Pigs are susceptible to the deadly hendra virus and could potentially transmit it to humans, Canadian researchers have discovered.
The virus occurs only in Australia and is carried by native fruit bats. However, horses can catch the virus, most probably from ingesting secretions from infected bats.
There have been seven cases where the virus has been tranferred from horses to people, four of which proved fatal.
The two most recent fatalities involved equine veterinarians.
The research in Canada has shown that pigs are susceptible to the virus.
Two Landrace pigs, commonly used in the pork industry, and five Gottingen minipigs were inoculated with the virus, as well as half a dozen guinea pigs, two of which died.
All test animals developed fever and depression. One of the two Landrace pigs developed respiratory signs after five days and one of the Gottingen minipigs developed developed not only respiratory signs but mild neurological signs.
Virus was detected in all infected pigs at 2-5 days.
Clinical signs in the two infected Landrace pigs were more severe compared to those observed in minipigs, the authors said. The Landrace pigs were very sick at five days, with one developing severe depression, respiratory distress and possible neurological signs, requiring euthanasia.
"Since infected pigs may shed virus through oral, nasal, and rectal excretions, possible transmission through close contact with these excretions may occur," the authors said.
"This new finding indicates that pigs are susceptible to Hendra virus infections and could potentially play a role as an intermediate host in transmission to humans."
The authors noted that a serological survey of 100 swine herds in Queensland had found no antibodies against Hendra virus among 500 samples.
"Lack of evidence for Hendra infection in domestic swine stresses the importance of heightened on-farm biosecurity," they said.
"However, our findings may reinforce the concern about Hendra virus infecting feral pigs if they are forced to share the same habitat as fruit bats.
"This concern is based on the fact that Australia has over 23 million feral pigs living in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, according to reports by Animal Control Technologies."
The virus was first identified in 1994 as the cause of respiratory illnesses in 13 horses and two people in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra. The first fatality was horse trainer Vic Rail.
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