Hendra virus infection in horses can produce a wide range of signs and is often difficult to recognise.

Early signs can include fever, increased heart rate and restlessness. Other common features may include difficulty breathing and/or weakness and neurological signs such as uncoordinated gait and muscle twitching, quickly leading to death in most cases.

 

SOURCE LINK:

http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/363/hendra-virus-infection

 

Dr Armstrong also reminds horse owners that the Hendra virus mortality rate is more than 50 per cent in humans and 100 per cent in horses, as any sign of infection will result in an animal being put down.

 

SOURCE LINK:

https://vetpracticemag.com.au/inside-the-hendra-vaccine-debate/

 

Hendra virus infection in horses is characterised by the rapid onset of illness, with increased temperature, increased heart rate, signs of discomfort or weight shifting between legs, depression, non-specific respiratory and neurological signs. Please note that not all of these clinical signs will be present in any one horse and the presentation can be quite variable between cases.

 

Key signs in horses:

• Acute onset of illness

• Increased body temperature

• Increased heart rate

• Discomfort/ weight shifting between legs

• Depression

• Rapid deterioration of well-being and clinical signs

 

Other respiratory signs:

• Respiratory distress—increased respiratory rate

• Terminal nasal discharge—this can be a clear, watery discharge initially,

progressing to stable white froth and/or stable blood-stained fluid

 

Other neurological signs:

• ‘Wobbly gait’, progressing to loss of control of muscle movement

• Altered consciousness—apparent loss of vision in one or both eyes, aimless walking in a dazed state

• Head tilting, circling

• Muscle twitching

• Urinary incontinence

• Lying down and an inability to stand

• Terminal weakness, loss of control of muscle movement and collapse

 

SOURCE LINK:

https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Hendra-virus-web-article-2019-13-JUNE.pdf

 

CAN OTHER SYMPTOMS MIMIC HENDRA?

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Crofton weed poisoning, Marshmallow weed poisoning / Hendra?

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