Fruiting trees a major Hendra virus risk – research
Keeping horses away from fruiting or flowering trees inwards which flight foxes feed tin significantly cut down the direct chances of Hendra virus infection, interrogation has shown.
The findings confirm longstanding advice given to Australian Equus caballus owners inwards areas susceptible to the deadly virus to hold horses good away from trees frequented yesteryear the native fruit bats.
Biosecurity Queensland researcher Dr Hume Field said scientists from the Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (QCEID) had undertaken 2 studies into the levels in addition to distribution patterns of Hendra virus excreted yesteryear flight foxes.
“The investigation has constitute that all flight fob urine in addition to close all faeces in addition to fruit debris, or spats, autumn straight nether the canopy of fruiting trees inwards which they are feeding,” Field said.
“Therefore, it is clear that unstabled horses should live kept inwards opened upwards pastures in addition to away from trees inwards blossom or fruit.”
Field said QCEID scientists had looked at the sum of excreta in addition to nutrient debris left yesteryear flight foxes in addition to the designing of distribution.
“In ane study, plastic sheets were seat nether a large, heavily fruiting weeping fig to capture excretions,” he said.
“The minute written report involved laying plastic sheeting from the base of operations of a heavily fruiting, small-leaved fig to a non-fruiting, non-flowering tree nearly l metres away.
“We wanted to quantify the sum of nutrient debris in addition to excreta produced yesteryear feeding flight foxes, in addition to come across how far it extended beyond the perimeter of the trees.
“Less than 1 per cent of excretions in addition to spats were constitute nether the nearby non-fruiting, non-flowering tree. Significantly, no excreta at all was discovered inwards the paddock betwixt the 2 trees.
“I desire to emphasise that vigilance is our most of import weapon against this disease.” he said.
“Horse owners need to ensure they are doing all they tin to cut down the risk. In the meantime, biosecurity regime volition operate along to send interrogation in addition to render the latest advice.”
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