A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Tue 22 Mar 2011
Source: CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy) News
[edited]
The [influenza A (H1N1) 2009] virus was detected in 3 animals of
diverse species at the San Diego Zoo in the fall of 2009, further
broadening the virus's range of animal hosts, according to a letter
published by Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) [available at
The virus was found in a 12-year-old American badger, a 19-year-old
Bornean binturong, and a 7-year-old black-footed ferret. The badger
and binturong got severely sick with pneumonia and had to be
euthanized, but the ferret had a mild illness and recovered with
antibiotic and fluid treatment.
The source of the infections was not determined but was probably a
human. Ferrets are known to be susceptible to influenza A viruses, but
such cases have not been previously reported in badgers or binturongs,
the report says.
Other species that have been naturally infected with flu viruses
include swine, a dog, cats, turkeys, skunks, cheetahs, and giant
anteaters, and experimental infections have been reported in mice and
cynomolgous macaques.
"The ubiquity of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and its ability to infect a
diverse range of hosts is worrisome for the health of wildlife and for
the possibility of creating additional reservoirs that could alter the
evolution of subtype H1N1 viruses by applying varied selection
pressures and establishing new ways of generating unique reassortant
strains," the authors say.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
[Indeed the number of animals this virus touched, that we are aware
of, is quite frightening in terms of viral reassortment.
But if the ferret had less trouble with this virus than some other
animals, it is perhaps an animal we should be studying to learn why,
not just realize that it is more resistant to influenza type A, but
also really learn what the mechanism is that makes it more resistant
to that type of virus.
Photos
American badger (_Taxidea taxus_):
and
Bornean binturong (_Arctictis binturong penicillata_):
Black-footed ferret (_Mustela nigripes_):
and
- Mod.TG]
[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of California can be seen
at
[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009, animal (02): USA (WI) feline 20110215.0500
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009, animal: UK, turkey 20110113.0150
2010
----
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (64): WHO, pandemic over 20100811.2753
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (63): WHO update 112 20100807.2680
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (07): Finland, swine, OIE
20100901.3114
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (06): Korea, swine 20100422.1296
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (05): turkeys, insemination
20100205.0393
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (04): global, update 20100131.0337
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (03): Denmark, porcine
20100111.0128
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (02): USA, turkey 20100108.0087
Influenza pandemic (H1N1), animal (01): China, porcine, canine
20100101.0014
2009
----
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (42): USA (NC) swine
20091228.4372
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (41): Russia (CV) swine, OIE
20091226.4353
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (40): USA (NY) canine
20091222.4305
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (39): Germany, swine, OIE
20091211.4220
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (38): Mexico, swine, OIE
20091211.4214
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (37): USA (OR, CA) feline
20091211.4213
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (36): USA (CO) 20091209.419
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (35): Italy, swine, OIE
20091205.4144
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (34): UK (England)
20091204.4141
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (33): USA (VA, CA)
20091204.4139
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (31): Finland,
swine,OIE 20091201.4106
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (29): Indonesia,
swine20091127.4071]
.................................................tg/mj/dk
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