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EcoHealth2015; 13(1); 26-38; doi: 10.1007/s10393-015-1066-8

Landscape Utilisation, Animal Behaviour and Hendra Virus Risk.

Abstract: Hendra virus causes sporadic fatal disease in horses and humans in eastern Australia. Pteropid bats (flying-foxes) are the natural host of the virus. The mode of flying-fox to horse transmission remains unclear, but oro-nasal contact with flying-fox urine, faeces or saliva is the most plausible. We used GPS data logger technology to explore the landscape utilisation of black flying-foxes and horses to gain new insight into equine exposure risk. Flying-fox foraging was repetitious, with individuals returning night after night to the same location. There was a preference for fragmented arboreal landscape and non-native plant species, resulting in increased flying-fox activity around rural infrastructure. Our preliminary equine data logger study identified significant variation between diurnal and nocturnal grazing behaviour that, combined with the observed flying-fox foraging behaviour, could contribute to Hendra virus exposure risk. While we found no significant risk-exposing difference in individual horse movement behaviour in this study, the prospect warrants further investigation, as does the broader role of animal behaviour and landscape utilisation on the transmission dynamics of Hendra virus.
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Publication Date: 2015-09-24 PubMed ID: 26403793DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1066-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates how the behaviour and habitat usage of black flying-foxes and horses might contribute to the risk of Hendra virus transmission. It suggests that flying-fox foraging habits, horse grazing behaviour and their common preference for fragmented landscapes could potentially increase Hendra virus exposure.

Key Findings

  • The researchers discovered that the Hendra virus causes rare but lethal disease in horses and humans in eastern Australia and is generally hosted by Pteropid bats or flying-foxes. The primary mode of transmission of this virus from flying-foxes to horses remains ambiguous, but it is most likely due to contact with the flying-fox’s saliva, urine, or faeces.
  • The study used GPS data logger technology to inspect the landscape usage of black flying-foxes and horses. The researchers intended to gain fresh perspective into the risk of exposure in horses by tracking their movements in relation to the flying-foxes.
  • The data revealed that the foraging behaviour of flying-foxes was highly repetitive, as the animals visited the same location routinely. Flying-foxes demonstrated a preference for fragmented arboreal landscapes and exotic plant species, leading to an increased presence around rural infrastructure.
  • The horse movement data indicated a significant difference in their grazing behaviour during the day and night. This, combined with the observed foraging habits of flying-foxes, could potentially contribute to their exposure to Hendra virus.

Implications and Future Research

  • While the study did not find any significant differences in the movement behaviour of individual horses that would expose them to increased risk, the potential for such a risk merits further study.
  • Furthermore, the researchers recommend that the broader impact of animal behaviour and landscape utilisation on Hendra virus transmission dynamics be a subject of future scrutiny. This could potentially lead to the development of new strategies and policies for preventing and managing Hendra virus outbreaks.

Cite This Article

APA
Field HE, Smith CS, de Jong CE, Melville D, Broos A, Kung N, Thompson J, Dechmann DK. (2015). Landscape Utilisation, Animal Behaviour and Hendra Virus Risk. Ecohealth, 13(1), 26-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-015-1066-8

Publication

EcoHealth
ISSN: 1612-9210
NlmUniqueID: 101222144
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 26-38

Researcher Affiliations

Field, H E
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia. hume.field@ecohealthalliance.org.
  • EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10001, USA. hume.field@ecohealthalliance.org.
Smith, C S
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
de Jong, C E
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
Melville, D
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
Broos, A
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
Kung, N
  • Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
Thompson, J
  • Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Brisbane, QLD, 4066, Australia.
Dechmann, D K N
  • Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Chiroptera / virology
  • Feces / virology
  • Geography
  • Hendra Virus / isolation & purification
  • Henipavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Henipavirus Infections / transmission
  • Henipavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Henipavirus Infections / virology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Saliva / virology
  • Urine / virology
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / transmission
  • Zoonoses / virology

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Citations

This article has been cited 23 times.
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