Hematogenous neuroinvasion and genotype-dependent transmission of influenza A H5N1 viruses in the cat host

The spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1 virus to mammalian hosts raises major concerns due to its pandemic potential. Cats are frequently affected mammals, often succumbing to systemic and neurological disease. Here, we characterized the pathogenesis and transmissibility of two H5N1 genotypes, B3.13 and D1.1, in cats. Infected cats exhibited high-level viremia and virus shedding in nasal, oral, and fecal secretions were consistently detected. The virus replicated initially in the upper respiratory tract and lungs, followed by systemic dissemination and neuroinvasion. Notably, the virus crossed the blood-brain-barrier by infecting endothelial cells, spreading to astrocytes and neurons, causing multifocal encephalitis. D1.1-virus infection caused protracted disease with lower shedding and no transmissibility, whereas B3.13 virus caused rapid onset with efficient shedding and transmission. These findings reveal critical H5N1 neuropathogenesis mechanisms and highlight mammalian transmission potential in a species with close human contact.