|Ferrets as experimental models of influenza in humans| 07 Mar
2012 A number of animal models have been used to study how
influenza viruses may work in humans: mice, hamsters, guinea
pigs, and both cotton rats (Sigmodon) and ordinary rats
(Rattus). However one of the most used is the ferret model. This
species is very susceptible to infection with human influenza
viruses and unlike some other animal models, such as mice, there
is no need for prior host adaptation of the human viruses. Hence
ferrets are considered by many to be the most suitable small
animal model for influenza research relating to humans. For
decades the degree of antigenic match of drifted influenza
viruses to existing vaccines has been judged by seeing how
reactive they are with ferret anti-sera raised against the
current vaccine strains. Many studies on ferrets have modelled
the pathogenesis mechanisms of influenza viruses and the
potential for these to cause disease in humans through similar
pathogenesis patterns including not only human