Pathogenicity of North American HPAI Influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b Wigeon/SC/21 and Eagle/FL/22 viruses in ferrets.AExperimental design of ferret pathogenesis and transmission. At 0 dpi, ferrets (n = 9 per virus) were inoculated with 106EID50units of A(H5N1) virus. Three inoculated ferrets were individually co-housed with 3 naïve contact ferrets beginning 1 dpi. Clinical course of infection was monitored, and nasal wash samples were taken at indicated time points from both inoculated and contact ferrets. The remaining inoculated ferrets were euthanized at 3 dpi and 5 dpi (n = 3 per time point per virus) for viral titration in tissues.BSurvival andCweight changes of inoculated ferrets (n = 3 per virus). Ferret weights every ≈48 h were used to calculate percentage of weight change from the initial mean weight at 0 dpi. Ferret weight values are the average ± SE for each group.P
Exposing the Big Game 