Canine and Feline Influenza

Influenza virus infections of carnivores-primarily in dogs and in large and small cats-have been repeatedly observed to be caused by a number of direct spillovers of avian viruses or in infections by human or swine viruses. In addition, there have also been prolonged epizootics of an H3N8 equine influenza virus in dogs starting around 1999, of an H3N2 avian influenza virus in domestic dog populations in Asia and in the United States that started around 2004, and an outbreak of an avian H7N2 influenza virus among cats in an animal shelter in the United States in 2016. The impact of influenza viruses in domesticated companion animals and their zoonotic or panzootic potential poses significant questions for veterinary and human health.