The potentially deadly hendra virus has been detected in another species.

Queensland authorities say a dog has tested positive for hendra virus antibodies but is not showing symptoms of the disease.

The dog was on a property where a horse recently died from the virus.

Premier Anna Bligh says it is the first time an animal other than a flying fox, horse or a human has tested positive.

"We need to understand better what is happening with this disease," she said.

"It's relatively unknown and despite the scientific efforts to date, there are continuing developments which I think are very worrying."

Queensland chief vet Dr Rick Symons says it is likely the dog contracted the virus from a horse.

"We don't know how the dog contracted the virus or when it happened," he said in a statement.

"Based on our knowledge to date, it is most likely that the dog caught the virus from an infected horse."

Dr Symons says a family pet Kelpie tested positive on an infected property at Mt Alford, south of Brisbane.

"We knew that a dog could be infected but we've never seen a natural transmission," he said.

"What we are seeing here is an evolving disease and an evolving virus, and there are changes as the virus evolves and the exposure changes."

The dog returned two negative results for the virus, but a different type of test conducted at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Victoria had confirmed the presence of hendra antibodies.

"This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said.

The case has raised many questions for biosecurity and health officials and researchers.

Authorities will now recommend that people keep dogs and cats away from sick horses to reduce the risk of such an infection.

The remaining horses and dogs on this property are still being monitored daily and show no signs of illness.

Biosecurity Queensland's policy is to test cats and dogs on properties where there are infected horses.

Tests on cats and dogs on 11 properties currently under quarantine in Queensland have turned up no other positive results.

The state's chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, says Queensland Health will speak with the property owners to see who may have had contact with the infected dog.

Queensland and New South Wales officials have been fighting a spate of outbreaks that has led to 14 horses infected with hendra dying or being put down since June 20.

Hendra virus is usually passed from bats to horses and then to humans.

Of the seven people who have had hendra virus since it was detected in 1994, four have died.

ABC/AAP