Hendra virus infection dynamics in Australian fruit bats.
Abstract: Hendra virus is a recently emerged zoonotic agent in Australia. Since first described in 1994, the virus has spilled from its wildlife reservoir (pteropid fruit bats, or 'flying foxes') on multiple occasions causing equine and human fatalities. We undertook a three-year longitudinal study to detect virus in the urine of free-living flying foxes (a putative route of excretion) to investigate Hendra virus infection dynamics. Pooled urine samples collected off plastic sheets placed beneath roosting flying foxes were screened for Hendra virus genome by quantitative RT-PCR, using a set of primers and probe derived from the matrix protein gene. A total of 1672 pooled urine samples from 67 sampling events was collected and tested between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2011, with 25% of sampling events and 2.5% of urine samples yielding detections. The proportion of positive samples was statistically associated with year and location. The findings indicate that Hendra virus excretion occurs periodically rather than continuously, and in geographically disparate flying fox populations in the state of Queensland. The lack of any detection in the Northern Territory suggests prevalence may vary across the range of flying foxes in Australia. Finally, our findings suggest that flying foxes can excrete virus at any time of year, and that the apparent seasonal clustering of Hendra virus incidents in horses and associated humans (70% have occurred June to October) reflects factors other than the presence of virus. Identification of these factors will strengthen risk minimization strategies for horses and ultimately humans.
Publication Date: 2011-12-09 PubMed ID: 22174865PubMed Central: PMC3235146DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028678Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research looks into the infection dynamics of the Hendra virus, a zoonotic agent, in Australian fruit bats or flying foxes. The scientists collected and tested urine samples from the bats over a period of three years, and found that the virus is excreted periodically and can occur at any time of the year.
Research Methodology and Sampling
- The researchers conducted a three-year longitudinal study of flying foxes, the wildlife reservoir of the Hendra virus.
- The objective was to detect the presence of the virus in the urine of the bats, as urine is a suspected route of excretion for the virus.
- Plastic sheets were placed beneath the roosting bats and any urine collected was sampled for testing.
- Using a set of primers and probe derived from the matrix protein gene, 1672 pooled urine samples collected during 67 sampling events were tested for the presence of the Hendra virus genome through quantitative RT-PCR.
Key Findings
- The research showed that 25% of the sampling events and 2.5% of the pooled urine samples tested positive for the presence of the Hendra virus.
- The rate of positive samples varied among years and locations, indicating that Hendra virus excretion in flying foxes happens intermittently and across different geographical locations within Queensland, Australia.
- No detection of the virus was made in the Northern Territory, suggesting that the prevalence of the virus may vary across different ranges of flying fox populations in Australia.
Implications of the Study
- The study revealed that flying foxes can excrete the Hendra virus at any time of the year, contradicting the seasonal clustering of the virus incidents in horses and humans (70% of which occur between June to October).
- This suggests that factors other than the mere presence of the virus may be contributing to its seasonal incidence in humans and horses.
- Identifying these factors may help in the development of stronger risk minimization strategies for horses and, ultimately, humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Field H, de Jong C, Melville D, Smith C, Smith I, Broos A, Kung YH, McLaughlin A, Zeddeman A.
(2011).
Hendra virus infection dynamics in Australian fruit bats.
PLoS One, 6(12), e28678.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028678 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Hume.Field@deedi.qld.gov.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Australia
- Chiroptera / urine
- Chiroptera / virology
- Geography
- Hendra Virus / physiology
- Seasons
- Virus Diseases / urine
- Virus Diseases / virology
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
References
This article includes 12 references
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