A cat parent wouldn’t trade their beautiful (and complicated) relationship with their beloved baby for the world. But a new study highlights that pet cats may be as dangerous as pigs as one of the biggest zoonotic threats to public health. Read this also Cat Care 101: Top 6 Common Cat Diseases and Essential Dietary Guidelines for Prevention
Scientists link domestic cats to public health crisis
A recent study published in the academic journal Taylor and Francis Online found that pet cats may provide the bridge that allows H5N1 bird flu to mutate and jump to humans. Pet cats live in our homes, curled up on our sofas and beds, providing the opportunity to not only become infected with human flu strains, but also to spread avian viruses back to people.
Beware of pet cats?
The researchers found that cats, like pigs, have cellular receptors that allow them to act as ‘mixing vessels for the reassortment of avian and mammalian influenza viruses.’ He said cats that recently died from H5N1 bird flu were found to have a ‘unique mutation’ indicating ‘potential virus adaptation’.
While pigs are considered a threat to public health because their cells allow viruses to mix and mutate, creating new strains capable of causing human pandemics (this is how the 2008/09 H1N1 swine flu pandemic began), But cats may be similar in that sense, according to the researchers of the new study.
Cats frequently interact with humans and other species, he said, and so ‘may serve as a bridge for cross-species transmission of the H5N1 virus.’ “Continued exposure, viral circulation and adaptation to H5N1 virus in cats raises significant concerns for transmission and public health,” the study authors said.
More information about the study
As part of the study, researchers conducted postmortems of 10 cats, one of which was a just-six-month-old kitten that died of H5N1 in South Dakota, US, after eating the remains of dead birds in April this year. Samples taken from their brain, lungs and stomach found that their cells had receptors, which, like pigs, meant they were susceptible to both mammalian and avian forms of influenza.
The researchers said, “Infected cats develop systemic infection and shed virus through both the respiratory and digestive tracts, potentially creating multiple routes of exposure to humans… Additionally, mammalian hosts The ability of the virus to survive and adapt increases the risk of developing the disease.” “Strains with increased transmissibility pose an emerging zoonotic threat with profound public health implications.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
