Nipah virus

Another recent example of a zoonose infection is the Nipah virus, named after the town in Malaysia where its first known victim lived. The animal vector of this disease has been identified as several species of bats. The Nipah virus has destroyed Malaysia s pig industry and it killed 105 people in 1999. The virus produces a severe fonn of encephalitis, and about 40% of infected individuals die. 

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Other forms of encephalitis (e.g., California, Eastern Equine, St Louis, West Nile, Murray Valley), malaria, dengue fever, meningitis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, enteroviruses, herpes simplex, and Nipah virus. 

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis In pigs Nipah virus, Aujeszky s disease, brucellosis, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, Classical swine fever, parvovirus. In horses Equine encephalomyelitis (Western, Eastern, and Venezuelan), Rabies, Borna disease, Lead poisoning, Tetanus. 

Signs and Symptoms Flu-like symptoms with fever, headache, drowsiness, cough, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, problems with swallowing, and blurred vision that may progress to encephalitis with drowsiness, disorientation, severe hypertension, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), very high temperature, convulsions, and coma. Encephalitis may be delayed up to 4 months postexposure. Nipah virus is also known to cause relapse encephalitis. 

Wong KT, Shieh WJ, Kumar S, et al. Nipah virus infection. Pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis. Am Pathol. 2002 161 2153-2167. 

HENDRA VIRUS DISEASE and NIPAH VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS... 

Nipah virus, also a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, is related but not identical to Hendra virus. Nipah virus was initially isolated in 1999 upon examining samples from an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratoi illness among adult men in Malaysia and Singapore. 

Hendra virus caused disease in horses in Australia, and the human infections there were due to direct exposure to tissues and secretions from infected horses. Nipah virus caused a relatively mild disease in pigs in Malaysia and Singapore. Nipah virus was transmitted to humans, cats, and dogs through close contact with infected pigs. 

In Australia, humans became ill after exposure to body fluids and excretions of horses infected with Hendra virus. In Malaysia and Singapore, humans were infected with Nipah virus through clo.se contact with infected pigs. 

What are the signs and symptoms of Hendra virus disease and Nipah virus encephalitis ... 

Only three human cases of Hendra virus disease have been recognized. Two of the three individuals known to be infected had a respiratory illness with severe flu-like signs and symptoms. Infection with Nipah virus was associated with an encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) characterized by fever and drowsiness and more serious central nervous system disease, such as coma, seizures, and inability to maintain breathing. 

Illness with Nipah virus begins with 3-14 days of fever and headache. This is followed by-drowsiness and disorientation characterized by mental confusion. These signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours. Some patients have had a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections. 

One of the three Hendra virus infections was marked by a delayed onset of progressive encephalitis. Serious nervous disease with Nipah virus encephalitis has been marked by some sequelae, such as persistent convulsions and personality changes. 

Two of the three human patients infected wiUt Hendra virus died. During the Nipah virus disease outbreak in 1998-99, about 40% of the patients w ith serious nervous disease who entered hospitals died from the illness. 

Who is at risk for disease from Hendra and Nipah viruses ... 

People who have contact with body fluids or excretions of horses infected with Hendra viru.s are at risk for Hendra virus disea.se. Nipah virus infection is associated with clo.se contact with Nipah virus-infected pigs. Neither disease has spread from human to human. 

How are infections with Hendra and Nipah virus prevented ... 

The distribution of these agents in their natural reservoirs w ill eventually define the geographic range of the threat the viruses pose. However, these viruses are recent discoveries, and much work remains to be done on their geographic distribution and the reservoir species. The occurrence of the disease in humans has been associated only with infection of an intermediate species such as horses with Hendra and swine with Nipah virus. Early recognition of the disease in the intermediate animal host is probably the most crucial means of limiting future human cases. 

Melioidosis 108 Psittacosis 110 Typhus Fevers 110 Viral Encephalitis 111 Eastern Equine Encephalitis 111 Western Equine Encephalitis 112 Hendra Virus Disease and Nipah Virus Encephalitis 112 Tick-Borne Encephalitis 114 T>T)hoid Fever 115 Shigellosis 117 Foodbome Hineses 121 Salmonellosis 131 Cholera 135... 

Virus Hendra virus Nipah virus Rift Valley fever virus VEE virus... 

Anthrax Bacillus anthracis) Brucellosis Brucella species) Emerging infectious diseases like Hanta virus and Nipah virus... 

Munster VJ, Prescott JB, Bushmaker T, et al. Rapid Nipah virus entry into the central nervous system of hamsters via the olfactory route. Sci Rep. 2012 2 736. 

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