Hendra Virus Infection Dynamics in the Grey-Headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) at the Southern-Most Extent of Its Range: Further Evidence This Species Does Not Readily Transmit the Virus to Horses.

Hendra virus (HeV) is an important emergent virus in Australia known to infect horses and humans in certain regions of the east coast. Whilst pteropid bats ("flying foxes") are considered the natural reservoir of HeV, which of the four mainland species is the principal reservoir has been a source of ongoing debate, particularly as shared roosting is common. To help resolve this, we sampled a colony consisting of just one of these species, the grey-headed flying fox, (Pteropus poliocephalus), at the southernmost extent of its range. Using the pooled urine sampling technique at approximately weekly intervals over a two year period, we determined the prevalence of HeV and related paramyxoviruses using a novel multiplex (Luminex) platform. Whilst all the pooled urine samples were negative for HeV nucleic acid, we successfully identified four other paramyxoviruses, including Cedar virus; a henipavirus closely related to HeV. Collection of serum from individually caught bats from the colony showed that antibodies to HeV, as estimated by a serological Luminex assay, were present in between 14.6% and 44.5% of animals. The wide range of the estimate reflects uncertainties in interpreting intermediate results. Interpreting the study in the context of HeV studies from states to the north, we add support for an arising consensus that it is the black flying fox and not the grey-headed flying fox that is the principal source of HeV in spillover events to horses.

The immune response to experimental Pasteurella haemolytica infection in calves.

Four male dairy calves, ages 1-9 months, were inoculated intratracheally (IT), with log dilutions (1.5 X 10(3)-1.5 X 10(6)) of an isolate of P. haemolytica A-1. Doses of bacteria varied according to ages of the calves, older calves receiving the larger doses. All four calves became severely ill within 24 h after inoculation and antibiotic treatment was considered essential. Two months later the four calves remained healthy after IT injection of P. haemolytica, again given in log dilution (2.8 X 10(2)-2.8 X 10(5)). The control calf, given a dilution of only 28 viable P. haemolytica (plate count), developed severe respiratory infection 9 days post inoculation. Antibiotic treatment was given to this calf for 7 days, at which time recovery was evident. All five calves developed direct bacterial agglutination titers to P. haemolytica. Persistent leukocyte migration inhibition indexes of all calves were decreased by greater than or equal to 20% compared to their controls. Although the initial doses administered were low, the calves became ill. Most reports refer to massive doses necessary to produce primary disease and significant agglutination titers.

Immune responses of dairy cattle to parainfluenza-3 virus in intranasal infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-parainfluenza-3 virus vaccines.

Two hundred and fifty dairy heifers were vaccinated at three to six months of age with an intranasal infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-parainfluenza-3 vaccine. Eighteen additional heifers were tested prior to vaccination and again three to four weeks after vaccination. Neither cell-mediated nor humoral immunity was significantly raised to parainfluenza-3 virus in either group of cattle.