title: Infectivity, transmission, and pathology of human-isolated H7N9 influenza virus in ferrets and pigs.
abstract: The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted between ferrets via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs were productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to naïve pigs or ferrets. Under appropriate conditions, human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.
authors.affiliation: Joint Influenza Research Centre [Shantou University Medical College/University of Hong Kong], Shantou University, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kelvin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: S-W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: S-S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farooqui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: M H A
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Roehrl
authors.forename: S S H
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kelvin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: L L M
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Webby
authors.forename: J S M
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005289:Ferrets; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D034421:Sus scrofa