NEED TO KNOW

A pet cat in Florida helped researchers discover a new virus strain

Pepper, a 7-year-old black shorthair, brought a rodent carcass home to his owner, virologist John Lednicky

Lednicky ultimately tested the rodent at his lab, where his team found it harbored a new strain of orthoreovirus, a virus common in mammals and birds

A cat in Florida helped scientists discover a new virus strain — and it’s not the first time he’s done it!

Pepper the cat belongs to University of Florida (UF) College of Public Health and Health Professions virologist Dr. John Lednicky.

Speaking to the New York Post , Lednicky said that Pepper, a 7-year-old black shorthair, often brings home rodents that he catches out in the wild, and Lednicky brings the rodents into the lab for research.

Ou

See Full Page