Surveillance of feral cats for influenza A virus in North Central Florida

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

James T. Gordy¹  Cheryl A. Jones¹  Joanne Rue¹  Patti Cynda Crawford²  Julie K. Levy²  David E. Stallknecht³  Ralph A. Tripp¹ 

[1] Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA;Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA;Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

关键词: Cats;    feline;    influenza;    influenza A virus;    serology;    surveillance;   

DOI  :  10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00325.x

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Please cite this paper as: Gordy JT et al. (2012) Surveillance of feral cats for influenza A virus in North Central Florida. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(5), 341–347.

Background  Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza and the recent pandemic H1N1 viruses to domestic cats and other felids creates concern because of the morbidity and mortality associated with human infections as well as disease in the infected animals. Experimental infections have demonstrated transmission of influenza viruses in cats.

Objectives  An epidemiologic survey of feral cats was conducted to determine their exposure to influenza A virus.

Methods  Feral cat sera and oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from November 2008 through July 2010 in Alachua County, FL and were tested for evidence of influenza A virus infection by virus isolation, PCR, and serological assay.

Results and conclusions  No virus was isolated from any of 927 cats examined using MDCK cell or embryonated chicken egg culture methods, nor was viral RNA detected by RT-PCR in 200 samples tested. However, 0.43% of cats tested antibody positive for influenza A by commercial ELISA. These results suggest feral cats in this region are at minimal risk for influenza A virus infection.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd