Canine Influenza Found in Cats

(Cheryl Wallach Photography)

Sandra Newbury, clinical assistant professor and director of the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Veterinary Medicine, has confirmed that canine influenza has now infected a group of cats in Indiana.

Newbury, along with Kathy Toohey-Kurth, virology section head at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, tested multiple cats at an animal shelter in Northwest Indiana and found them positive for the H3N2 canine influenza virus.

“Suspicions of an outbreak in the cats were initially raised when a group of them displayed unusual signs of respiratory disease,” Newbury says in their press release. “While this first confirmed report of multiple cats testing positive for canine influenza in the U.S. shows the virus can affect cats, we hope that infections and illness in felines will continue to be quite rare.”

Cats that have contracted the virus in the shelter have displayed symptoms such as runny nose, congestion and general malaise, as well as lip smacking and excessive salivation. Symptoms have resolved quickly and so far, the virus has not been fatal in cats.

Newbury and the UW Shelter Medicine team are working closely with the animal shelter to manage the influenza outbreak.

An H3N2 vaccine is now available for dogs, but no vaccine is currently approved or recommended for cats.

What Should You Know about Canine Influenza?

A canine influenza outbreak has occurred in Illinois and other Midwestern States. The outbreak was initially believed to be due to the H3N8 virus which has been found in the United States since 2004. However, it has been determined that the outbreak is due to a different influenza virus. H3N2 is the culprit for the current influenza outbreak and it typically causes more severe symptoms than H3N8 though not all infected animals will display symptoms. Both influenza strains can cause fever, decreased appetite, coughing, nasal discharge, and lethargy. H3N2 is also capable of infecting cats.

An Influenza A H3N8 Rt-PCR will not detect the H3N2 virus however an H3N2-specific serology assay is currently being developed. The current vaccine for H3N8 may not provide any protection against this new virus. Cornell University recommends that dog and cat owners avoid geographic areas where the virus is active. Should one live in an area where the virus can be found it, avoid places where dogs are in close quarters such as dog parks and grooming facilities. Joe Schwartz, Public Information Officer from Cornell University recommends that owners of symptomatic dogs and cats should consult their veterinarians about testing and treatment.

Scott Weese, from the Worms and Germs Blog has compiled a list of infection control measures:

• If your dog is sick, keep it away from other dogs.
• If your dog has been exposed to dogs that might have been infected, keep it away from other dogs.
• Don't travel to an endemic region with your dog. 
• Don’t travel out of an endemic region with your dog.
• Don’t import dogs from shelters, puppy mills or similar facilities in areas where H3N2 is active. 
• If the virus is active in your area, decrease dog-dog contact.

READ THE REPORT BY CORNELL UNIVERSITY