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Science. Infectivity, Transmission, and Pathology of Human H7N9 Influenza in Ferrets and Pigs
[Source: Science, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
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<CITE>Published Online May 23 2013</CITE>
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<CITE>Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1239844 </CITE>
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<CITE></CITE>Report
Infectivity, Transmission, and Pathology of Human H7N9 Influenza in Ferrets and Pigs
<CITE></CITE>
<CITE>Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1239844 </CITE>
<CITE></CITE>
<CITE></CITE>Report
Infectivity, Transmission, and Pathology of Human H7N9 Influenza in Ferrets and Pigs
H. Zhu<SUP>1</SUP>,<SUP>2</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>,*, D. Wang<SUP>8</SUP>,*, D. J. Kelvin<SUP>4</SUP>,<SUP>5</SUP>,<SUP>6</SUP>, L. Li<SUP>1</SUP>, Z. Zheng<SUP>1</SUP>, S.-W. Yoon<SUP>7</SUP>, S.-S. Wong<SUP>7</SUP>, A. Farooqui<SUP>4</SUP>, J. Wang<SUP>1</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, D. Banner<SUP>5</SUP>, R. Chen<SUP>1</SUP>, R. Zheng<SUP>1</SUP>, J. Zhou<SUP>1</SUP>,<SUP>2</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, Y. Zhang<SUP>1</SUP>, W. Hong<SUP>1</SUP>, W. Dong<SUP>4</SUP>, Q. Cai<SUP>1</SUP>, M. H. A. Roehrl<SUP>5</SUP>,<SUP>6</SUP>, S. S. H. Huang<SUP>5</SUP>,<SUP>6</SUP>, A. A. Kelvin<SUP>4</SUP>,<SUP>5</SUP>, T. Yao<SUP>1</SUP>, B. Zhou<SUP>2</SUP>, X. Chen<SUP>2</SUP>, G. M. Leung<SUP>3</SUP>, L. L. M. Poon<SUP>2</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, R. G. Webster<SUP>7</SUP>, R. J. Webby<SUP>7</SUP>, J. S. M. Peiris<SUP>2</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>, Y. Guan<SUP>1</SUP>,<SUP>2</SUP>,<SUP>3</SUP>,?, Y. Shu<SUP>8</SUP>,?
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Joint Influenza Research Centre (SUMC/HKU), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China. <SUP>2</SUP>State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases (HKU-Shenzhen Branch), Shenzhen Third People?s Hospital, Shenzhen, PR China. <SUP>3</SUP>State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. <SUP>4</SUP>Joint Vaccine Research Centre (SUMC/UHN). Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China. <SUP>5</SUP>University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. <SUP>6</SUP>University of Toronto, Canada. <SUP>7</SUP>Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA. <SUP>8</SUP>National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, PR China.
?Corresponding author. E-mail: yguan@hku.hk (Y.G.); yshu@cnic.org.cn (Y.S.)
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs could be productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to other animals. Under appropriate conditions human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.
Received for publication 30 April 2013. Accepted for publication 20 May 2013.
-Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Joint Influenza Research Centre (SUMC/HKU), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China. <SUP>2</SUP>State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases (HKU-Shenzhen Branch), Shenzhen Third People?s Hospital, Shenzhen, PR China. <SUP>3</SUP>State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. <SUP>4</SUP>Joint Vaccine Research Centre (SUMC/UHN). Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China. <SUP>5</SUP>University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. <SUP>6</SUP>University of Toronto, Canada. <SUP>7</SUP>Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA. <SUP>8</SUP>National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, PR China.
?Corresponding author. E-mail: yguan@hku.hk (Y.G.); yshu@cnic.org.cn (Y.S.)
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs could be productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to other animals. Under appropriate conditions human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.
Received for publication 30 April 2013. Accepted for publication 20 May 2013.
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