Hendra Virus

Abstract

Synopsis Hendra virus infection of horses occurred sporadically between 1994 and 2010 as a result of spill-over from the viral reservoir in Australian mainland flying-foxes, and occasional onward transmission to people also followed from exposure to affected horses. For reasons that are not well understood an unprecedented number of outbreaks were recorded in 2011, including the first recorded field infection of a dog, leading to heightened community concern. Increasingly, pressure mounted to instigate measures for control of flying-fox numbers, and equine health care workers started to leave the industry on account of risk and liability concerns. Release of an inactivated subunit vaccine for horses against Hendra virus represents the first commercially available product that is focused on mitigating the impact of a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen. Through preventing the development of acute Hendra virus disease in horses, vaccine use is also expected to reduce the risk of transmission of infection to people. This approach to emerging infectious disease management focuses on the role of horses as the proximal cause of human Hendra virus disease, and may assist in redirecting community concerns away from the flying-fox reservoirs, keystone species for the ongoing health of Australia’s native forests.

Fecal virome analysis of three carnivores reveals a novel nodavirus and multiple gemycircularviruses

“…The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus pandemic originated from wildlife, where bats where identified as the reservoir and civets as an intermediate host [7,8]. A similar example comes from Hendra virus, which also originated from bats, but transmission to humans occurred with horses as an intermediate host, causing severe pneumonia in horses and humans [9]. As such, zoonotic infections can have significant consequences for animal and public welfare.…”

MERS-CoV vaccine candidates in development: The current landscape

“…In 2012, a protein subunit vaccine was licensed and rolled-out in Australia, where all outbreaks of the virus occurred. Since that time, the incidence in horses has fallen precipitously and no human cases have been detected [53]. A similar strategy may be applicable to MERS-CoV; however, a veterinary vaccination in this context would be deployed solely for the sake of protecting humans, as the virus causes only mild upper respiratory illness in camels.…”

Zoonotic Viral Diseases of Equines and Their Impact on Human and Animal Health

“…Hendra virus (HeV) is a rare, emerging zoonotic virus. It causes respiratory and neurological disease and death in man and horses [ 71 ]. HeV is a member of genus Henipavirus of family Paramyxoviridae , order Mononegavirales containing two members, Hendra and Nipah viruses [ 21 ].The potential for rapid spread and ability to cause disease in man have made it a public health concern.…”