Abstract
Domesticated cats can be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus and potentially can be vector or reservoir hosts in an influenza pandemic. We examined the immunogenicity of the hemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1strain VN/1203/04 in cats. ELISAs showed that a single dose of recombinant H5 HA protein can induce a robust antibody response against both whole inactivated virus and recombinant HA antigen. A marked increase in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers was also observed in sera from cats given a single dose of the H5 HA protein. However, cats given the commercial H5N1 vaccine required 2 doses before increased H5 HA‐specific antibody titers were observed. Despite boosting, cats receiving the commercial H5N1 vaccine had HI titers lower than those given one injection of recombinant protein. Cats vaccinated with plasmid DNA encoding HA failed to develop HA‐specific antibody responses. Finally, sera from cats that received the protein vaccine neutralized wild type H5N1 influenza virus (VN/120304). The results of this study indicate that recombinant H5 HA protein‐based vaccines may be more effective that either inactivated influenza virus or DNA vaccines in cats.
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