Dog Tests Positive To Hendra Virus

[Aphra]

I really struggle with the idea that they'll put a dog down who isn't sick and when they have no idea if hendra is transmissible between dogs and humans. I loathe the idea that animals are disposable objects and can be simply destroyed just "because it's policy". They tested the poor creature three times and then found it tested positive, and all that shows it that it's been exposed, not that it is sick or that it is infectious.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/animals/dog-tests-positive-to-hendra-virus-20110726-1hy3p.html

Dog tests positive to Hendra virus

Daniel Hurst

July 26, 2011 - 3:22PM

A dog has tested positive to the potentially fatal Hendra virus for the first time.

The pet kelpie tested positive to the virus today.

It lives on a property near Beaudesert, in south-east Queensland, which was already under quarantine because of a recent Hendra case in a horse.

Queensland chief vet Rick Symons said it was the first time outside a laboratory that an animal other than a flying fox, horse or human, had been confirmed with the virus.

"We don't know how the dog contracted the virus or when it happened," Dr Symons said.

"Based on our knowledge to date, it is most likely that the dog caught the virus from an infected horse."

The dog had returned two negative results for the virus but a different type of test conducted at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Victoria confirmed the presence of Hendra antibodies.

"This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said.

Dr Symons said the dog would have to be put down because of a national policy to euthanase animals infected with Hendra.

"I've talked to the family. They are struggling with it as you can imagine. It's their family pet," he said.

"It is part of the family and of course they will grieve. If destruction is the policy, they have to come to terms with that."

The case has raised many questions for biosecurity and health officials and researchers.

Authorities will now recommend that people keep dogs and cats away from sick horses to reduce the risk of such an infection.

The remaining horses and dogs on the property are still being monitored daily and show no signs of illness.

Biosecurity Queensland's policy is to test cats and dogs on properties where there are infected horses.

Tests on cats and dogs on 11 properties currently under quarantine in Queensland have turned up no other positive results.

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The local state member for Beaudesert, Aidan McLindon, said Hendra must become the government's primary focus.

"I'm calling on the government to put other matters on hold and to make this their number one priority," Mr McLindon said.

Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health would speak to the property owners to see who may have had contact with the infected dog.

Queensland and NSW officials have been fighting a spate of outbreaks that have led to 14 horses infected with Hendra dying or being put down since June 20.

Hendra is usually passed from bats to horses, and then to humans.

Of the seven people who have had Hendra since it was detected in 1994, four have died.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/animals/dog-tests-positive-to-hendra-virus-20110726-1hy3p.html#ixzz1TBbRp36R

[Boronia]

I just read this article in the Brisbane Times PM, it is so sad the dog has to be euthanased...poor dog and poor owners, how awful for them.

[RottnBullies]

I really struggle with the idea that they'll put a dog down who isn't sick and when they have no idea if hendra is transmissible between dogs and humans. I loathe the idea that animals are disposable objects and can be simply destroyed just "because it's policy". They tested the poor creature three times and then found it tested positive, and all that shows it that it's been exposed, not that it is sick or that it is infectious.

I agree

I don't think that testing positive is enough, It may well be that he may be positive but not a carrier of the disease, who knows

They obviously don't know so the easiest solution Is taken, In killing the dog, very sad Indeed for the dog and his distressed owners

[mita]

"This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said.

Dr Symons said the dog would have to be put down because of a national policy to euthanase animals infected with Hendra.

Coming from another angle, could it be that the dog is of more value to science, alive, rather than dead? The news report said it is developing antibodies to the disease, at this stage. If the dog's own immune system proves to be able to deal with the virus, then the nature of those antibodies would prove important. I guess, tho', that would mean keeping the dog in the very tightest quarantine. Maybe that'd be too difficult....& even inhumane. Especially given that blood samples could suffice for study, after it's been PTS .

Very sad, tho'. And very worrying for dog owners in SE Qld. Bats are all over the place. Like, they come to the mango trees in suburban backyards. I hope the authorities are going all out to fund the research into this Hendra virus.

[Panto]

Oh wow... the poor dog and the poor family.

If I was told that not only was my girl sick with something cureable or not, but that she wouldnt be treated, she was going to be put down, it was the law and I wasn't given an option to provide her with anything within my means for her to get better (and keep her from infecting any other being), I am not sure i could recover from that.

I had to google Hendra to see what it was, a few links for anyone who would rather just click:

from QLD health:

http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/hendraVirusInfection_fs.asp

CSIRO: (pretty comprehensive)

http://www.csiro.au/science/Hendra-Virus.html

QLD Dept Primary Industry and Fisheries:

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_11127.htm

[Miss B]

I don't think euthanasing the dog is the "easy" solution. I can understand the authorities wanting to be cautious. What if this dog is shedding the virus in it's body fluids (as infected horses do)? Can you imagine how quickly Hendra could spread?

The fact that it has been indentified in dogs outside of a laboratory setting is very scary.

[nabs]

"This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said.

Dr Symons said the dog would have to be put down because of a national policy to euthanase animals infected with Hendra.

Coming from another angle, could it be that the dog is of more value to science, alive, rather than dead? The news report said it is developing antibodies to the disease, at this stage. If the dog's own immune system proves to be able to deal with the virus, then the nature of those antibodies would prove important. I guess, tho', that would mean keeping the dog in the very tightest quarantine. Maybe that'd be too difficult....& even inhumane. Especially given that blood samples could suffice for study, after it's been PTS .

Very sad, tho'. And very worrying for dog owners in SE Qld. Bats are all over the place. Like, they come to the mango trees in suburban backyards. I hope the authorities are going all out to fund the research into this Hendra virus.

I agree 100% maybe useful to develop a vaccine??

[dee lee]

I don't think euthanasing the dog is the "easy" solution. I can understand the authorities wanting to be cautious. What if this dog is shedding the virus in it's body fluids (as infected horses do)? Can you imagine how quickly Hendra could spread?

The fact that it has been indentified in dogs outside of a laboratory setting is very scary.

I agree. As sad as it is, I think that the greater good has to be served over the emotional attachment to the dog.

[mita]

"This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said.

Dr Symons said the dog would have to be put down because of a national policy to euthanase animals infected with Hendra.

Coming from another angle, could it be that the dog is of more value to science, alive, rather than dead? The news report said it is developing antibodies to the disease, at this stage. If the dog's own immune system proves to be able to deal with the virus, then the nature of those antibodies would prove important. I guess, tho', that would mean keeping the dog in the very tightest quarantine. Maybe that'd be too difficult....& even inhumane. Especially given that blood samples could suffice for study, after it's been PTS .

Very sad, tho'. And very worrying for dog owners in SE Qld. Bats are all over the place. Like, they come to the mango trees in suburban backyards. I hope the authorities are going all out to fund the research into this Hendra virus.

I agree 100% maybe useful to develop a vaccine??

Trouble is the dog's antibodies can be taken & studied in laboratory conditions via blood/tissue samples....without the dog needing to be kept alive. It's already developed them. Keeping the dog alive, I'd guess, would be an overwhelming problem for any quarantine & high risk. As hard as it is for people to see a presently healthy dog being PTS.

I wonder if it's possible for a dog to become infected on property where there are no infected horses. Or do they have to catch it from an infected horse. It'd be a huge worry if dogs can 'catch' the virus directly from bat activity.

Just heard on the ABC News....the state's chief medical person says that humans need to be exposed to a lot of the virus in order to catch it. She said that dogs being smaller animals than horses, would give out less amounts of the virus, thus decreasing the risk of humans catching it from dogs. But, at the moment, any risk at all means PTS for dogs.

[Aphra]

The risk must be vanishingly small. Most people who have horses will have dogs, particularly in rural areas. Given the number of times they tested this dog before they found anything, the chances are that other dogs on other properties have been infected but haven't been tested multiple times. So the chances of transmission from humans to dogs, if possible at all will be a very low probability.

[Sayly]

I don't think euthanasing the dog is the "easy" solution. I can understand the authorities wanting to be cautious. What if this dog is shedding the virus in it's body fluids (as infected horses do)? Can you imagine how quickly Hendra could spread?

The fact that it has been indentified in dogs outside of a laboratory setting is very scary.

Exactly.

Even a small chance that this dog is infectious to humans is too great a risk.

Very sad for the dog and the owners.

[Katdogs]

There's a thread in General on this story as well, where Danielle has posted some useful (though sad and scary) information:

http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/224217-hendra-virus/page__pid__5422005#entry5422005

[Stitch]

Fruit bats/flying foxes have been allowed to multiply throughout Qld. out of all proportion, & to the detriment of many people/communities.

Perhaps this development may be the catalyst to get some action in this matter.

People in some areas have such a problem with these bats that they have to have an umbrella over their heads every time they step outside their door to prevent the bats from urinating/pooing on them. No joke!!

I lived in Hendra when the virus claimed its first victim - a few streets over from where we were living at the time.

I think the time has come for some serious culling!

[Katie P]

So sad

Thanks for the additional reading- interesting for sure.

[mackiemad]

i think there was a cat that was thought to have had it last year (maybe 2009?), and the elderly female owner died not long after the cat - it was put down to unexplained as the woman didn't have regular contact with horses.

the Qld DPI wasn't too interested at the time, but it shows that HENDRA can jump from cats to ppl.

it sucks for the dog's owners, but if only to save the other dogs who may show the clinical signs if infected rather than carrying it, it needs to be euth'd. but taking lots of samples etc from it seems at the very least, prudent.

ETA i may be wrong about the cat and woman story, as it is the depths of my memory, but i definitely remember something... does anyone else know if i'm making this up or correct?

Edited July 26, 2011 by mackiemad

[LizT]

Sadly for this dog and his family when it comes to the containment of an infectous disease there is very little room for sentiment.

Action and a quick containment are paramount to stop the spread.

I believe that horses tested positive were also PTS during the height of the outbreak on some properties previously.

When the virus was last in Victoria (a few yearsback now) we had some serious self imposed lock down of venues, Riding Clubs, and very limited travelling of horses, equine specialist were staying away from properties and if absolutely essential all wore covers on boots, disenfected their footwear and equipment etc. all horse events were cancelled.

All in an attempt to avoid the heartache these things can bring.

It is very sad but when there is a serious disease that can cross to other species one has to put emotions aside. I know I'd personally be devastated if my horses or dogs were in the same situation but logic would dictate that there really is no other recourse.

[mita]

Just heard on the ABC. Qld's chief vet says it's believed that the dog caught the virus from exposure to an infected horse on the property....& not directly from bat activity. He also said that the virus is an evolving one.

NSW & Qld have set up joint investigative committee & both governments have just added 3 million dollars each, to the research.

[Aphra]

When the virus was last in Victoria (a few yearsback now) we had some serious self imposed lock down of venues, Riding Clubs, and very limited travelling of horses, equine specialist were staying away from properties and if absolutely essential all wore covers on boots, disenfected their footwear and equipment etc. all horse events were cancelled.

All in an attempt to avoid the heartache these things can bring.

Just a point of fact, the hendra virus has never been identified in Victoria, according to the Department of Primary Industries: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/horses/hendra-virus

[megan_]

When the virus was last in Victoria (a few yearsback now) we had some serious self imposed lock down of venues, Riding Clubs, and very limited travelling of horses, equine specialist were staying away from properties and if absolutely essential all wore covers on boots, disenfected their footwear and equipment etc. all horse events were cancelled.

All in an attempt to avoid the heartache these things can bring.

Just a point of fact, the hendra virus has never been identified in Victoria, according to the Department of Primary Industries: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/horses/hendra-virus

I'm pretty sure it was confirmed in a bat colony a few months ago in Kew. It was on the news.

[LizT]

When the virus was last in Victoria (a few yearsback now) we had some serious self imposed lock down of venues, Riding Clubs, and very limited travelling of horses, equine specialist were staying away from properties and if absolutely essential all wore covers on boots, disenfected their footwear and equipment etc. all horse events were cancelled.

All in an attempt to avoid the heartache these things can bring.

Just a point of fact, the hendra virus has never been identified in Victoria, according to the Department of Primary Industries: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/horses/hendra-virus

I'm pretty sure it was confirmed in a bat colony a few months ago in Kew. It was on the news.

Hmmm...in hindsight I think the "lockdown' was in response to the Horse Flu that was brought in by the Japanese Entry in the Melbourne Cup that year.

Even so, I still believe all efforts should be made to contain any virus that can have an inpact on our Agricultural Industry, let alone anything that can mutate and effects the populace.

Fruit bats....poor things they are not ALL carriers of the virus but they certainly do instil a great deal of fear over such thigs. In the past 15 years their population in Victoria has swelled. At one point the were destroying a large number of trees in our Botanical Gardens, then were relocated to Kew/Ivanhoe on the Yarra River.

We had a large group spend two weeks in our large eucalypt outside my bedroom last January, my concern was for all the local Orchards, it was at the back of my mind that they could possible carry infection though. They would arrive at approximately 2.00 am and they were awesome in the moonlight and leave after two hours of incesant chatter and come back again the next night. I'm sure our place was a rest stop during their nightly search for food. Fortunately they moved on. They did make a pooey mess though, like baby food puree had been slopped around the decking.

I believe the poor dog has died due to the virus.

Edited July 27, 2011 by LizT