Detection of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in commercial raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats in South Korea.

Raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) present inherent potential risks associated with microbial pathogen transmission that is attributed to the absence of heat treatment. Recent incidents involving highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cats, potentially linked to RMBD consumption, underscore the urgency for assessing the risks associated with RMBDs in South Korea. In this study, 62 RMBDs produced in South Korea for consumption by dogs or cats were tested to evaluate the potential risk of avian influenza virus (AIV) contamination. Two live AIVs were isolated from two RMBDs through egg-inoculation. Entire genome sequences of the two AIVs were generated using next-generation sequencing (NGS), confirming their classification as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2. Eight genes of the two isolated samples formed a monophyletic cluster with Y280-lineage H9N2 viruses that were identified in South Korea in 2020. These findings substantiate potential AIV risks associated with RMBDs, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing surveillance and viral transmission management. The implications of this study highlight the need for careful management and monitoring of RMBDs to mitigate potential zoonotic risks. Additionally, thorough control and supervision of poultry-related foods for humans are essential.