Hendra virus vaccine, a one health approach to protecting horse, human, and environmental health

Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(3):372-9. doi: 10.3201/eid2003.131159.

Abstract

In recent years, the emergence of several highly pathogenic zoonotic diseases in humans has led to a renewed emphasis on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, otherwise known as One Health. For example, Hendra virus (HeV), a zoonotic paramyxovirus, was discovered in 1994, and since then, infections have occurred in 7 humans, each of whom had a strong epidemiologic link to similarly affected horses. As a consequence of these outbreaks, eradication of bat populations was discussed, despite their crucial environmental roles in pollination and reduction of the insect population. We describe the development and evaluation of a vaccine for horses with the potential for breaking the chain of HeV transmission from bats to horses to humans, thereby protecting horse, human, and environmental health. The HeV vaccine for horses is a key example of a One Health approach to the control of human disease.

Keywords: Australia; G glycoprotein; HeV; HeV vaccine; Hendra virus; One Health; Pteropus bats; environment; flying foxes; horses; humans; vaccination; vaccine; viruses; zoonoses; zoonotic paramyxovirus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Environmental Health*
  • Female
  • Ferrets
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Hendra Virus / genetics
  • Hendra Virus / immunology*
  • Henipavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*
  • Zoonoses / pathology
  • Zoonoses / prevention & control*
  • Zoonoses / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Viral Vaccines