Turner Haley M, Fuller Angela K, Twining Joshua P, Hitchener Gavin R, Fadden Melissa A, Stallknecht David E, Poulson Rebecca L, Carter Deborah L, Watson Mandy B, Schuler Krysten L, Bloodgood Jennifer C G
New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 226 Mann Drive, 111 Fernow Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 226 Mann Drive, 111 Fernow Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2025 Apr 1;61(2):515-521. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00137.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus (HP H5N1) cases in wild mammals have been increasing globally. Carnivora has been the most affected mammal order; however, the extent of morbidity and mortality in carnivores exposed to HP H5N1 remains undefined. We assessed the presence of antibodies to H5 and N1 in the sera of 16 live-captured bobcats (Lynx rufus) in New York State, USA; reported on postcapture outcomes of HP H5N1-exposed bobcats; and reported on a case of HP H5N1 infection in one bobcat. In 2024, 4/16 bobcats (25%) tested positive for antibodies to H5 and N1. Two bobcats were confirmed alive as of November 2024 according to GPS data; the other two were alive as of June 2024, when their GPS collars stopped communicating. Another bobcat, which was negative for HP H5N1 antibodies at capture, died from HP H5N1 infection within 5 wks of capture. Our results provide evidence of bobcats both surviving and succumbing to HP H5N1 infection and highlight the importance of focused health studies paired with monitoring data to better understand exposure, infection, and outcomes for novel pathogens and species.
全球范围内，野生哺乳动物感染高致病性甲型H5N1流感病毒（HP H5N1）的病例一直在增加。食肉目动物是受影响最严重的哺乳动物目；然而，接触HP H5N1的食肉动物的发病和死亡程度仍不明确。我们评估了美国纽约州16只活体捕获的短尾猫（猞猁）血清中H5和N1抗体的存在情况；报告了接触HP H5N1的短尾猫捕获后的情况；并报告了一只短尾猫感染HP H5N1的病例。2024年，16只短尾猫中有4只（25%）的H5和N1抗体检测呈阳性。根据GPS数据，截至2024年11月，有两只短尾猫被确认存活；另外两只在2024年6月时还活着，当时它们的GPS项圈停止了通信。另一只短尾猫在捕获时HP H5N1抗体检测呈阴性，但在捕获后5周内死于HP H5N1感染。我们的结果提供了短尾猫感染HP H5N1后存活和死亡的证据，并强调了有针对性的健康研究与监测数据相结合对于更好地了解新病原体和物种的暴露、感染及结果的重要性。
