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

Authors :
van den Brand, Judith M A
Wohlsein, Peter
Herfst, Sander
Bodewes, Rogier
Pfankuche, Vanessa M
van de Bildt, Marco W G
Seehusen, Frauke
Puff, Christina
Richard, Mathilde
Siebert, Ursula
Lehnert, Kristina
Bestebroer, Theo
Lexmond, Pascal
Fouchier, Ron A M
Prenger-Berninghoff, Ellen
Herbst, Werner
Koopmans, Marion
Osterhaus, Albert D M E
Kuiken, Thijs
Baumgärtner, Wolfgang
dFAH I&I
VPDC pathologie
dPB I&I
dPB CR
LS GZ Landbouwhuisdieren
Bedrijfsvoering
Virology
dFAH I&I
VPDC pathologie
dPB I&I
dPB CR
LS GZ Landbouwhuisdieren
Bedrijfsvoering
Source :
PLoS One (print), 11(7):e0159625. Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, Vol 11, Iss 7, p e0159625 (2016), PLOS ONE, PLoS One, 11(7). Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE
Publication Year :
2016

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 respiratory tract. The fatal outcome of the viral infection in seals was most likely caused by secondary bacterial infections. To investigate the pathogenic potential of H10N7 infection for humans, we inoculated the seal virus intratracheally into six ferrets and performed pathological and virological analyses at 3 and 7 days post inoculation. These experimentally inoculated ferrets displayed mild clinical signs, virus excretion from the pharynx and respiratory tract inflammation extending from bronchi to alveoli that was associated with virus antigen expression exclusively in the respiratory epithelium. Virus was isolated only from the respiratory tract. In conclusion, Seal/H10N7 infection in naturally infected harbor seals and experimentally infected ferrets shows that respiratory epithelial cells are the permissive cells for viral replication. Fatal outcome in seals was caused by secondary bacterial pneumonia similar to that in fatal human cases during influenza pandemics. Productive infection of ferrets indicates that seal/H10N7 may possess a zoonotic potential. This outbreak of LPAI from wild birds to seals demonstrates the risk of such occasions for mammals and thus humans.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
11
Issue :
7
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
PLoS One
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....918d2dbbbbb0caf0e5649ba2b993deaa