Influenza A (H10N7) Virus Causes Respiratory Tract Disease in Harbor Seals and Ferrets.

ABSTRACT: Avian influenza viruses sporadically cross the species barrier to mammals, including humans, in which they may cause epidemic disease. Recently such an epidemic occurred due to the emergence of avian influenza virus of the subtype H10N7 (Seal/H10N7) in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). This epidemic caused high mortality in seals along the north-west coast of Europe and represented a potential risk for human health. To characterize the spectrum of lesions and to identify the target cells and viral distribution, findings in 16 harbor seals spontaneously infected with Seal/H10N7 are described. The seals had respiratory tract inflammation extending from the nasal cavity to bronchi associated with intralesional virus antigen in respiratory epithelial cells. Virus infection was restricted to the r

SUBMITTER: van den Brand JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4957826 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature