CSIRO scientists have identified a new virus in Australian flying foxes, a discovery they say strengthens the nation’s preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.
Named Salt Gully virus, the novel henipavirus was detected in bat urine collected in Queensland and subsequently isolated and grown at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in high-containment conditions. The virus is part of the same family as Hendra virus, which has caused fatal infections in horses and humans in Australia, and Nipah virus, which has led to outbreaks in humans across Asia.
Jennifer Barr, an experimental scientist at CSIRO’s ACDP, said henipaviruses are recognised by the World Health Organization as priority pathogens, and that the find expands understanding of this important group. “Although Salt Gully virus is new to science, there’s no cause for public alarm,” Mrs Barr said.
“We’ve detected Salt Gully virus in bat samples dating back to 2011, which shows it’s been circulating in nature for over a decade without any evidence of it causing illness in animals or humans,” Mrs Barr said.
While Salt Gully virus sits alongside Hendra and Nipah within the henipavirus family, early laboratory work suggests it behaves differently from its better-known relatives. According to CSIRO, the discovery provides a platform for deeper comparisons with Hendra and Nipah, including studies into its potential to cause disease.
“Early findings show Salt Gully virus does not rely on the same cell receptors as Hendra or Nipah viruses, suggesting that the infection process will be different. As a result, we can’t predict whether it will result in future disease outbreaks in humans or animals,” Mrs Barr said.
Researchers say the identification of the virus will aid preparedness, enabling the development of specific diagnostic tools and early detection if a spillover event were ever to occur. “By understanding these viruses, researchers can better prepare for potential outbreaks,” CSIRO said, noting that this kind of pre-emptive work underpins Australia’s biosecurity readiness.
“Now that we’ve identified the virus, diagnostic tests can be developed. This means if a spillover from bats and disease outbreak were to occur, we’d have the tools to detect this virus earlier – enabling timely measures to prevent further spread,” Mrs Barr explained.
Authorities emphasise that the existing Hendra vaccine for horses remains effective against Hendra virus disease and that the Salt Gully discovery does not alter the current health risk posed by bats. ACDP, based in Geelong, is a cornerstone of Australia’s outbreak response capability, with secure facilities designed to allow scientists to study high-consequence animal and zoonotic diseases while keeping them contained.
The research is published in the September issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, marking a step forward in efforts to understand viruses that originate in wildlife and might pose risks to livestock and human health.
