Serological survey in dogs and cats for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Germany

A serological survey for the detection of antibodies to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was carried out in a population of dogs and cats in Germany. A total of 1150 sera collected in 2010 and 2011 were screened using an ELISA targeting anti-nucleoprotein NP antibodies. Those initially screened positive samples were subsequently tested for antibodies to N1 neuraminidase followed by a virus neutralization test using A/Bayern/74/2009 strain. A prevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09-specific antibodies of 0.13% and 1.93% was estimated among dogs and cats, respectively. Evidence of exposure to other influenza A virus subtypes was also observed.