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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299823

Title: High doses of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in chicken meat are required to infect ferrets

Author
item BERTRAN, KATERI - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2014
Publication Date: 6/3/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59866
Citation: Bertran, K., Swayne, D.E. 2014. High doses of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in chicken meat are required to infect ferrets. Veterinary Research. 45:60. DOI:10.1186/1297-9716-45-60. Available: http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/45/1/60

Interpretive Summary: Ferrets were infected with different high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) through ingestion of infected meat. However, the dose of virus needed to infect ferrets through consumption of infected meat was much higher than via respiratory exposure. In addition, H5N1 HPAIV produced higher titers in the meat and more easily infects ferrets than the H7 HPAIV.

Technical Abstract: H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) have caused natural and experimental infections in various animals through consumption of infected bird carcasses and meat. However, little is known about the quantity of virus required and if all HPAIV subtypes can cause infections following consumption of infected meat. For that purpose, ferrets were fed meat containing different HPAIV. Our results suggest that high quantity of virus is needed to infect ferrets through consumption of infected meat than is needed to infect ferrts by respiratory exposure. Also, H5N1 HPAIV infection of chickens produces higher quantities of virus in the meat and therefore more easily infects ferrets than the H7 HPAIV.