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Infection with Menangle virus in flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia

Philbey, A.W., Kirkland, P.D., Ross, A.D., Field, H.E., Srivastava, M., Davis, R.J. and Love, R.J. (2008) Infection with Menangle virus in flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 86 (11). pp. 449-454.

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Abstract

Objective: To examine flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) for evidence of infection with Menangle virus.

Design: Clustered non-random sampling for serology, virus isolation and electron microscopy (EM).

Procedure: Serum samples were collected from 306 Pteropus spp. in northern and eastern Australia and tested for antibodies against Menangle virus (MenV) using a virus neutralisation test (VNT). Virus isolation was attempted from tissues and faeces collected from 215 Pteropus spp. in New South Wales. Faecal samples from 68 individual Pteropus spp. and four pools of faeces were examined by transmission EM following routine negative staining and immunogold labelling.

Results: Neutralising antibodies (VNT titres ≥ 8) against MenV were detected in 46% of black flying foxes (P. alecto), 41% of grey-headed flying foxes (P. poliocephalus), 25% of spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) and 1% of little red flying foxes (P. scapulatus) in Australia. Positive sera included samples collected from P. poliocephalus in a colony adjacent to a piggery that had experienced reproductive disease caused by MenV. Virus-like particles were observed by EM in faeces from Pteropus spp. and reactivity was detected in pooled faeces and urine by immunogold EM using sera from sows that had been exposed to MenV. Attempts to isolate the virus from the faeces and tissues from Pteropus spp. were unsuccessful.

Conclusion: Serological evidence of infection with MenV was detected in Pteropus spp. in Australia. Although virus-like particles were detected in faeces, no viruses were isolated from faeces, urine or tissues of Pteropus spp.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Biosecurity Queensland
Additional Information:© The Authors. © Australian Veterinary Association.
Keywords:Electron microscopy; flying foxes; Menangle virus; Pteropus spp.; serology; Pteropodidae; Pteropus alecto; Pteropus conspicillatus; Pteropus poliocephalus; Pteropus scapulatus.
Subjects:Veterinary medicine > Veterinary epidemiology. Epizootiology
Veterinary medicine > Diseases of special classes of animals
Live Archive:02 Feb 2009 06:12
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:47

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