Influenza B Virus in Seals

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Osterhaus, A. D. M. E., Rimmelzwaan, G. F., Martina, B. E. E., Bestebroer, T. M., Fouchier, R. A. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2000
• Subjects: harbor seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.288.5468.1051; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.288.5468.1051

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.