荷兰的一项研究显示,引起2003-04年度亚洲禽流感爆发的病毒能感染猫。Thijs Kuiken和文章合作者指出,这些发现出人意料,因为家猫通常被认为是不受此类A流感病毒感染的。这个禽流感A病毒名为H5N1,因为它,亚洲的8个国家屠宰了大批的家禽,这个病毒也感染了人类,而且许多被感染者因此丧生。在禽流感爆发期间,有一些猫也被感染的道听途说,因此Kuiken和同事对当猫通过呼吸道接触这个病毒或通过吃被感染的鸡后是否生病做了研究。六只猫得了严重的肺病,而且将病传染给另外两只与它们在一起生活的猫。研究人员还在猫身上测试了另一种流感病毒H3N2,这个病毒导致最常见的人类流感。用类似方式接触个病毒的猫没有生病。作者说,他们的发现指出,在H5N1爆发期间,猫也面临被感染的危险,而且可能在农场家禽中传播病毒起作用,猫也可能成为人类感染的潜在病源。
Avian H5N1 Influenza in Cats
During the 2003-2004 outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Asia, there were anecdotal reports of fatal infection in domestic cats, although this species is considered resistant to influenza. We experimentally inoculated cats with H5N1 virus intratracheally and by feeding virus-infected chickens. The cats excreted virus, developed severe diffuse alveolar damage, and transmitted virus to sentinel cats. These results show that domestic cats are at risk of disease or death from H5N1 virus, can be infected by horizontal transmission, and may play a role in the epidemiology of this virus.