title: Protection of cats against lethal influenza H5N1 challenge infection.
abstract: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 of Asian origin continues to circulate in poultry and wild birds, causing considerable concern for veterinary and public health in Asia, Europe and Africa. Natural transmission of HPAIV H5N1 from poultry to humans, resulting in infections associated with high mortality, and from poultry or wild birds to large felids and domestic cats has been reported. Experimental infection of cats with HPAIV H5N1 derived from a human patient resulted in lethal disease. The role of cats in the adaptation of HPAIV H5N1 to mammals and vaccination regimens for the eventual protection of cats, however, remain to be elucidated. Here, it was shown that cats can be protected against a lethal high-dose challenge infection by an inactivated, adjuvanted heterologous H5N6 avian influenza virus vaccine. The challenge HPAIV H5N1 was derived from a naturally infected cat. In non-vaccinated cats, low-dose exposure resulted in asymptomatic infections with minimal virus excretion. As diseased cats can transmit the infection to naïve contact animals, the epidemiological role of H5N1-infected cats in endemically infected areas as a link between wild birds, poultry and humans needs close inspection, and vaccination of cats should be considered to reduce possible human exposure.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Vahlenkamp
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Timm C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.affiliation: Intervet UK, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Fengsheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Teifke
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klopfleisch
authors.affiliation: Intervet UK, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Intervet UK, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarpey
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mettenleiter
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002415:Cats; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines