In April 2005 HERG team members Dr Raina Plowright,
University of California, Anja Divljan, University of Sydney and Craig Smith,
Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, conducted a
disease surveillance operation in the Northern Territory, Australia. The
operation is part of a longitudinal study of Hendra virus in little red flying foxes
in the Katherine Region. Photo: R. Plowright.
The primary goal of the operation was to ascertain the prevalence of
antibodies to Hendra virus within the population and attempt to isolate any
virus that might be present. One hundred and four little red flying foxes,
including 9 one week old pups, were caught, sampled and safely released over
several mornings. A small blood sample, urogenital and oral swabs where
taken to allow HERG team members Dr Alex Hyatt, Dr Kim Halpin, Dr Greer
Meehan and Rhys Fogarty at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to test
for the presence of antibodies and virus. Photo: R. Plowright.
These results will be used by Dr
Raina Plowright to study the dynamics of Hendra virus in little red flying
fox populations. Understanding the persistence and spread of Hendra virus
within flying foxes will help us to determine why the virus emerged into
domestic animals and humans. Anja Divljan will be studying the age
structure of flying fox populations which will help us to determine age
specific seroprevalence of Hendra virus in little reds. Photo: R. Plowright.
HERG team members are grateful for the assistance they received from
the Parks and Wildlife Service Northern Territory (PWSNT) during this
operation and would like to thank Senior Scientist Carol Palmer and Senior
Rangers Chris Kinnaird, Justin Perry, Rhonda Scoccimarro, John Burke and
Dave Hooper from the Katherine region.
The PWSNT assisted by providing small water craft and accommodation and access to the Flora River Nature Park, they were also kind enough to catch and relocate the 3.5 m salt water crocodile that took up residence by our boat ramp. Photo: R. Plowright.
Watch videos from the operation including fly-out over Flora River, when flying foxes leave their colony after sunset to begin their nightly foraging. Video: C. Smith.
Author: C. Smith & R. Plowright.