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Volume 32, Number 10—October 2026

Dispatch

Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Cat and Rats during Outbreak in Backyard Poultry, United States, 2025

Suzanna M. Storms, Jade Rathmann, Lynette Hemker, Miranda Vieson, and Leyi WangComments to Author 
Author affiliation: Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, Texas, USA (S.M. Storms); University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA (S.M. Storms, M. Vieson, L. Wang); Greenville Veterinary Clinic, Ltd, Greenville, Illinois, USA (J. Rathmann, L. Hemker)

Main Article

Figure 1

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR results from HPAIV A(H5N1) in cat and rats during outbreak in backyard poultry, United States, 2025. Specimens obtained from a cat (A) and a rat (B) found dead on farm where the outbreak occurred were confirmed to be positive for H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 virus. Graphic shows HPAIV-positive tissues and corresponding Ct values. A) For the cat, Ct values are shown for mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes; urine, stomach content, and small intestine were not tested. B) For the rat, Ct values for peripheral lymph node only are shown; no mesenteric lymph node was tested. Also, rat feces, bone marrow, and testis were tested, but HPAIV was not detected in those organs. Figure created with BioRender (https://www.biorender.com). Ct, cycle threshold; HPAIV, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

Figure 1. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR results from HPAIV A(H5N1) in cat and rats during outbreak in backyard poultry, United States, 2025. Specimens obtained from a cat (A) and a rat (B) found dead on farm where the outbreak occurred were confirmed to be positive for H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 virus. Graphic shows HPAIV-positive tissues and corresponding Ct values. A) For the cat, Ct values are shown for mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes; urine, stomach content, and small intestine were not tested. B) For the rat, Ct values for peripheral lymph node only are shown; no mesenteric lymph node was tested. Also, rat feces, bone marrow, and testis were tested, but HPAIV was not detected in those organs. Figure created with BioRender (https://www.biorender.com). Ct, cycle threshold; HPAIV, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

Main Article

Page created: August 20, 2026
Page updated: September 18, 2026
Page reviewed: September 18, 2026
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