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Proceedings. Biological sciences2011; 278(1725); 3703-3712; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0522

Urban habituation, ecological connectivity and epidemic dampening: the emergence of Hendra virus from flying foxes (Pteropus spp.).

Abstract: Anthropogenic environmental change is often implicated in the emergence of new zoonoses from wildlife; however, there is little mechanistic understanding of these causal links. Here, we examine the transmission dynamics of an emerging zoonotic paramyxovirus, Hendra virus (HeV), in its endemic host, Australian Pteropus bats (fruit bats or flying foxes). HeV is a biosecurity level 4 (BSL-4) pathogen, with a high case-fatality rate in humans and horses. With models parametrized from field and laboratory data, we explore a set of probable contributory mechanisms that explain the spatial and temporal pattern of HeV emergence; including urban habituation and decreased migration-two widely observed changes in flying fox ecology that result from anthropogenic transformation of bat habitat in Australia. Urban habituation increases the number of flying foxes in contact with human and domestic animal populations, and our models suggest that, in addition, decreased bat migratory behaviour could lead to a decline in population immunity, giving rise to more intense outbreaks after local viral reintroduction. Ten of the 14 known HeV outbreaks occurred near urbanized or sedentary flying fox populations, supporting these predictions. We also demonstrate that by incorporating waning maternal immunity into our models, the peak modelled prevalence coincides with the peak annual spill-over hazard for HeV. These results provide the first detailed mechanistic framework for understanding the sporadic temporal pattern of HeV emergence, and of the urban/peri-urban distribution of HeV outbreaks in horses and people.
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Publication Date: 2011-05-11 PubMed ID: 21561971PubMed Central: PMC3203503DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0522Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 explores how the changes in lifestyle and ecology of fruit bats or flying foxes caused by human activity may contribute to the emergence of the Hendra virus, a dangerous pathogen affecting both humans and horses. The study uses data-based models to associate urban habituation and decline in bat migration with increased contact with human populations and reduced immunity, respectively, which can lead to more intense virus outbreaks.

Anthropogenic Environmental Change and Zoonoses

  • The study begins by acknowledging the impact of anthropogenic (human-led) environmental changes on the emergence of new zoonoses, diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. However, it notes that there is insufficient understanding of the precise mechanisms through which these links occur.
  • The zoonosis of interest here is the Hendra virus (HeV), a highly dangerous pathogen that can be found in Australian Pteropus bats and can be transmitted to humans and horses.
  • The researchers highlight the need for more in-depth study of the transmission dynamics of this virus to understand how and why it emerges.

Role of Urban Habituation and Migration Change

  • Urban habituation refers to the adaptation of wildlife to living in urban areas. This adaptation has been observed in flying foxes, and the study suggests that it increases the contact between these bats and human populations.
  • Additionally, the transformation of bat habitats as a result of human activity has led to decreased migratory behaviour, which the researchers hypothesize could contribute to diminished population immunity and consequently more severe outbreaks of HeV following its local reintroduction.

Supporting Evidence and Prediction Verification

  • The researchers validate their predictions by noting that ten of the fourteen observed HeV outbreaks occurred close to urbanized or stationary flying fox populations.
  • The study also uses models accounting for waning maternal immunity to show that the timing of the highest predicted prevalence of the virus correlates with the peak annual risk for HeV transmission, known as spill-over hazard.

Significance of the Research

  • The findings of this research put forth a detailed understanding of how the emergence of the Hendra virus is linked to the changing ecological behaviour of flying foxes due to human activities.
  • This study provides a fundamental framework for understanding the irregular, mainly urban/peri-urban, occurrence of HeV outbreaks in horses and humans, which can guide future research and mitigation strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Plowright RK, Foley P, Field HE, Dobson AP, Foley JE, Eby P, Daszak P. (2011). Urban habituation, ecological connectivity and epidemic dampening: the emergence of Hendra virus from flying foxes (Pteropus spp.). Proc Biol Sci, 278(1725), 3703-3712. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.0522

Publication

Proceedings. Biological sciences
ISSN: 1471-2954
NlmUniqueID: 101245157
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 278
Issue: 1725
Pages: 3703-3712

Researcher Affiliations

Plowright, Raina K
  • Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. rplowright@gmail.com
Foley, Patrick
    Field, Hume E
      Dobson, Andy P
        Foley, Janet E
          Eby, Peggy
            Daszak, Peter

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Australia
              • Bayes Theorem
              • Chiroptera / virology
              • Ecosystem
              • Epidemics
              • Hendra Virus
              • Henipavirus Infections / epidemiology
              • Henipavirus Infections / immunology
              • Henipavirus Infections / transmission
              • Humans
              • Population Dynamics
              • Zoonoses / epidemiology
              • Zoonoses / virology

              Grant Funding

              • R01 TW005869 / FIC NIH HHS
              • R01-TW05869 / FIC NIH HHS

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