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Influenza B Virus in Seals

2000; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 288; Issue: 5468 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.288.5468.1051

1095-9203

Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Guus F. Rimmelzwaan, B Martina, Theo M. Bestebroer, Ron A. M. Fouchier,

Neuroscience of respiration and sleep

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.