Influenza virus infection in seal (Phocidae) : seroepidemiological survey of influenza virus in Caspian seals(Phoca caspica)

• Main Authors: Ohishi, Kazue, Ninomiya, Ai, Kida, Hiroshi, Maruyama, Tadashi, Arai, Takaomi, Miyazaki, Nobuyuki
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Otsuchi Marine Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo 28.03.2003; 東京大学海洋研究所大槌臨海研究センター
• Subjects: influenza virus; marine mammals; seal

In the last a few decades, several viral diseases in marine mammals such as seals and cetaceans were characterized. Influenza virus causes a worldwide zoonosis, influenza, and was shown to be involved in mass mortality in seals. Several influenza virus strains have been isolated from the sick seals. Because interspecies transmission of influenza virus plays a crucial role in the introduction of pandemic influenza disease in humans, it is important to monitor the virus distribution in wild animals including marine mammals. In this article, we review the previous findings on influenza virus infection in seals, and introduce our recent serological surveillance of influenza virus in Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) in 1993-2000. Our recent results suggested that the Caspian seals were infected by human related influenza viruses. The possibility of seals as reservoirs of influenza virus, and the importance of surveillance of the virus infection in marine mammals have been discussed.