A cat owner would not exchange their intricate and cherished bond with their feline companion for anything. However, a recent study has revealed that pet cats may pose a significant zoonotic risk to public health, comparable to that of pigs.

Scientists associate domestic cats with a public health crisis

The research, recently published in the academic journal Taylor and Francis Online, indicates that pet cats could facilitate the mutation of the H5N1 bird flu virus, enabling it to infect humans. As these cats reside in our homes and often rest on our furniture, they create opportunities for the transmission of human flu strains and the potential spread of avian viruses to humans.

Should we be cautious of pet cats?

The researchers discovered that, similar to pigs, cats possess cellular receptors that enable them to function as 'mixing vessels' for the reassortment of avian and mammalian influenza viruses. They noted that cats that had succumbed to H5N1 bird flu exhibited 'unique mutations' indicative of 'potential virus adaptation.'

While pigs are recognized as a public health threat due to their ability to mix and mutate viruses, leading to new strains that can cause human pandemics—such as the 2008/09 H1N1 swine flu pandemic—cats may present similar risks, according to the study's researchers.

The researchers emphasized that cats frequently interact with humans and other species, potentially acting as a conduit for the cross-species transmission of H5N1 viruses. “The ongoing exposure, viral circulation, and adaptation of the H5N1 virus in cats raise significant concerns for transmission and public health,” the authors of the study stated.

Additional Information Regarding the Study

In the course of the study, researchers performed postmortem examinations on ten felines, including a six-month-old kitten that succumbed to H5N1 in South Dakota, United States, after ingesting the remains of deceased birds in April of this year. Analyses of samples collected from their brains, lungs, and stomachs revealed the presence of receptors in their cells, indicating susceptibility to both mammalian and avian strains of influenza, similar to that observed in pigs.

The researchers stated, “Infected cats experience systemic infections and can shed the virus through both respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, potentially creating various pathways for human exposure... Moreover, the virus's ability to persist and adapt within mammalian hosts increases the risk of developing strains with enhanced transmissibility, thereby presenting an emerging zoonotic threat with significant public health consequences.”

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