Influenza B Virus in Seals
Influenza B virus is a human pathogen whose origin and possible reservoir in nature are not known. An influenza B virus was isolated from a naturally infected harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina ) and was found to be infectious to seal kidney cells in vitro. Sequence analyses and serology indicated that in...
Published in: | Science |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2000
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.288.5468.1051 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.288.5468.1051 |
Summary: | Influenza B virus is a human pathogen whose origin and possible reservoir in nature are not known. An influenza B virus was isolated from a naturally infected harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina ) and was found to be infectious to seal kidney cells in vitro. Sequence analyses and serology indicated that influenza virus B/Seal/Netherlands/1/99 is closely related to strains that circulated in humans 4 to 5 years earlier. Retrospective analyses of sera collected from 971 seals showed a prevalence of antibodies to influenza B virus in 2% of the animals after 1995 and in none before 1995. This animal reservoir, harboring influenza B viruses that have circulated in the past, may pose a direct threat to humans. |
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