title: Domestic pigs are susceptible to infection with influenza B viruses.
abstract: Influenza B virus (IBV) causes seasonal epidemics in humans. Although IBV has been isolated from seals, humans are considered the primary host and reservoir of this important pathogen. It is unclear whether other animal species can support the replication of IBV and serve as a reservoir. Swine are naturally infected with both influenza A and C viruses. To determine the susceptibility of pigs to IBV infection, we conducted a serological survey for U.S. Midwest domestic swine herds from 2010 to 2012. Results of this study showed that antibodies to IBVs were detected in 38.5% (20/52) of sampled farms, and 7.3% (41/560) of tested swine serum samples were positive for IBV antibodies. Furthermore, swine herds infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) showed a higher prevalence of IBV antibodies in our 2014 survey. In addition, IBV was detected in 3 nasal swabs collected from PRRSV-seropositive pigs by real-time RT-PCR and sequencing. Finally, an experimental infection in pigs, via intranasal and intratracheal routes, was performed using one representative virus from each of the two genetically and antigenically distinct lineages of IBVs: B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria lineage) and B/Yamagata/16/1988 (Yamagata lineage). Pigs developed influenza-like symptoms and lung lesions, and they seroconverted after virus inoculation. Pigs infected with B/Brisbane/60/2008 virus successfully transmitted the virus to sentinel animals. Taken together, our data demonstrate that pigs are susceptible to IBV infection; therefore, they warrant further surveillance and investigation of swine as a potential host for human IBV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  IBV is an important human pathogen, but its ability to infect other species, for example, pigs, is not well understood. We showed serological evidence that antibodies to two genetically and antigenically distinct lineages of IBVs were present among domestic pigs, especially in swine herds previously infected with PRRSV, an immunosuppressive virus. IBV was detected in 3 nasal swabs from PRRSV-seropositive pigs by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing. Moreover, both lineages of IBV were able to infect pigs under experimental conditions, with transmissibility of influenza B/Victoria lineage virus among pigs being observed. Our results demonstrate that pigs are susceptible to IBV infections, indicating that IBV is a swine pathogen, and swine may serve as a natural reservoir of IBVs. In addition, pigs may serve as a model to study the mechanisms of transmission and pathogenesis of IBVs.
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Zhiguang
authors: Z
authors: Ran
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Huigang
authors: H
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Yuekun
authors: Y
authors: Lang
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Kolb
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Nuri
authors: N
authors: Turan
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Laihua
authors: L
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Jingjiao
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Bhupinder
authors: B
authors: Bawa
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Qinfang
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Haixia
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Quast
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Sexton
authors: Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Krammer
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Ben M
authors: BM
authors: Hause
authors: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Christopher-Hennings
authors: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.
authors: Eric A
authors: EA
authors: Nelson
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Juergen
authors: J
authors: Richt
authors: Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA feng.li@sdatate.edu wma@vet.k-state.edu.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA feng.li@sdatate.edu wma@vet.k-state.edu.
authors: Wenjun
authors: W
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral