Researchers discovered that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has spilled over into dairy cattle in the US, posing significant cross-species transmission risks. Their multidisciplinary study reveals the virus's evolution and its zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for heightened biosecurity measures.
By Hugo Francisco de SouzaReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Jul 25 2024 In a recent study published in the journal Nature, scientists in the United States report the spillover of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in cattle across several United States regions. They further document the detailed symptomatic outcomes of the resulting disease in these bovine populations.
HPAI H5N1 is alarming, given its potential for spillover . It has been reported to be transmitted from infected poultry populations into wild birds , mammals , and even humans . The World Health Organization documented 860 human infections and more than 430 deaths since 2003 . About the study The present study documents the January-to-March 2024 morbidity event in American cattle across TX and its neighboring states. It uses a detailed multidisciplinary approach incorporating clinical, epidemiological, and phylogenomic investigations to elucidate the pathophysiology of the virus and the genetic underpinnings of its spillover potential.
Virus-shedding investigations were conducted to elucidate the source and duration of viral transmissions following initial infections. Excised tissues from cows, dead birds, and mammals were subjected to histological examinations. Finally, phylogenomic analyses were conducted to isolate the etiological source of the viral strain and the genetic underpinnings of its substantial spillover.
"Histological examination of tissues from affected dairy cows revealed marked changes consisting of neutrophilic and lymphoplasmacytic mastitis with prominent effacement of tubuloacinar gland architecture which were filled with neutrophils admixed with cellular debris in multiple lobules in the mammary gland.
Flu H5N1 Avian Influenza Evolution Genetic Genomic Influenza Mammary Gland PPE Respiratory Respiratory Illness Virus
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