Dogs are highly susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza virus.
Replication of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in dogs may facilitate their adaptation in humans; however, the data to date on H5N1 influenza virus infection in dogs are conflicting. To elucidate the susceptibility of dogs to this pathogen, we infected two groups of 6 beagles with 10(6) 50% egg-infectious dose of H5N1 AIV A/bar-headed goose/Qinghai/3/05 (BHG/QH/3/05) intranasally (i.n.) and intratracheally (i.t.), respectively. The dogs showed disease symptoms, including anorexia, fever, conjunctivitis, labored breathing and cough, and one i.t. inoculated animal died on day 4 post-infection. Virus shedding was detected from all 6 animals inoculated i.n. and one inoculated i.t. Virus replication was detected in all animals that were euthanized on day 3 or day 5 post-infection and in the animal that died on day 4 post-infection. Our results demonstrate that dogs are highly susceptible to H5N1 AIV and may serve as an intermediate host to transfer this virus to humans.
Chen
Ying
Y
Animal Influenza Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China.
Zhong
Gongxun
G
Wang
Guojun
G
Deng
Guohua
G
Li
Yanbing
Y
Shi
Jianzhong
J
Zhang
Zhuo
Z
Guan
Yuntao
Y
Jiang
Yongping
Y
Bu
Zhigao
Z
Kawaoka
Yoshihiro
Y
Chen
Hualan
H
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000821:virology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication