Figure 3
From: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1) can be transmitted in ferrets by transfusion
Viremia and related clinical signs. 6 ferrets (donors) were infected with 1 × 102.6 EID50/ml (low dose) of virus and 6 other donors were infected with 1 × 103.6 EID50/ml of virus. For each challenge dose, the donor animals were divided into two groups; blood was collected on days 2 and day 6 post-infection from one of these groups and on days 4 and day 10 post-infection (or the day before animal died) from the other group. At these time points about 2 ml of freshly collected blood was transfused into its appropriate recipient. (A). Viremia is detectable in ferrets post-challenge. Virus RNA was isolated from blood collected from animals on day after post-infection (donors)/transfusion (recipients), virus loads were tested with RT-qPCR assay; and survival was recorded up to 12 days post-challenge. (B). % survival of recipient ferrets with viremia vs. non-viremia. Recipients were followed up to 12 days post-transfusion; virus load was measured using an RT-qPCR assay. (C). H5N1 replication in recipient ferrets. Viral loads in blood collected from recipients on day 2, day 4, day 6, and day10 post-transfusion, were detected using the RT-qPCR assay; animal survival was recorded up to 12 days after challenge.