Reservoir Host for EMV

[Peter Young]

Possible Reservoir Host of Equine Morbillivirus (EMV) Identified

Investigations by a team from the Queensland Department of Primary 
Industries (DPI) into the reservoir of equine morbillivirus has produced 
evidence that a related virus (bat paramyxovirus) is present in 2 of 4 
Pteropus species of fructivorous bats with an antibody prevalence of 
about 20%.  Insufficient samples have been examined to date from the 
other 2 species to determine if they also have antibody.  There is 
currently no known association with disease in these animals, nor is 
there any known association with disease in humans with prolonged close 
contact with bats.

Furher details are available in my posting to ProMED-AHEAD

Peter Young, Project Leader
Animal Research Institute and 
Qld Agricultural Biotechnology Centre
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phone: 61-7-33629578 fax: 61-7-33629457
youngp at aricrm001.prose.dpi.qld.gov.au 
                         
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