This could be the start of something big-20 years since the identification of bats as the natural host of Hendra virus.

The research article commemorates the 20th anniversary of discovering bats as the hosts of the Hendra virus, originally identified in 1994, when it caused lethal diseases in both horses and humans in Australia. It discusses how a diverse team of experts unravelled this mystery and the further revelations in subsequent years identifying bats as hosts for numerous other zoonotic viruses.

The Discovery of Hendra Virus

• Hendra virus was first identified in 1994 in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra, Australia when it caused a cluster of deadly human and equine diseases.
• Leading to this discovery was a meeting among a diverse group of scientists, including animal and public health experts, environmental scientists, wildlife experts, and representatives from the veterinary and horse industries.
• The group’s mission was to examine and prioritize wildlife surveillance to uncover the source of this unknown virus.

Identification of Bats as Hosts

• The group deduced that the reservoir host needed to be found in various locations, be apt at moving between these venues, or exist in continuous overlapping populations across multiple areas.
• Flying foxes, a species of bats, were deemed more likely to be the source of the new virus over birds.
• In weeks, antibodies were detected in several flying fox species, and soon after, the virus was isolated. This marked the identification of bats as the natural host of the Hendra virus.

Legacy of Identifying Bats as Virus Reservoirs

• This revelation was significant, not only because it took place within 18 months of the Hendra virus’s identification, but also because it formed the basis for a broader sequence of discoveries.
• In the subsequent years, bats were found to be hosts of a series of zoonotic viruses including Australian bat lyssavirus, Nipah virus, SARS coronavirus, and Ebola and Marburg viruses.
• Hence, bats are now the first animals scientists consider when looking for new viruses. This embodies the principle that knowledge leads to more knowledge, and brings out the idea that collaboration among diverse groups often leads to more powerful outcomes.