Abstract
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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Viral / blood
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Cell Line
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Cells, Cultured
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Disease Reservoirs
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Dogs
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Genes, Viral
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Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
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Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
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Humans
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Influenza B virus / classification
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Influenza B virus / genetics
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Influenza B virus / immunology
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Influenza B virus / isolation & purification*
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Neutralization Tests
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary*
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
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Pharynx / virology
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Seals, Earless / virology*
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Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
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Virus Shedding
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
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Viral Nonstructural Proteins