Presentation on theme: "Biosecurity Queensland Living with Hendra virus, a recently emerged infectious disease. Ron Glanville."— Presentation transcript:
Biosecurity Queensland Living with Hendra virus, a recently emerged infectious disease. Ron Glanville
o Summary.. History. What we know about Hendra. Recent cases. Implications. R&D Priorities. Cairns Clifton Beach Proserpine Townsville Peachester Brisbane Murwillimbah
What is Hendra ……. family Paramyxoviridae Hendra virus Nipah virus
Reservoir host…..fruit bat high antibody prevalence (indicates infection in the past); but low rate of individual bat infection at any one time. virus has been recovered from bat kidney, foetal tissues, placenta. prevalence varies by time, location and the reproductive cycle - more common at the time of year bats are pregnant or lactating no evidence of infection in other bats. Little red greyblack
Incident details.. Mackay2 horses & one human (1)August 1994 Hendra20 horses & two humans (1)September 1994 Cairns (Trinity Beach)1 horseJanuary 1999 Cairns (Gordonvale)1 horse & one humanOctober 2004 Townsville1 horseDecember 2004 Peachester1 horseJune 2006 Murwillumbah1 horseOctober 2006 Peachester1 horseJune 2007 Cairns (Clifton Beach)1 horseJuly 2007 Redlands5 horses & two humans (1)June 2008 Proserpine3 horses (+ 1 possible)July 2008 Rockhampton4 horses. One human (1)August 2009 BowenTwo horsesSeptember 2009
What we know about Hendra virus Present in fruit bats in all areas of Australia plus Papua New Guinea. –Closely related Nipah virus is present in South East Asia and extending into Indonesia. Has been characterised genetically. Animals susceptible – only horses and people to date naturally, but other species, eg guinea pigs & cats have been infected experimentally Pathogenesis (disease process) in horses Ecology of fruit bats and behaviour of HeV virus in fruit bats Modes of excretion of virus from the body Spillover events from bats to horses only happen in paddock situations Low infectivity, but high mortality
Clinical features (1) rapid onset of illness fever (over 40 ˚C) rapid deterioration in health respiratory signs that include: –increased respiratory rate –respiratory distress –nasal discharge at death (sometimes frothy and/or blood stained). And / Or…..
Clinical features (2) neurological signs that include: –depression –loss of balance, problems getting to feet –loss of vision in one or both eyes –head tilting, circling –muscle twitching
Clinical features.. Other considerations: elevated heart rate (up to 90– 100 beats/minute) facial swelling Where there are multiple cases, a high case fatality rate occurs within 48 hours. Some cases have initially been reported as colic. Bats in the area, though a lack of bat sightings does not preclude HeV. Note – clinical signs vary widely and can be virtually any combination of the signs listed.
Pathology Gross pathology unremarkable – maybe pleural effusions Microscopically observed lesions of vascular damage and vasculitis Widespread and serious damage to capillary endothelium Virus uses a cell surface glycoprotein, ephrin B2, as a cell receptor. This receptor has a widespread cellular distribution, especially in vascular endothelial cells Virtually all organs infected Predominant clinical outcome (colic, respiratory, neurological etc) may depend on which organ system is sustaining severe and compromising endothelial damage Virus excretion at low levels can occur for a day or two before clinical expression
Timeline of confirmed and possible HeV cases, Redlands Vet Clinic, June/July 2008 Yellow = maximum known incubation period Red / orange = period of clinical signs Horse survived, later euthanized & autopsied
Proserpine Case 4 JulyMare died with a clinical signs consistent with Hendra virus infection. Suspected as snake bite. Buried with no PM 11 JulyGelding (son of 4 July horse) euthanized and necropsied after short clinical illness with some respiratory manifestation. Positive HeV 21 JulySecond mare euthanized and necropsied after short clinical illness with respiratory manifestation. Positive HeV Mare’s son short clinical illness at same time. 4 AugustMare’s son confirmed SNT positive 4 SeptemberMare’s son euthanised. 8 samples PCR positive.
Cawarral Case Yellow = maximum known incubation period Red = period of clinical signs Horse had initial very mild disease but developed antibodies and subsequently mild neurological signs before being euthanized.
Why surviving, seropositive horses are euthanized Risk of recrudescence –Fatal human case in 1995 –Nipah virus – 10% of survivors Scientific value of long term monitoring is limited –Scientific value of thorough post mortem is significant Balanced against risk to people if horse subsequently redevelops disease Potential trade issues
Implications Hendra still rare – keep it in perspective Its not easy to catch – treat with respect, not fear. Vets are highest risk group, but horse owners / handlers also at risk Widening case definition – no typical hendra case Culture change required: –Always be alert, not just when there is an alert –Biosecurity standards PPE –Suspect cases –Should become routine
Research focus.. drivers for emergence.drivers for emergence. dynamics of infection in the reservoir.dynamics of infection in the reservoir. mode of transmission to horses.mode of transmission to horses. factors associated with spillover events (location, breed, age, housing).factors associated with spillover events (location, breed, age, housing). possible changing genetic profile of the viruspossible changing genetic profile of the virus risk managementrisk management DiagnosticsDiagnostics VaccineVaccine