title: Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Seal Influenza A(H10N7) Virus in Harbor Seals and Gray Seals from the Netherlands.
abstract: In the spring and summer 2014, an outbreak of seal influenza A(H10N7) virus infection occurred among harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) off the coasts of Sweden and Denmark. This virus subsequently spread to harbor seals off the coasts of Germany and the Netherlands. While thousands of seals were reported dead in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, only a limited number of seals were found dead in the Netherlands. To determine the extent of exposure of seals in the Netherlands to influenza A/H10N7 virus, we measured specific antibody titers in serum samples from live-captured seals and seals admitted for rehabilitation in the Netherlands by use of a hemagglutination inhibition assay and an ELISA. In harbor seals in 2015, antibodies against seal influenza A(H10N7) virus were detected in 41% (32 out of 78) pups, 10% (5 out of 52) weaners, and 58% (7 out of 12) subadults or adults. In gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in 2015, specific antibodies were not found in the pups (n = 26), but in 26% (5 out of 19) of the older animals. These findings indicate that, despite apparent low mortality, infection with seal influenza A(H10N7) virus was geographically widespread and also occurred in grey seals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rogier
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bodewes
authors.affiliation: Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Pieterburen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubio García
authors.affiliation: IMARES-Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen University, Texel, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sophie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.affiliation: Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Pieterburen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez Conteras
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marco W G
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van de Bildt
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marion P G
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Artemis One Health, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuiken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D057921:Influenza A Virus, H10N7 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D046049:Phoca / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies