A new study has explained why dairy cows are unusually vulnerable to H5N1 bird flu, showing that the virus targets the udders rather than the lungs because its preferred receptors are concentrated in mammary tissue.
Researchers found that the receptors H5N1 uses to enter cells cluster in udder tissue, not in the respiratory tract, where flu viruses typically take hold. That distribution helps explain the pattern of infection seen in dairy cattle during recent outbreaks.
H5N1, a strain of avian influenza, has spread among dairy herds in addition to its long-standing presence in wild birds and poultry. The infection of cows has raised concerns among scientists and public health officials monitoring the virus.
The concentration of the virus in mammary tissue has implications for how the disease is detected and contained, including the role of milk in surveillance and the safety measures applied during processing.
Understanding the biological basis for the virus’s behavior in cows is an important step in assessing its risks and tracking its evolution. The findings could inform strategies to limit spread within herds and reduce potential exposure pathways.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/