Novel variant Hendra virus genotype 2 infection in a horse in the greater Newcastle region, New South Wales, Australia
Joanne Taylor,
Kirrilly Thompson,
Edward J. Annand,
Peter D. Massey,
Jane Bennett,
John-Sebastian Eden,
Bethany A. Horsburgh,
Evelyn Hodgson,
Kelly Wood,
James Kerr,
Peter Kirkland,
Deborah Finlaison,
Alison J. Peel,
Peggy Eby,
David N. Durrheim
Affiliations
Joanne Taylor
Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend 2287, Australia; University of Newcastle, School of Public Health, Medicine and Well-being, Callaghan 2308, Australia; Corresponding author at: Wallsend Population Health Campus, PO Box 119, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia.
Kirrilly Thompson
Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend 2287, Australia; University of Newcastle, School of Public Health, Medicine and Well-being, Callaghan 2308, Australia
Edward J. Annand
University of Sydney, Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases & Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Sydney 2006, Australia; EquiEpiVet, Equine Veterinary and One Health Epidemiology, Aireys Inlet 3231, Australia
Peter D. Massey
Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend 2287, Australia
Jane Bennett
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange 2800, Australia
John-Sebastian Eden
University of Sydney, Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases & Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Sydney 2006, Australia; Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre for Virus Research, Sydney 2145, Australia
Bethany A. Horsburgh
University of Sydney, Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases & Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Sydney 2006, Australia; Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre for Virus Research, Sydney 2145, Australia
Evelyn Hodgson
Newcastle Equine Centre, Broadmeadow 2292, Australia
Kelly Wood
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange 2800, Australia
James Kerr
Hunter Local Land Services, Tocal 2421, Australia
Peter Kirkland
Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle 2568, Australia
Deborah Finlaison
Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle 2568, Australia
Alison J. Peel
Griffith University, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Nathan 4111, Australia
Peggy Eby
Griffith University, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Nathan 4111, Australia; University of New South Wales, Centre for Ecosystem Science, Kensington 2033, Australia
David N. Durrheim
Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend 2287, Australia; University of Newcastle, School of Public Health, Medicine and Well-being, Callaghan 2308, Australia
In October 2021, the first contemporary detection of Hendra virus genotype 2 (HeV-g2) was made by veterinary priority disease investigation in a horse near Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, as part of routine veterinary priority disease surveillance.This discovery followed an update of Hendra virus diagnostic assays following retrospective identification of this variant from 2015 via sentinel emerging infectious disease research, enabling timely detection of this case. The sole infected horse was euthanized in moribund condition. As the southernmost recognised HeV spill-over detection to date, it extends the southern limit of known cases by approximately 95 km. The event occurred near a large urban centre, characterised by equine populations of diverse type, husbandry, and purpose, with low HeV vaccination rates.Urgent multi-agency outbreak response involved risk assessment and monitoring of 11 exposed people and biosecurity management of at-risk animals. No human or additional animal cases were recognised.This One Health investigation highlights need for research on risk perception and strategic engagement to support owners confronted with the death of companion animals and potential human exposure to a high consequence virus. The location and timing of this spill-over event diverging from that established for prototype HeV (HeV-g1), highlight benefit in proactive One Health surveillance and research activities that improve understanding of dynamic transmission and spill-over risks of both HeV genotypic lineages and related but divergent emerging pathogens.
