May 10, 2024 — Cow udders have the same flu virus receptors as humans and birds, raising concerns that cows could become a “mixing vessel” for flu viruses. Avian Influenza The virus spreads from person to person.
That’s according to new research from scientists at the University of Copenhagen and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, published as Preprint research in bioRxiv.
The scientists examined brain, respiratory and udder tissue samples taken from a small number of cows and calves.They stained the tissue and put it under a microscope to see what kind of receptors will be discovered.
They found that cow udder sacs are filled with influenza receptors associated with birds as well as humans. These are receptors to which avian influenza viruses such as H5N1 can attach. Cows have far fewer receptors in their brain and respiratory tissue.
“These results provide a mechanistic rationale for the high levels of H5N1 viruses reported in infected cow milk and suggest that cattle may serve as a mixing reservoir for novel H5N1 viruses. [influenza virus] the researchers wrote in the study.
When animals act as mixing vessels, different strains of influenza can exchange genetic material, creating new species of disease.
Pigs may be infected with human and avian influenza viruses, previously thought to be a mixing vessel of viruses that could pose a pandemic threat, according to Stat News. This new study suggests that dairy cows could become a mixing vessel for an avian influenza pandemic.
“The new preprint convincingly shows that both human and avian influenza receptors are present in the udders of dairy cows,” said Dr. Sam Scarpino, director of artificial intelligence and life sciences at Northeastern University. say on Xformerly known as Twitter. “Therefore, dairy cows *may* have similar potential to pigs as an evolutionary intermediary between avian and human influenza.”
Since late March, poultry infections have been found in 42 flocks in nine states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
