All birds and mammals can be infected by a form of influenza viruses, of which there are three types (A, B and C). Humans can be infected by forms of all three, but most varieties of influenza in animals and humans causing serious health problems are influenza type A. Viruses can mutate rapidly, and because the immune systems of hosts "does not protect initially cons of new mutations, new strains may then cause generalized infection. Often new strains resulting from the spread of influenza viruses from one species existing in the other, which provides the virus with the tools necessary to pass between members of different species to it is the usual host.
Swine flu
The latest strain of flu hit the headlines (H1N1) – known popularly as "swine flu" is a strain of influenza A. While the normal version of "swine flu" causes outbreaks of influenza with mortality is lower among pigs strain that is currently causing human deaths is not the same virus. The new strain combines the genes of pig, human and avian influenza and is similar to the strain that caused the "Spanish Flu", causing a human influenza pandemic in 1918. "Swine flu is a virus while completely different from the "bird flu" that has been widely discussed last year, and among the most important differences is that Bird Flu "infected humans who have direct contact with infected birds, which, as a" swine flu "is transmitted from human to human.
Influenza in horses
Influenza is widespread in horses and is believed to have a rate of nearly 100% infection in unvaccinated populations. Influenza in horses is mainly caused by the H7N7 and H3N8 strains. In 2007, an outbreak caused the Races in Sydney Australia to be suspended.
Against influenza in Cats
An avian strain (H5N1) influenza type A, which has been given the popular name "Bird Flu", was until recently posed the greatest risk for a new pandemic flu since early humans killed Asia in the 1990s, but it does not mutate into a form that spreads easily between people. H5N1 is unusual to be deadly for many species, including domestic cats that have never previously been susceptible to flu viruses. Except when they are infected H5N1, the term "cat flu" does not refer to infection with influenza, but symptoms usually refers to a infection of upper respiratory tract. Because cats have little exposure to influenza virus, while cases of influenza that has been able to transmit between humans or dogs and cats would probably lead to a generalized infection, since cats have no natural immunity against influenza viruses.
Flu in dogs
Type A influenza viruses also include equine influenza (H3N8), which in 2004 was discovered to be responsible for the canine flu. Due to the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs person to person, and not pigs to humans. None of those infected in North America have had contact with pigs, not hogs in North America have been found to be infected with this strain. Pet pigs are not known to be capable of contracting the strain of the "swine flu" which is talked about in the news but they are able to contract normal "swine flu", which generally does not have consequences more serious than seasonal influenza is to humans.
Conclusions
In general, influenza viruses are not transmitted from one species to another. For example, Dogs and cats do not develop the flu after exposure to homeowners with a virus of seasonal influenza. Although it is theoretically possible that a new strain of influenza can be transmitted between humans and other pets, it is likely that this strain could be transmitted between Only humans and other animals. Because the "swine flu" virus contains genetic elements of man, pigs and virus bird flu it seems very unlikely that this strain has the ability to infect hosts that are not humans, pigs or birds. And, according to the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), "there is no evidence that animals are sensitive to this new strain of influenza, it seems to be transmitted only person to person.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Could Swine Flu Affect Our Pets?