Seroprevalence of seasonal and pandemic influenza A viruses in domestic cats.
Infection of domestic cats with pandemic H1N1 influenza virus has recently been documented. We conducted a seroprevalence survey and found that 17 of 78 (21.8%) cats sampled during the 2009-2010 influenza season had antibody titers ≥40 against the novel H1N1 strain by hemagglutinin-inhibition assay, compared to only 1 of 39 (2.6%) sampled in 2008 prior to emergence of the pandemic (p = 0.006). Seroprevalance of seasonal H1N1 (41.9%) and H3N2 (25.6%) viruses was similarly high. These data reflecting past infection of household cats raise the possibility that they may act as a vector of influenza transmission within households.
McCullers
Jonathan A
JA
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. jon.mccullers@stjude.org
Van De Velde
Lee-Ann
LA
Schultz
Ronald D
RD
Mitchell
Cristen G
CG
Halford
C R
CR
Boyd
Kelli L
KL
Schultz-Cherry
Stacey
S
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology