Study: New flu virus could be transmitted from dogs to people
A long-term study suggests that two Influenza-mix strains and a new influenza virus can form, which is spread by dogs. The virus could be transmitted from animals to humans.
A Novel Strain Of Influenza
In the past year, was published in the journal “mBio” a study by American scientists, which pointed to a possible Transmission of canine influenza virus to humans. Now, researchers from South Korea report that a new type of Influenza could be transmitted strain of house animals such as dogs to humans.
Pathogens could also be dangerous for people
The results of a 10-year study suggest that two Influenza-merge tribes and a dangerous new strain of Influenza can form, which is widely used, among other things, of dogs, according to “Microbiology Society” in a message.
As stated therein, was already found in the 2000s that the H3N2 bird flu has passed to dogs and Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) developed.
The research by the team of Dr. Daesub Song from the Korea University in Seoul (South Korea) showed that the H3N2 CIV may form with the swine flu Virus H1N1/2009, a new influenza virus.
This CIVmv-called pathogens could also be dangerous for humans.
Extremely rapid spread possible
The emergence of new Influenza strains is worrying. As in the message of the “Microbiology Society” is declared, not the Infected before with a Virus of this type in touch, which means that you would be immune to the disease.
If the Virus could be transmitted from animals to humans, it could spread extremely fast in the population.
The South Korean scientists wanted to know how big the potential of the new tribe, to the people skipping.
To find out, she also studies with ferrets, because the receptors on the surface of flu viruses dock onto in these animals and humans are very similar.
Therefore, ferrets are considered to be a reliable experimental model for the risk assessment.
Typical symptoms of a respiratory disease
The researchers found in their experiments that with the new CIVmv root infected dogs and ferrets typical symptoms of a respiratory tract had disease.
In the animals it came, therefore, to constipation, shortness of breath, cough, watery eyes, Sneezing, lethargy and loss of appetite.
In addition, they showed that the new pathogen replicated faster between the ferrets spread than other influenza viruses and rapidly.
According to the study authors, the risk of infection of humans with this strain could be much larger than the previous bird flu and dog flu virus.
Greater Monitoring of domestic animals
Dr. Daesub Song has called for stronger Supervision of dogs and other domestic animals, since they might represent a source of novel human Influenza strains.
“In the past, dogs have been neglected in flu research as hosts of new strains,” says the researcher.
However, only dogs as Carriers are not eligible. During the ten-year study, the scientists found that cats are susceptible to the Virus.
Dr. Song investigated an outbreak of CIV in a shelter, in which 100 percent of the cats were infected, and 40 percent died.
The development of the susceptibility in cats is worrying, because it shows that CIV can spread among different species of animals.
Because people come with both dogs and cats much more often in contact than with chickens or pigs, is the potential risk that, on the basis of the four-legged animals, new strains that infect humans, and one day may even be transmitted from person to person, much bigger.
“Existing dog flu virus could mix with human influenza viruses or new and lead to new viruses, which in turn can lead to unique pandemics,” says Dr. Song.
Development of a vaccine
Other experts are concerned, however, a little less. So animal Influenza expert Dr Janet Daly University of Nottingham, said, according to a post of the portal “Tech Times”, the chances are low that dogs can transmit to a dog virus to humans.
But it was still a possibility. “We need to pay attention to cases in which both a dog as well as be the owner of the flu have similar symptoms,” said Daly.
The Korean researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against the CIVmv-root, but due to the high mutation rate of this is very difficult. (ad)