Pathogenicity of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Isolated from Cats in Mice and Ferrets, South Korea, 2023

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 2033 - 2041
• Main Authors: Kim, Il-Hwan, Nam, Jeong-Hyun, Kim, Chi-Kyeong, Choi, Yong Jun, Lee, Hyeokjin, An, Bo Min, Lee, Nam-Joo, Jeong, Hyoseon, Lee, Su-Yeon, Yeo, Sang-Gu, Lee, Eun-Kyoung, Lee, Youn-Jeong, Rhee, Jee Eun, Lee, Sang Won, Jee, Youngmee, Kim, Eun-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.10.2024; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analysis; Animal shelters; Animals; Avian influenza; Avian influenza viruses; Birds; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - virology; Cats; Disease Outbreaks; Disease transmission; Female; Ferrets; Ferrets - virology; H5N1; Health aspects; highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus; Humans; Infection; influenza; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - pathogenicity; mammal pathogenicity; mammal-to-mammal transmission; Mammals; Mice; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - veterinary; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - virology; outbreak; Outbreaks; Pathogens; Phylogeny; Physiological aspects; Poultry; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Virulence; Viruses; Republic of Korea; South Korea; United Kingdom > UK; Scotland; influenza; viruses; zoonoses; mice; respiratory infections; H5N1; South Korea; cats; ferrets; outbreak; highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus; mammal pathogenicity; mammal-to-mammal transmission
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid3010.240583

The prevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses has increased in wild birds and poultry worldwide, and concomitant outbreaks in mammals have occurred. During 2023, outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 virus infections were reported in cats in South Korea. The H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses isolated from 2 cats harbored mutations in the polymerase basic protein 2 gene encoding single amino acid substitutions E627K or D701N, which are associated with virus adaptation in mammals. Hence, we analyzed the pathogenicity and transmission of the cat-derived H5N1 viruses in other mammals. Both isolates caused fatal infections in mice and ferrets. We observed contact infections between ferrets, confirming the viruses had high pathogenicity and transmission in mammals. Most HPAI H5N1 virus infections in humans have occurred through direct contact with poultry or a contaminated environment. Therefore, One Health surveillance of mammals, wild birds, and poultry is needed to prevent potential zoonotic threats.