title: H7N9 Influenza Virus Is More Virulent in Ferrets than 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus.
abstract: The novel H7N9 influenza virus has been infecting humans in China since February 2013 and with a mortality rate of about 40%. This study compared the pathogenicity of the H7N9 and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses in a ferret model, which shows similar symptoms to those of humans infected with influenza viruses. The H7N9 influenza virus caused a more severe disease than did the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. All of the ferrets infected with the H7N9 influenza virus had died by 6 days after infection, while none of those infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus died. Ferrets infected with the H7N9 influenza virus had higher viral titers in their lungs than did those infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. Histological findings indicated that hemorrhagic pneumonia was caused by infection with the H7N9 influenza virus, but not with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. In addition, the lung tissues of ferrets infected with the H7N9 influenza virus contained higher levels of chemokines than did those of ferrets infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. This study suggests that close monitoring is needed to prevent human infection by the lethal H7N9 influenza virus.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Influenza Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.|2 Institute of Influenza Virus, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Influenza Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.|2 Institute of Influenza Virus, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Keun Bon
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Influenza Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.|2 Institute of Influenza Virus, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University , Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Heui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005289:Ferrets; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019562:Viral Load