Horses as Sentinels of Emerging Infectious Disease

Abstract

Horses with illness consistent with Hendra virus (HeV) are routinely sampled and submitted with case descriptions, to government laboratories for timely testing. Extensive investigations for further infectious agents are rare, yet <1% of around 1000 horses test HeV positive annually. Most that test negative feature infectious-like signs such as acute, severe neurological or respiratory illness and pyrexia, yet do not receive causative diagnosis HeV in horses and testing of suspect cases have highlighted challenges/ gaps in significant zoonotic disease investigation. Yet horses investigated for HeV-like disease present unique opportunities for improvements of broad profound biosecurity benefit. Horses are maintained in close association with other animals and humans, monitored thoroughly for disease and susceptible to agents transmitted by insects and wildlife such as bats This research identified significant pathogens among horses with severe HeV-like illness beyond those currently recognised and considered disease significance Fore-front diagnostic approaches integrated with information theoretical, epidemiological and virological analyses. Systematic pathologic-basis-interpretation of disease descriptions sensitively informed likelihood of infectious cause. Three innovative pillars were developed • purpose-built SQL database integrating bio-banked sample ID, sample event, subject and clinical details with parallel test results • explorative multiplex microbead immunoassay serological testing approach screening both IgG and IgM for emerging pathogens • explorative molecular methods targeting novel and emerging infectious agents, including high-throughput pan-PCR, metatranscriptomic sequencing and bioinformatical pipelines

Integrated application to suitably bio-banked clinical samples served proof-of-concept for proactive convergence research consideration of emerging infectious agents that could affect One health, livestock, trade and industry security and public health