title: Prevalence of influenza A H5N1 virus in cats from areas with occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in birds.
abstract: Natural and experimental infections have shown that cats are susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (HPAIV H5N1). Cats can be severely affected and die from the disease, but subclinical infections have also been reported. To learn more about the role of cats in the spread of the virus and about the risk posed to cats, the prevalence of H5N1 virus was examined in 171 cats from areas in Germany and Austria in which birds infected with HPAIV H5N1 had been found. Pharyngeal swabs were examined for H5N1 virus using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and serum samples were tested for antibodies to influenza virus. None of the cats showed evidence of infection with H5N1 virus. Prevalence of H5N1 virus was determined to be <1.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.000000-0.017366); prevalence of antibodies was <2.6% (95% CI: 0.000000-0.025068).
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marschall
authors.forename: Bianka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Timm C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Harder Priv-Doz
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Vahlenkamp Priv-Doz
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huisinga
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001717:Birds; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral