Domestic Pigs Have Low Susceptibility to H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses
Author Information
Author(s): Lipatov Aleksandr S., Kwon Yong Kuk, Sarmento Luciana V., Lager Kelly M., Spackman Erica, Suarez David L., Swayne David E.
Primary Institution: Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Hypothesis
How susceptible are domestic pigs to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses?
Conclusion
Domestic pigs have low susceptibility to infection and disease caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A viruses.
Supporting Evidence
- Intranasal inoculation of pigs with H5N1 viruses resulted in mild weight loss but no severe disease.
- H5N1 viruses replicated only in the respiratory tract of pigs.
- Histological examination revealed mild to moderate lung lesions in infected pigs.
- Virus shedding was lower and shorter in duration compared to swine influenza viruses.
- Consumption of infected chicken meat resulted in subclinical infection in pigs.
Takeaway
Pigs can get sick from bird flu, but they usually don't get very sick from it.
Methodology
Two- to three-week-old domestic piglets were intranasally inoculated with various H5N1 viruses and monitored for infection and disease symptoms.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and did not allow for statistical evaluation of the results.
Participant Demographics
Two- to three-week-old male castrated piglets.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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