Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, particularly clade 2.3.4.4b, has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity for cross-species transmission, with recent reports confirming its presence in dairy cattle in the United States of America (USA) in 2024. This unexpected spillover challenges tradi...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Jaime David Acosta-España Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales |
| author_facet | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Jaime David Acosta-España Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales |
| author_sort | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, particularly clade 2.3.4.4b, has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity for cross-species transmission, with recent reports confirming its presence in dairy cattle in the United States of America (USA) in 2024. This unexpected spillover challenges traditional understanding of the virus’s host range and raises serious public health and veterinary concerns. Infected cattle presented with clinical signs such as decreased milk production, thickened or discolored milk, respiratory issues, and lethargy. Pathological findings revealed inflammation of the mammary glands and the detection of a virus in nasal secretions and raw milk, suggesting a potential for both intra- and interspecies transmission. While the current risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, the detection of H5N1 in a human exposed to infected cattle highlights the need for heightened surveillance and protective measures. Moreover, the presence of infectious viruses in the food chain, particularly in unpasteurized milk, introduces a new dimension of zoonotic risk. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on the epidemiology, pathology, diagnostic findings, and zoonotic implications of HPAI H5N1 infection in cattle. It also highlights the importance of genomic surveillance, intersectoral collaboration, and One Health approaches in managing this evolving threat. As the virus continues to circulate and adapt across diverse hosts, including wild birds, domestic poultry, and now mammals, the potential for reassortment and emergence of novel strains remains a significant concern. Immediate actions to strengthen biosecurity, monitor viral evolution, and protect both animal and human populations are critical to mitigate the global risk posed by this expanding panzootic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-163eb81d110e4fafa0fa36c50b851cb9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-163eb81d110e4fafa0fa36c50b851cb92025-08-20T03:50:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011513196310.3390/ani15131963Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health ConcernIvan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas0D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana1Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez2Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana3Jaime David Acosta-España4Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales5Grupo de Investigación en Recursos Naturales Amazónicos GRAM, Instituto Tecnológico del Putumayo, Mocoa 860001, ColombiaCollege of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaGrupo de Investigación en Recursos Naturales Amazónicos GRAM, Instituto Tecnológico del Putumayo, Mocoa 860001, ColombiaGrupo de Virologia, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaSchool of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, EcuadorFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima 15307, PeruHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, particularly clade 2.3.4.4b, has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity for cross-species transmission, with recent reports confirming its presence in dairy cattle in the United States of America (USA) in 2024. This unexpected spillover challenges traditional understanding of the virus’s host range and raises serious public health and veterinary concerns. Infected cattle presented with clinical signs such as decreased milk production, thickened or discolored milk, respiratory issues, and lethargy. Pathological findings revealed inflammation of the mammary glands and the detection of a virus in nasal secretions and raw milk, suggesting a potential for both intra- and interspecies transmission. While the current risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, the detection of H5N1 in a human exposed to infected cattle highlights the need for heightened surveillance and protective measures. Moreover, the presence of infectious viruses in the food chain, particularly in unpasteurized milk, introduces a new dimension of zoonotic risk. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on the epidemiology, pathology, diagnostic findings, and zoonotic implications of HPAI H5N1 infection in cattle. It also highlights the importance of genomic surveillance, intersectoral collaboration, and One Health approaches in managing this evolving threat. As the virus continues to circulate and adapt across diverse hosts, including wild birds, domestic poultry, and now mammals, the potential for reassortment and emergence of novel strains remains a significant concern. Immediate actions to strengthen biosecurity, monitor viral evolution, and protect both animal and human populations are critical to mitigate the global risk posed by this expanding panzootic.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1963H5N1cattlehighly pathogenic avian influenzazoonosisbovineOne Health |
| spellingShingle | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Jaime David Acosta-España Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern Animals H5N1 cattle highly pathogenic avian influenza zoonosis bovine One Health |
| title | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern |
| title_full | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern |
| title_fullStr | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern |
| title_short | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Cattle: A Rising One Health Concern |
| title_sort | highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 clade 2 3 4 4b in cattle a rising one health concern |
| topic | H5N1 cattle highly pathogenic avian influenza zoonosis bovine One Health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1963 |
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