Influenza Virus Infection of Marine Mammals.

Sasan Fereidouni,Marco De Nardi,Sophie Von Dobschuetz,Olga Munoz

doi:10.1007/s10393-014-0968-1

Abstract

Interspecies transmission may play a key role in the evolution and ecology of influenza A viruses. The importance of marine mammals as hosts or carriers of potential zoonotic pathogens such as highly pathogenic H5 and H7 influenza viruses is not well understood. The fact that influenza viruses are some of the few zoonotic pathogens known to have caused infection in marine mammals, evidence for direct transmission of influenza A virus H7N7 subtype from seals to man, transmission of pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses to seals and also limited evidence for long-term persistence of influenza B viruses in seal populations without significant genetic change, makes monitoring of influenza viruses in marine mammal populations worth being performed. In addition, such monitoring studies could be a great tool to better understand the ecology of influenza viruses in nature.

Highlights

Interspecies transmission of influenza viruses is an important event in the evolution and ecology of these viruses
Based on the close genetic relatedness of influenza viruses isolated from marine mammals and wild birds, it has been hypothesized that wild birds are the main source
Pathologic lesions, including acute interstitial pneumonia and subcutaneous emphysema, were observed in dead seals; and three influenza viruses of the H3N3 subtype were isolated from the lung tissue of three harbour seals (Callan et al 1995). This was the first isolation of H3 subtype influenza viruses from seals and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship to North American avian influenza viruses (AIV)

Summary

Introduction

Interspecies transmission of influenza viruses is an important event in the evolution and ecology of these viruses. Influenza A viruses (IAV) infect a variety of hosts, including domestic and wild birds, humans and marine mammals.

Results

Conclusion