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Originally published in Science Express on 2 September 2004
Science 8 October 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5694, p. 241
DOI: 10.1126/science.1102287
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Brevia

Avian H5N1 Influenza in Cats

Thijs Kuiken,* Guus Rimmelzwaan, Debby van Riel, Geert van Amerongen, Marianne Baars, Ron Fouchier, Albert Osterhaus

During the 2003 to 2004 outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Asia, there were anecdotal reports of fatal infection in domestic cats, although this species is considered resistant to influenza. We experimentally inoculated cats with H5N1 virus intratracheally and by feeding them virus-infected chickens. The cats excreted virus, developed severe diffuse alveolar damage, and transmitted virus to sentinel cats. These results show that domestic cats are at risk of disease or death from H5N1 virus, can be infected by horizontal transmission, and may play a role in the epidemiology of this virus.

Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: t.kuiken{at}erasmusmc.nl

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)