Vaccine for Hendra virus has no effect on race days
LEADING equine vets are hoping the results of a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission study into the Hendra virus will lead to more widespread vaccination.
The QRIC study, released yesterday, confirmed vaccination against the virus does not affect the racing performance of thoroughbred horses.
The extensive study examined the Timeform rating of 1154 thoroughbreds over 12,066 race starts and assessed their performance one and three months before and after vaccination, with no difference in form detected.
“We just wanted to put the facts out there, because one of the issues raised has been that (having the vaccine) may affect performance,” Queensland Racing Integrity commissioner Ross Barnett said. “This study puts that theory to bed.”
The virus came to light in 1994 when trainer Vic Rail died in an outbreak at Hendra.
An equine vaccine was approved for use in 2012 and became fully registered in 2015. But the study described the uptake of the vaccine as “moderate”, with only 140,000 horses in the country – about 14 per cent – having been vaccinated up to last November.
The two most recent human fatalities brought about by Hendra virus came in 2008 and 2009, but respected vet Dr Peter Reid, who was at the coalface during the 1994 outbreak, and QRIC’s director of veterinary services and animal welfare Dr Martin Lenz, both described that as “sheer luck”.
“We’ve had 20 outbreaks since 2012 and within those, we’ve had people significantly exposed to the virus,” Dr Reid said. “There were four outbreaks last year (three in NSW and one in Queensland) and three people were heavily exposed to it and had to be treated with a monoclonal antibody (which is only effective before symptoms of the virus become apparent).”
Dr Lenz said several race day vets had left the industry because being exposed to unvaccinated horses was in direct conflict with understandings they had with other clients.
“There is a level of risk and it’s hard to cover that risk with any other tool. The vaccine is so effective at providing that cover,” Dr Lenz said.
The most likely mode of transmission for the virus is contact with infected flying fox urine to horses either directly or via urine-contaminated pasture or surfaces.
Infected horses are further able to transmit the virus to other horses, dogs and humans.