title: Experimental infection of horses with Hendra virus/Australia/horse/2008/Redlands.
abstract: Hendra virus (HeV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus harbored by Australian flying foxes with sporadic spillovers directly to horses. Although the mode and critical control points of HeV spillover to horses from flying foxes, and the risk for transmission from infected horses to other horses and humans, are poorly understood, we successfully established systemic HeV disease in 3 horses exposed to Hendra virus/Australia/Horse/2008/Redlands by the oronasal route, a plausible route for natural infection. In 2 of the 3 animals, HeV RNA was detected continually in nasal swabs from as early as 2 days postexposure, indicating that systemic spread of the virus may be preceded by local viral replication in the nasal cavity or nasopharynx. Our data suggest that a critical factor for reducing HeV exposure risk to humans includes early consideration of HeV in the differential diagnosis and institution of appropriate infection control procedures.
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Livestock Industries, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. glenn.marsh@csiro.au
authors.forename: Glenn A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haining
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Foord
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riddell
authors.forename: Hans G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crameri
authors.forename: Hume E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Lin-Fa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Middleton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D045404:Hendra Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D011793:Queensland; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication; D017201:Virus Shedding; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology