Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Study tests impact of avian flu from cattle on mammals
The outbreak in dairy cattle has affected herds in 12 states in the USA.
Researchers found that respiratory transmission was ineffective.

An international team of researchers has found that a strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus circulating in dairy cattle can induce severe disease in mice and ferrets when administered via intranasal inoculation.

The study also found that, while the virus did spread effectively between infected female mice and suckling pups through milk, the virus did not transmit efficiently between ferrets exposed to it via respiratory droplets.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, and the universities of Shizuoka and Tokyo in Japan in response to the ongoing outbreak of avian flu in US dairy cattle.

The outbreak was first discovered in the USA in March this year. The virus has since been identified in herds in 12 states and four dairy workers have tested positive with mild symptoms. There have also been fatal infections in cats on farms and transmission to nearby poultry.

The researchers isolated the virus from infected cow milk and tested its ability to spread and cause disease in mice and ferrets, two species commonly used in influenza A studies. Ferrets exhibit similar clinical symptoms and immune responses to humans, providing researchers with a model of how a virus could affect people.

The study found that the virus was able to induce severe disease, and that infection can lead to systemic spread to non-respiratory tissues including the eye, mammary glad, teat and/or muscle.

The tests on the ability of the virus to spread, find that it did not do so efficiently through respiratory transmission. However, the researchers did find that the virus could bind to receptors that human influenza A viruses attach to, in addition to the receptors that avian influenza viruses attach to.

Prof Ash Banyard, a virologist at the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, said: “The work by Eisfield et al uses well-established laboratory models to start to fill some of our gaps in understanding of the potential ability for the newly emerged clade of avian influenza in cattle in the US to transmit to humans.

“The data is robust and both models and approaches used are consistent with earlier studies and support the current thinking that human infection risk from this virus is low.

“This reflects what is being reported from America with only four reported human cases, all of which have been described as having only mild clinical disease with no evidence of onward spread.”

The study will be published in the journal Nature. An unedited version has been made available here to give early access to the study's findings.

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone introduced across Wales

News Story 1
 An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been introduced across Wales.

From 30 January, all bird keepers in Wales must implement strict biosecurity measures to protect poultry and captive birds. This includes a mandatory self-assessment checklist.

The Animal & Plant Health Agency has already introduced AIPZs in Scotland and England, with mandatory housing in some parts of England. The avian influenza interactive map reveals where restrictions are in place, with further information about Wales' AIPZ here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Applications open for RCVS Fellowship

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has opened applications for veterinary surgeons to join the RCVS Fellowship.

The RCVS Fellowship is a learned society which works to advance veterinary standards and promote scientific excellence.

Veterinary surgeons can enter the RCVS Fellowship through three routes, each with different criteria. This enables people with a range of expertise and experience to join the society.

The routes are: Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice, Meritorious Contributions to Knowledge and Meritorious Contributions to the Profession.

Applicants must share a summary of their contributions to the profession, including examples of significant works produced throughout their career. The application will then be assessed by a panel of judges against a set of criteria.

Veterinary surgeons have until 4pm on Friday, 14 March to submit applications. More information, including requirements and guidance can be found here.