruses and Association of Bats with Viral Zoonoses in the EU. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Feb 7;4(1).
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