Hendra (equine morbillivirus).
Abstract: Hendra has been recognized in Australia as a new zoonotic disease of horses since 1994/5 and subsequent work has shown that the viral agent is endemic in certain species of fruit bat. The Hendra virus is the type species of a new genus within the sub-family Paramyxovirinae, which also contains another newly identified zoonotic bat virus, namely Nipah. It is assumed that contact with bats has led to the Hendra virus being transferred to horses on each of the three separate incidents that have been reported in the last five years. No evidence has been found for widespread subclinical infection of horses. Infected horses can develop a severe and often fatal respiratory disease characterized by dyspnoea, vascular endothelial damage and pulmonary oedema. Nervous signs may also occur. Fatal respiratory disease has been seen in cats and guinea pigs following experimentally induced infections. Transmission of the virus from horses to other horses or man seems to have taken place, but very close contact was required. Three human cases have been recognized, all in association with equine cases. There have been two human fatalities, one due to respiratory failure and the other from a delayed-onset encephalitis. A number of diagnostic methods have been developed, but great care must be taken in obtaining samples from suspected cases.
Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Publication Date: 2000-11-04 PubMed ID: 11061954DOI: 10.1053/tvjl.2000.0508Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article explores Hendra, a zoonotic disease found in horses in Australia that is linked to certain species of fruit bats, detailing the course and consequences of the disease in both animal and human cases.
About the Hendra Virus
- Hendra virus was identified as a new zoonotic disease affecting horses in Australia in 1994/5.
- The virus is endemic in certain species of fruit bats, which are assumed to be the primary source of transmission to horses.
- Three separate incidents of the Hendra virus being transferred from bats to horses have been reported over the past five years.
- The virus belongs to a new genus within the sub-family Paramyxovirinae, which also includes another newly identified zoonotic bat virus, Nipah.
The Virus’s Impact on Horses
- No evidence suggests a widespread subclinical infection in horses.
- Infected horses can develop severe and often fatal respiratory diseases, characterized by dyspnoea, vascular endothelial damage, and pulmonary edema.
- These horses may also display neurological symptoms.
- Experimentally induced infections have caused fatal respiratory disease in cats and guinea pigs.
Human Transmission and Impact
- The virus seems capable of transferring from horses to other horses or humans, though very close contact appears to be necessary for transmission.
- Humans who contract the virus can also develop respiratory disease, and there have been noted instances of delayed-onset encephalitis. Out of three recognized human cases linked to equine cases, two resulted in death.
Research and Diagnosis
- Researchers have developed several methods for diagnosing the Hendra virus.
- However, sampling from suspected cases must be carried out with great care due to the risk of transmission.
Cite This Article
APA
Barclay AJ, Paton DJ.
(2000).
Hendra (equine morbillivirus).
Vet J, 160(3), 169-176.
https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.2000.0508 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health and Veterinary Group, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chiroptera / virology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- Lung / pathology
- Lung / virology
- Male
- Paramyxoviridae Infections / diagnosis
- Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Paramyxoviridae Infections / transmission
- Paramyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Paramyxovirinae / chemistry
- Paramyxovirinae / classification
- Paramyxovirinae / genetics
- Paramyxovirinae / ultrastructure
- Queensland / epidemiology
- Spleen / pathology
- Spleen / virology
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
- Zoonoses / transmission
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Amaya M, Broder CC. Vaccines to Emerging Viruses: Nipah and Hendra. Annu Rev Virol 2020 Sep 29;7(1):447-473.
- Rockx B, Brining D, Kramer J, Callison J, Ebihara H, Mansfield K, Feldmann H. Clinical outcome of henipavirus infection in hamsters is determined by the route and dose of infection. J Virol 2011 Aug;85(15):7658-71.
- Li M, Embury-Hyatt C, Weingartl HM. Experimental inoculation study indicates swine as a potential host for Hendra virus. Vet Res 2010 May-Jun;41(3):33.
- Huppatz C, Durrheim DN, Levi C, Dalton C, Williams D, Clements MS, Kelly PM. Etiology of encephalitis in Australia, 1990-2007. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Sep;15(9):1359-65.
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- Wong S, Lau S, Woo P, Yuen KY. Bats as a continuing source of emerging infections in humans. Rev Med Virol 2007 Mar-Apr;17(2):67-91.
- Bossart KN, Mungall BA, Crameri G, Wang LF, Eaton BT, Broder CC. Inhibition of Henipavirus fusion and infection by heptad-derived peptides of the Nipah virus fusion glycoprotein. Virol J 2005 Jul 18;2:57.
- Springfeld C, Darai G, Cattaneo R. Characterization of the Tupaia rhabdovirus genome reveals a long open reading frame overlapping with P and a novel gene encoding a small hydrophobic protein. J Virol 2005 Jun;79(11):6781-90.
- Burnouf T, Griffiths E, Padilla A, Seddik S, Stephano MA, Gutiérrez JM. Assessment of the viral safety of antivenoms fractionated from equine plasma. Biologicals 2004 Sep;32(3):115-28.
- Bender JB, Tsukayama DT. Horses and the risk of zoonotic infections. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2004 Dec;20(3):643-53.
- Zhang D, Yang Y, Li M, Lu Y, Liu Y, Jiang J, Liu R, Liu J, Huang X, Li G, Qu J. Ecological Barrier Deterioration Driven by Human Activities Poses Fatal Threats to Public Health due to Emerging Infectious Diseases. Engineering (Beijing) 2022 Mar;10:155-166.
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