HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
From the Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The ongoing outbreak of avian influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) infection in Asia is of great concern because of the high human case fatality rate and the threat of a new influenza pandemic. Case reports in humans and felids suggest that this virus may have a different tissue tropism from other influenza viruses, which are normally restricted to the respiratory tract in mammals. To study its pathogenesis in a mammalian host, domestic cats were inoculated with H5N1 virus intratracheally (n = 3), by feeding on virus-infected chicks (n = 3), or by horizontal transmission (n = 2) and examined by virological and pathological assays. In all cats, virus replicated not only in the respiratory tract but also in multiple extra-respiratory tissues. Virus antigen expression in these tissues was associated with severe necrosis and inflammation 7 days after inoculation. In cats fed on virus-infected chicks only, virus-associated ganglioneuritis also occurred in the submucosal and myenteric plexi of the small intestine, suggesting direct infection from the intestinal lumen. All cats excreted virus not only via the respiratory tract but also via the digestive tract. This study in cats demonstrates that H5N1 virus infection causes systemic disease and spreads by potentially novel routes within and between mammalian hosts.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() Y. K. Kwon, A. S. Lipatov, and D. E. Swayne Bronchointerstitial Pneumonia in Guinea Pigs Following Inoculation with H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Vet. Pathol., January 1, 2009; 46(1): 138 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() C. Korteweg and J. Gu Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans Am. J. Pathol., May 1, 2008; 172(5): 1155 - 1170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() T. W. Vahlenkamp, T. C. Harder, M. Giese, F. Lin, J. P. Teifke, R. Klopfleisch, R. Hoffmann, I. Tarpey, M. Beer, and T. C. Mettenleiter Protection of cats against lethal influenza H5N1 challenge infection J. Gen. Virol., April 1, 2008; 89(4): 968 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() H. Zeng, C. Goldsmith, P. Thawatsupha, M. Chittaganpitch, S. Waicharoen, S. Zaki, T. M. Tumpey, and J. M. Katz Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Viruses Elicit an Attenuated Type I Interferon Response in Polarized Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells J. Virol., November 15, 2007; 81(22): 12439 - 12449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() K. G. Mansfield Viral Tropism and the Pathogenesis of Influenza in the Mammalian Host Am. J. Pathol., October 1, 2007; 171(4): 1089 - 1092. [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() M. Vascellari, A. Granato, L. Trevisan, L. Basilicata, A. Toffan, A. Milani, and F. Mutinelli Pathologic Findings of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A/Duck/Vietnam/12/05 (H5N1) in Experimentally Infected Pekin Ducks, Based on Immunohistochemistry and In Situ Hybridization Vet. Pathol., September 1, 2007; 44(5): 635 - 642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() H.-L. Yen, A. S. Lipatov, N. A. Ilyushina, E. A. Govorkova, J. Franks, N. Yilmaz, A. Douglas, A. Hay, S. Krauss, J. E. Rehg, et al. Inefficient Transmission of H5N1 Influenza Viruses in a Ferret Contact Model J. Virol., July 1, 2007; 81(13): 6890 - 6898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() R. Klopfleisch, P. U. Wolf, W. Uhl, S. Gerst, T. Harder, E. Starick, T. W. Vahlenkamp, T. C. Mettenleiter, and J. P. Teifke Distribution of Lesions and Antigen of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A/Swan/Germany/R65/06 (H5N1) in Domestic Cats after Presumptive Infection by Wild Birds Vet. Pathol., May 1, 2007; 44(3): 261 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() J. S. M. Peiris, M. D. de Jong, and Y. Guan Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1): a Threat to Human Health Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2007; 20(2): 243 - 267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() J. Democratis, M. Pareek, and I. Stephenson Use of neuraminidase inhibitors to combat pandemic influenza J. Antimicrob. Chemother., November 1, 2006; 58(5): 911 - 915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() I. Stephenson and J. Democratis Influenza: current threat from avian influenza Br. Med. Bull., May 8, 2006; 75-76(1): 63 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() T. Kuiken, E. C. Holmes, J. McCauley, G. F. Rimmelzwaan, C. S. Williams, and B. T. Grenfell Host species barriers to influenza virus infections. Science, April 21, 2006; 312(5772): 394 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() D. van Riel, V. J. Munster, E. de Wit, G. F. Rimmelzwaan, R. A. M. Fouchier, A. D. M. E. Osterhaus, and T. Kuiken H5N1 Virus Attachment to Lower Respiratory Tract Science, April 21, 2006; 312(5772): 399 - 399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() [In Process Citation] Vet. Pathol., February 1, 2006; 43(2): 222 - 223. [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() C. Brown Avian Influenza: Virchow's Reminder Am. J. Pathol., January 1, 2006; 168(1): 6 - 8. [Full Text] [PDF] ![]() |
![]() |
HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |