Menangle virus

Menangle virus
Virus classification
Group:	Group V ((-)ssRNA)
Order:	Mononegavirales
Family:	Paramyxoviridae
Genus:	Not assigned
Species:	Menangle virus

Menangle virus is a virus that infects pigs, humans and bats.

History

Menangle virus was first identified in 1997 after a piggery in Menangle near Sydney, NSW, Australia experienced a high number of stillbirths and deformities during farrowing. Two workers at the piggery came down with an unexplained serious flu-like illness, but subsequently recovered. They later tested positive for Menangle virus antibodies.

Vector

The source of the outbreak may have been a nearby population of fruit bats or flying foxes. Bats appear to be an asymptomatic host. Infection is thought to occur through serious contact with bodily fluids from infected animals (i.e. blood and possibly foetal matter).

Menangle is related to the recently discovered Tioman virus which is also bat-borne.

Menangle is one of three recently discovered zoonotic viruses in Australia that are carried by bats. The others are Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV or bat rabies).

External links

• CSIRO Menangle Factsheet
• CSIRO slide showing Menangle virus in piglet brain
• Menangle (Paramyxo) virus infection in pigs – trial eradication (1999) Australian Pork Limited / University of Sydney
• Philbey AW, Kirkland PD, Ross AD, et al. (1998). "An apparently new virus (family Paramyxoviridae) infectious for pigs, humans, and fruit bats". Emerging Infect. Dis. 4 (2): 269–71. doi:10.3201/eid0402.980214. PMC 2640116. PMID 9621197. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no2/philbey.htm. 
• Chant K, Chan R, Smith M, Dwyer DE, Kirkland P (1998). "Probable human infection with a newly described virus in the family Paramyxoviridae. The NSW Expert Group". Emerging Infect. Dis. 4 (2): 273–5. doi:10.3201/eid0402.980215. PMC 2640130. PMID 9621198. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no2/chant.htm.