Abstract
Influenza virus is not known to affect wild felids. We demonstrate that avian influenza A (H5N1) virus caused severe pneumonia in tigers and leopards that fed on infected poultry carcasses. This finding extends the host range of influenza virus and has implications for influenza virus epidemiology and wildlife conservation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Zoo / virology*
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Chickens / virology
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Food Microbiology
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Genetic Variation
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Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype*
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Influenza A virus / genetics
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Influenza A virus / pathogenicity*
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Lung / virology
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Meat / virology
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary*
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
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Panthera / virology*
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Phylogeny
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Tigers / virology