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Source: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/24/1/17-1240_article
Volume 24, Number 1?January 2018
Research
Characterization of a Feline Influenza A(H7N2) Virus
Masato Hatta1, Gongxun Zhong1, Yuwei Gao1, Noriko Nakajima1, Shufang Fan1, Shiho Chiba, Kathleen M. Deering, Mutsumi Ito, Masaki Imai, Maki Kiso, Sumiho Nakatsu, Tiago J. Lopes, Andrew J. Thompson, Ryan McBride, David L. Suarez, Catherine A. Macken, Shigeo Sugita, Gabriele Neumann, Hideki Hasegawa, James C. Paulson, Kathy L. Toohey-Kurth, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Author affiliations: University of Wisconsin?Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (M. Hatta, G. Zhong, Y. Gao, S. Fan, S. Chiba, K.M. Deering, T.J. Lopes, G. Neumann, K.L. Toohey-Kurth, Y. Kawaoka); National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan (N. Nakajima, H. Hasegawa); University of Tokyo, Tokyo (M. Ito, M. Imai, M. Kiso, S. Nakatsu, Y. Kawaoka); The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA (A.J. Thompson, R. McBride, J.C. Paulson); US Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, USA (D.L. Suarez); The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (C. A. Macken); Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan (S. Sugita)
Cite This Article
Abstract
During December 2016?February 2017, influenza A viruses of the H7N2 subtype infected ≈500 cats in animal shelters in New York, NY, USA, indicating virus transmission among cats. A veterinarian who treated the animals also became infected with feline influenza A(H7N2) virus and experienced respiratory symptoms. To understand the pathogenicity and transmissibility of these feline H7N2 viruses in mammals, we characterized them in vitro and in vivo. Feline H7N2 subtype viruses replicated in the respiratory organs of mice, ferrets, and cats without causing severe lesions. Direct contact transmission of feline H7N2 subtype viruses was detected in ferrets and cats; in cats, exposed animals were also infected via respiratory droplet transmission. These results suggest that the feline H7N2 subtype viruses could spread among cats and also infect humans. Outbreaks of the feline H7N2 viruses could, therefore, pose a risk to public health...
Volume 24, Number 1?January 2018
Research
Characterization of a Feline Influenza A(H7N2) Virus
Masato Hatta1, Gongxun Zhong1, Yuwei Gao1, Noriko Nakajima1, Shufang Fan1, Shiho Chiba, Kathleen M. Deering, Mutsumi Ito, Masaki Imai, Maki Kiso, Sumiho Nakatsu, Tiago J. Lopes, Andrew J. Thompson, Ryan McBride, David L. Suarez, Catherine A. Macken, Shigeo Sugita, Gabriele Neumann, Hideki Hasegawa, James C. Paulson, Kathy L. Toohey-Kurth, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Author affiliations: University of Wisconsin?Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (M. Hatta, G. Zhong, Y. Gao, S. Fan, S. Chiba, K.M. Deering, T.J. Lopes, G. Neumann, K.L. Toohey-Kurth, Y. Kawaoka); National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan (N. Nakajima, H. Hasegawa); University of Tokyo, Tokyo (M. Ito, M. Imai, M. Kiso, S. Nakatsu, Y. Kawaoka); The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA (A.J. Thompson, R. McBride, J.C. Paulson); US Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, USA (D.L. Suarez); The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (C. A. Macken); Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan (S. Sugita)
Cite This Article
Abstract
During December 2016?February 2017, influenza A viruses of the H7N2 subtype infected ≈500 cats in animal shelters in New York, NY, USA, indicating virus transmission among cats. A veterinarian who treated the animals also became infected with feline influenza A(H7N2) virus and experienced respiratory symptoms. To understand the pathogenicity and transmissibility of these feline H7N2 viruses in mammals, we characterized them in vitro and in vivo. Feline H7N2 subtype viruses replicated in the respiratory organs of mice, ferrets, and cats without causing severe lesions. Direct contact transmission of feline H7N2 subtype viruses was detected in ferrets and cats; in cats, exposed animals were also infected via respiratory droplet transmission. These results suggest that the feline H7N2 subtype viruses could spread among cats and also infect humans. Outbreaks of the feline H7N2 viruses could, therefore, pose a risk to public health...