Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 infection: past and present.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Schlachter, Audra-Lynne D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences · United Kingdom
Plain-English summary
Since 2020, a serious strain of bird flu called high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 has been spreading among birds and has also affected some mammals, including domestic cats and big cats in captivity. There have been recent cases in the U.S. where dairy cows got infected after contact with wild birds, showing that this virus can jump between species. This review looks at how this bird flu affects cats, both domestic and wild, discussing how it spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how to manage and prevent infections. It's important for pet owners to be aware of this virus and to monitor their cats for any signs of illness. The review emphasizes the need for ongoing vigilance regarding this infection in felines.
Abstract
Since 2020, the emergence and global dissemination of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b infection has had devastating effects in wild and domestic bird populations, and resulted in spillover events in many terrestrial and marine mammalian species, including susceptible captive big cat collections, and feral and domestic feline species. The recent outbreaks in dairy herds in the USA following proposed exposure to infection from wild birds, with subsequent spread to in-contact mammals, demonstrates successful interspecies transmission of this virus and warrants close monitoring. In this literature review, we provide an overview of HPAI H5N1 infection in feline species to date, focusing on domestic but also captive wild cats, looking at the epidemiology, clinical and pathological presentations and management, and a current perspective on risk, testing and strategies to prevent infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41063470/