WeCAHN information library - H5N1 virus invades the mammary glands of dairy cattle through “mouth-to-teat” transmission

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Infographics, reports, and other western Canadian animal health surveillance information

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Dairy:

Dairy

Emerging issues:

Emerging issues

Avian influenza :

PRIMARY RESEARCH_SCIENTIFIC_REPORTS_Avian influenza in mammals

Animal Type:

Bovine

Disease Agent:

Influenza

Disease Agent Type:

Virus

Region:

United States

Media Type:

Scientific publication

Frequency:

One Time

Link to Shi et al.'s Accepted Manuscript in the National Science Review

H5N1 virus invades the mammary glands of dairy cattle through “mouth-to-teat” transmission

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Shi et al. (2025) propose that highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus transmission occurs from "mouth-to-teat." According to this manuscript, calves inoculated via the mouth transmitted the virus into the mammary gland via suckling. There are a few limitations to the conclusion of "mouth-to-teat" transmission. Two notable limitations are the small sample size of one cow and two calves, and the omission of testing the cow for potential nasal viral infection associated with nose-to-nose transmission.