Hendra and Newcastle

Question 1

Who does Hendra virus affect?

Answer 1

Horses and humans, both with high fatality rates; fruit bats are the reservoir

Question 2

What family is this a part of?

Answer 2

Paramyxoviridae

Question 3

What protection do you need?

Answer 3

Biosafety level 4

Question 4

How is this spread?

Answer 4

NOT by aerosol but by ingestion of the virus and injection. In horses, enters through nasopharynx and replicates in macrophages/bronchial lymph nodes until disseminated in blood with lungs being the primary consequence (acute interstitial pneumonia)

Question 5

Is there a vaccine and what else is bad?

Answer 5

Yes but euthanasia recommended for positive horses. Zoonotic since all human cases came from contact with infected horse.

Question 6

What does Newcastle Disease affect?

Answer 6

poultry and wild birds, due to virulent strains called Exotic newcastle disease. REPORTABLE.

Question 7

What clinical signs can be seen?

Answer 7

depends on the strain: acutely lethal with digestive lesions, neuro signs, decrease in egg production, or mild/inapparent respiratory disease are all separate strains. Everything but the last one is reportable. The last used as a vx strain

Question 8

Diagnosis and prevention

Answer 8

swabs from oropharynx or cloaca. zoonotic potential, use vx.