Hendra and nipah virus infections

The most important clinical and pathological manifestation of Hendra virus infection in horses and humans is that of severe interstitial pneumonia cau sed by viral infection of small blood vessels. The virus is also capable of causing nervous disease. Hendra virus is not contagious in horses and is s pread by close contact with body fluids, such as froth from infected lungs. Diagnosis should be based on the laboratory examination of blood, lung, ki dney, spleen, and, if nervous signs are present, also of the brain. Evidenc e of infection with the more recently identified and related Nipah virus wa s found in the brain of one horse in which there was inflammation of the me ningeal blood vessels. Fruit bats, especially Pteropus s., have been incrim inated as the natural and reservoir hosts of both Hendra and Nipah viruses.