Sparse serological evidence of H5N1 avian influenza virus infections in domestic cats, northeastern China

Lingshuang Sun; Pei Zhou; Shuyi He; Yongfeng Luo; Kun Jia; Cheng Fu; Yao Sun; Huamei He; Liqing Tu; Zhangyong Ning; Ziguo Yuan; Heng Wang; Shoujun Li; Liguo Yuan

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2015.03.003

Sparse serological evidence of H5N1 avian influenza virus infections in domestic cats, northeastern China

Microb Pathog. 2015 May:82:27-30. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Mar 6.

Authors

Lingshuang Sun¹, Pei Zhou², Shuyi He³, Yongfeng Luo², Kun Jia², Cheng Fu², Yao Sun², Huamei He², Liqing Tu², Zhangyong Ning², Ziguo Yuan², Heng Wang², Shoujun Li², Liguo Yuan⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lsun42013@scau.edu.cn.
² College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China.
³ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China.
⁴ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: yuanliguo@yahoo.com.cn.

PMID: 25752867
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.03.003

Abstract

Today the cross-species transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIV) are a great concern. A number of AIV strains are now enzootic among poultry, with H9N2 and highly pathogenic H5N1 AIV strains prevalent in China. H5N1 strains have been recognized to infect zoo and domestic feline species. In this serological study we sought to examine evidence that H5N1 strains have infected domestic cats in northeastern China. In 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional serological study of 916 healthy cats in Heilongjian, Jilin, and Liaonin Provinces. Sera were screened with a hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay and seropositive specimens (HI ≥ 1:20) were further evaluated with a microneutralization (MN) assay against a clade 2.3.2 H5N1 AIV, a H9N2 AIV, A (H1N1)pdm09, and a canine H3N2 virus. While ∼2% of cats had elevated HI assays against H5N1, no elevations were confirmed (MN ≥ 1:80). These data serve as baseline for future surveillance for AIV infections among domestic cats. Conducting such surveillance seems important for geographical areas recognized as endemic for AIVs. This is especially true for countries such as China where domestic cats and poultry are often in close contact.

Keywords: Cats; H5N1; Infection.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
Antibodies, Viral / blood*
Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
Cat Diseases / virology*
Cats
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / immunology*
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / immunology
Neutralization Tests
Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary*
Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral