The appearance of H3 influenza viruses in seals

Serologic Evidence of Influenza A Infection in Marine Mammals of Arctic Canada

“…This strain caused mortality estimated to be between 2 to 4% and was found to be genetically and serologically related to avian strains (Hinshaw et al, 1984). Continuing surveillance on the New England coast resulted in the isolation of two additional influenza A virus strains (Callan et al, 1995). Both were associated with an increase in harbor seal mortality and the pathology was consistent with that described for previous seal influenza outbreaks.…”

Viral and Bacterial Serology of Free-Ranging Pacific Walrus

“…The influenza A virus strains of these pinniped species are closely related to avian influenza A virus strains. There may be interchange of influenza A viruses between marine mammals and aquatic birds (Webster et al, 1981;Geraci et al, 1982;Hinshaw et al, 1984;Callan et al, 1995;Danner et al, 1998), similar to what has been postulated for calicivirus transmission between birds and marine mammals (Poet et al, 1996). Pacific walrus occasionally consume sea birds (Fay et al, 1990), and many terrestrial walrus haulout sites are adjacent to sea bird colonies.…”

“…Based upon virus isolation or serologic surveys, multiple serotypes of Influenza A virus have been documented in Atlantic harbor and gray seals (Webster et al, 1981;Geraci et al, 1982;Hinshaw et al, 1984;Callan et al, 1995). No serologic evidence of influenza was found in northern fur seals sampled from the Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean, and Sea of Okhotsk (Webster et al, 1981).…”

“…Blood samples were collected from 20 male and 20 female adult Pacific walrus harvested by native Alaskans during May 1994, 1995 (six males and 20 females) and during October 1995 and 1996 on Round Island (58Њ37Ј05ЉN, 159Њ59Ј50ЉW) (14 males), Alaska, USA (Fig. 1) Samples were collected into plain or sodium heparin tubes from either freely flowing wounds or from the heart within 30 min postmortem and held at ambient temperature (Ϫ5 C to 5 C) until processed.…”

“…(Smith et al, 1977;, Brucella spp. (Foster et al, 1996;Nielson et al, 1996Nielson et al, , 2001Tryland et al, 1999), phocine distemper virus (PDV) (Osterhaus et al, 1988;Duignan et al, 1995Duignan et al, , 1997Kennedy, 1998), caliciviruses (Barlough et al, 1986a, c), influenza A virus (Geraci et al, 1982;Hinshaw et al, 1984;Callan et al, 1995;Danner et al, 1998), and phocid herpesvirus-1 (Zarnke et al, 1997) have been documented in free-ranging pinniped populations. Some have been responsible for significant pinniped morbidity or mortality.…”