Can dogs become infected with avian influenza?
Top A: Like cats, dogs are not usually susceptible to avian influenza (AI) viruses; however, an unpublished study carried out in 2005 by the National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok indicated that dogs could be infected with the virus. No clinical disease was detected in association with that infection. This limited information is insufficient to determine how susceptible dogs are to the virus. In October 2006, a case of fatal infection of a dog with the N5N1 AI virus was described in Emerging Infectious Diseases.1 The dog became infected after eating the carcass of an infected duck during the second wave of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in Thailand in October 2004. Approximately 5 days after eating the duck, the dog was febrile, panting, and lethargic; it died six days after eating the duck. Necropsy revealed severe congestion and fluid accumulation in the lungs, and congestion of the spleen, kidneys, and liver. View the report on the CDC Web site. 1Son
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