A new variant of a deadly virus has been detected. It is carried by bats

Scientists in Australia have detected a new variant of the Hendra virus in the urine of ruddas, an Australian species of bats, also known as flying foxes. The Hendra virus is deadly to horses and humans. The new discovery shows that the area where the virus occurs has increased. The results were published in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases”.

1. Hendra virus (HeV) belongs to the same genus as Nipah
2. It is only found in Australia, but the latest discovery has shown that a new variant has emerged and the area of ​​distribution is increasing
3. Hendra virus is very dangerous to humans and horses, the mortality rate is 60 and 75 percent, respectively.
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Hendra virus – A new variant has appeared

The whole process began with researching the causes of death of a horse from New South Wales (South-Eastern Australia). Initially, the test for Hendra virus was negative, but when it was updated with a new variant called HeV-g2, the sample turned positive. Comparison with urine samples collected from bats of the greyhound species showed 99%. similarity. Hence the conclusion that the virus has made interspecies transmission.

Previously, researchers spent four years collecting urine samples from flying foxes in the northern Australian state of Queensland and testing them for the presence of the Hendra virus. The research team used the updated qRT-PCR test method. It allows the detection of a new HeV-g2 variant that cannot be captured by standard screening methods. In total, more than 4 were collected. 500 urine samples, and an additional 1674 were obtained from captured bats.

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The new Hendra virus variant was detected in a total of 10 samples, at different times of the year and from different species of rudds. This shows that it is present in many bat populations, which may pose a risk of spreading. According to the researchers, the Hendra virus covers more of Australia than previously thought. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor it more closely and to control animals more closely to prevent infections in humans. There is still no targeted treatment or vaccine for humans against the Hendra virus.

Hendra virus – what do we know about it?

Wirus Hendra (HeV) belongs to the Paramyxvirus family. Along with the Nipah virus, it belongs to the genus Henipavirus. Its host are fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family, genus Pteropus (silver fowl).

Hendra virus (HeV) infection causes a rare severe and often fatal zoonotic disease in both infected horses and humans.

HeV was first identified in 1994 in Hendra, a suburb of Brisbane (Queensland state capital). The virus was then found in 21 racehorses and two people – a trainer and a stable worker. In 13 horses and the trainer, the infection was fatal. Another outbreak of the virus, which occurred around a similar time 1000 km north of Brisbane, resulted in the deaths of two horses and their owner.

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According to WHO, by July 2016, 53 cases of disease involving over 70 horses and seven people had been reported. All these incidents concerned the Northeast coast of Australia.

Human infection occurs through contact with the horse’s secretions while caring for a sick animal or during an autopsy. Hendra virus has not yet been reported to spread from person to person or from bat to person.

Hendra virus – symptoms

The hatching period of the virus lasts several days. Symptoms of infection vary in severity. In a milder course, they are similar to flu symptoms. Headache, cough, sore throat and fever appear. More severe cases can lead to fatal respiratory diseases and neurological complications (encephalitis).

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There is no targeted treatment for Hendra virus infection in humans, symptomatic treatment is applied. Some time ago, research on monoclonal antibody therapy was launched.

The most effective method of controlling the Hendra virus currently available is an equine vaccine, which prevents the spread of the virus between animals, which in turn limits the pathway for humans to become infected.

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Also read:

1. In 1967, the Marburg virus appeared in Germany. The sick looked like ghosts
2. Ranking of the most dangerous zoonotic viruses. Can they trigger another pandemic?
3. Coronavirus is not the first. The biggest epidemics in recent years