Transmission of influenza B viruses in the guinea pig.
Epidemic influenza is typically caused by infection with viruses of the A and B types and can result in substantial morbidity and mortality during a given season. Here we demonstrate that influenza B viruses can replicate in the upper respiratory tract of the guinea pig and that viruses of the two main lineages can be transmitted with 100% efficiency between inoculated and naïve animals in both contact and noncontact models. Our results also indicate that, like in the case for influenza A virus, transmission of influenza B viruses is enhanced at colder temperatures, providing an explanation for the seasonality of influenza epidemics in temperate climates. We therefore present, for the first time, a small animal model with which to study the underlying mechanisms of influenza B virus transmission.
Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Natalie
N
Pica
Yi-Ying
YY
Chou
Nicole M
NM
Bouvier
Peter
P
Palese
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009981:Influenza B virus; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013696:Temperature; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology; D017201:Virus Shedding