Influenza in heterothermics

The objective was to study Orthomyxovirus in heterothermic animals. Blood samples from snakes (genus Bothrops and Crotalus) and from toads and frogs (genus Bufo and Rana) were collected to evaluate the red cell receptors and antibodies specific to influenza virus by the hemagglutination and hemagglu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2004-05, Vol.37 (3)
Main Authors: Mancini, Dalva Assunção Portari, Mendonça, Rita Maria Zucatelli, Cianciarullo, Aurora Marques, Kobashi, Leonardo Setsuo, Trindade, Hermínio Gomes, Fernandes, Wilson, Pinto, José Ricardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Reptiles
Snakes
Toads
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Summary:The objective was to study Orthomyxovirus in heterothermic animals. Blood samples from snakes (genus Bothrops and Crotalus) and from toads and frogs (genus Bufo and Rana) were collected to evaluate the red cell receptors and antibodies specific to influenza virus by the hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests, respectively. Both snakes and toads kept in captivity presented receptors in their red cells and antibodies specific to either influenza virus type A (human and equine origin) or influenza type B. The same was observed with recently captured snakes. Concerning the influenza hemagglutination inhibition antibodies protective levels were observed in the reptiles' serum, against influenza type A and type B. Unlike the toads, 83.3% of the frogs presented mean levels of Ab 40HIU for some influenza strains. It was concluded that heterothermic animals could offer host conditions to the influenza virus and also susceptibility to the infection.
ISSN:0037-8682
1678-9849
DOI:10.1590/S0037-86822004000300002