Manitoba Agriculture: Risk of HPAI in Raw Diets
Following the December 2024 detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in an Oregan raw pet food diet, Manitoba Agriculture would like to remind and clarify to practitioners the risks that raw food poses to our pets. These diets have the potential to carry the more conventional food-borne illnesses, such as Salmonella, E.coli and Listeria, but HPAI can also be a concern. The Oregon pet food manufacturer involved supplies diets to British Columbia, but it was later determined that the affected pet food did not enter Canada.
Due to the fact that poultry infected with HPAI typically show significant clinical signs, it is not overly likely that infected birds will appear healthy enough to go for slaughter. In a typical infection, poultry producers or small flock owners notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of abnormal disease in their flock, and testing is conducted to determine whether the virus is present. Upon detection of HPAI, depopulation and proper disposal of these flocks take place, ensuring food safety for humans and pets. This system hinges on timely communication with the CFIA when abnormal signs are noted in the flock. Although the risk of HPAI in raw diets is low, the risk is still present. Because pasteurization and cooking kills the HPAI virus, feeding cooked diets eliminates the risk of transmitting HPAI to pets through food.
Practitioners are also reminded that signs of HPAI infection in cats typically involves pyrexia, conjunctivitis, ocular and nasal discharge, as well as neurological signs that include tremors, seizures and blindness. When American veterinarians were trying to determine the etiologic agent involved in the HPAI outbreak in dairy cattle, it was the neurologic signs in the dairy farm cats that led diagnosticians to test the dairy cattle for HPAI. These cats were being infected with HPAI through the feeding of contaminated waste milk, as HPAI virus concentrates in the mammary gland of dairy cattle.
Practitioners with further questions are encouraged to contact the Manitoba Chief Veterinary Office at chiefveterinaryoffice@gov.mb.ca or read through Dr. Scott Weese’s website, Worms and Germs Blog, as it contains several excellent articles on HPAI and pets. The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) and Animal Health Canada have also put together a helpful HPAI and Cats Factsheet.