Detection of antibodies against avian influenza in European dairy cattle, the Netherlands, January 2026
In December 2025, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype DI.2.1 virus was detected in a cat living on a dairy cattle farm. Milk and serum samples from the dairy cattle were tested for avian influenza virus. No viral RNA was detected; however, H5N1-specific antibodies were identified in serum samples from 34 (47.2%) of 72 lactating dairy cows and 24 (63.2%) of 38 youngstock. These demonstrate expansion of the mammalian host range of HPAI H5N1 in Europe.
Authors
- Kim M. Bouwman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1794-6735)
- Luca Bordes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6958-7925)
- M.Y. Engelsma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7683-8596)
- Mónika Z. Ballmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0722-4501)
- Arco van der Spek
- Evelien A. Germeraad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9146-5580)
- Hendrik IJ Roest
- Sandra Venema-Kemper
- Sylvia BE Pritz-Verschuren
- Marit Roose
- Marcel AH Spierenburg
- Rene Heutink
Institutions
- Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (NL)
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NL)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2026-06-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.25.2600464
- Primary Topic
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00