Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Oct;30(10):2033-2041. doi: 10.3201/eid3010.240583. Epub 2024 Sep 6.
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.
高致病性禽流感（HPAI）A（H5N1）病毒在世界范围内的野生鸟类和家禽中的流行率有所增加，同时也在哺乳动物中发生了伴随的暴发。在 2023 年，韩国报告了猫中发生的 HPAI H5N1 病毒感染暴发。从 2 只猫中分离出的 H5N1 分支 2.3.4.4b 病毒在聚合酶碱性蛋白 2 基因中编码单个氨基酸取代 E627K 或 D701N，这与病毒在哺乳动物中的适应性有关。因此，我们分析了源自猫的 H5N1 病毒在其他哺乳动物中的致病性和传播性。这两种分离株均导致小鼠和雪貂致命感染。我们观察到雪貂之间的接触感染，证实这些病毒在哺乳动物中具有高致病性和传播性。大多数人类感染高致病性禽流感 H5N1 病毒是通过直接接触家禽或受污染的环境而发生的。因此，需要对哺乳动物、野生鸟类和家禽进行“同一健康”监测，以预防潜在的人畜共患病威胁。
