Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus and Cats | CDC EID

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Volume 16, Number 11–November 2010
Dispatch
Experimental Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus Infection of Cats

Judith M.A. van den Brand, Koert J. Stittelaar, Geert van Amerongen, Marco W.G. van de Bildt, Lonneke M.E. Leijten, Thijs Kuiken, and Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus Comments to Author
Author affiliations: Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (J.M.A. van den Brand, K.J. Stittelaaar, G. van Amerongen, M.W.G. van de Bildt, L.M.E. Leijten, T. Kuiken, A.D.M.E. Osterhaus); and ViroClinics Biosciences BV, Rotterdam (K.J. Stittelaar, G. van Amerongen, A.D.M.E. Osterhaus)

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Abstract
To demonstrate that pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus may cause respiratory disease in cats, we intratracheally infected cats. Diffuse alveolar damage developed. Seroconversion of sentinel cats indicated cat-to-cat virus transmission. Unlike in cats infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1), extrarespiratory lesions did not develop in cats infected with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus.

Soon after pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus emerged in North America, infections in domestic cats were reported (1,2). Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) leads to severe and often fatal diffuse alveolar damage and systemic virus spread in cats (3–5). In contrast, seasonal human influenza viruses do not cause disease in cats (6). To elucidate the pathogenesis of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in cats, we studied 8 laboratory cats intratracheally infected with this virus.

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Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus and Cats | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article

van den Brand JMA, Stittelaar KJ, van Amerongen G, van de Bildt MWG, Leijten LME, Kuiken T, et al. Experimental pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection of cats. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Nov [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/11/1745.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1611.100845