Sea Otters Can Get The Flu, Too
The infamous H1N1 flu virus that cased the worldwide flu pandemic in humans in 2009 has resurfaced once again in a more unlikely candidate. Northern sea otters living off the coast of Washington state have been recently found affected by this virus. It has been noted that many different species of animals including ducks, chicken, pigs, and whales can carry human viruses, but this is the first time this has been found in sea otter. It’s hard to believe since they are just so cute!
The transmission of influenza viruses is a complex process when being transferred between species; therefore it is currently unknown as to how these sea otters became infected. They live in a generally secluded environment, almost entirely separated from any human interaction. The interesting thing about this study is that it shows that this is not the first time this particular species has been exposed to the virus. Though many of the animals appear not to be visibly sick at this point, antibodies for the 2009 H1N1 flu virus were found in about 70 percent of the sea otter blood samples studied. Further studies on the antibodies were done, providing even evidence that these antibodies were specific to this pandemic 2009 human H1N1 virus.
These studies show that sea otters can now be added to the list of marine mammal species that are susceptible to human viruses and specifically this H1N1. The only other species known to be affected by this particular virus is the elephant seal, shown in an unrelated study done in 2010 off the coast of central California. Similarly to the outbreak in these sea otters, it is unknown how the elephant seals became infected, but it was proven to be this same strain of the flu virus.
This information is important because it gives more reason to study the “complex interspecies transmission of flu viruses in the marine environment,” as said by USGS scientist LeAnn White. Though most prevalent in 2009, this strain of the flu virus was also the leading strain during the 2013-2014 flu season as well. This shows that the same strain of virus can easily continue to reappear and that using different animals as hosts may be how it continues to survive.
Full article: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/5/13-1890_article.htm
More specific details on the study: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/5/13-1890_article.htm