Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LVIII
Written by Stelian BARAITAREANU, Marius Alexandru CIOCANAU, Maria Rodica GURAU, Georgeta STEFAN, Doina DANES
The livestock’s surveillance of bat-borne zoonoses, as the Paramyxovirus infections with Hendra virus, Menangle virus and Nipah virus, it’s a new concern of national veterinary authorities all over the world. The high volume of commercial trade and the human travel between European countries and the countries were bat-borne zoonoses are endemic make a risk of virus introduction into the European continent. In this paper, we review the factors associated with bat-borne zoonoses risk of emergence in European free-countries in relation to the introduction of the ParamixovirusesHendra, Menangle and Nipah. Hendra virus proved to be pathogen for horses and humans, while Menangle and Nipah viruses for swine and humans. Until now, Hendra and Menangle viruses’ transmission to the humans have been only after a close contact with infected animals. Transmission of Nipahvirus can be done by contact with human patients and infected animals (human-human transmission was proved). In the light of this data the Hendra, Menangle and Nipah viruses have a limited potential of introduction if the national authorities applies an efficient border control of all live animals imported from endemic areas and evaluate all suspect cases of human diseases. The natural reservoir of all three viruses are fruit-bat species (genus Pteropus), and the bat migration may be another rout of viruses introduction into Europe. The routes of Pteropus bats migration from the endemic territories to European countries have not been investigated, and are slight indication of major migration pathways into Europe. Also, fruit-bat species classified as host reservoir for specific zoonotic Paramyxovirus could transmit the virus to another bat species (e.g. Rousettus aegyptiacus may overlap with some migratory European bat species). In conclusion, the risk of emergence of Hendra, Menangle and Nipah viruses into the European countries seems to be low, but the risk cannot be excluded until the completely investigation of the route of migration for all fruit-bat species with history of infection.
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epidemiology
