COMPARISON OF INFLUENZA-VIRUSES ISOLATED FROM MAN AND FROM WHALES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (6) , 923-930
Abstract
Four isolates of influenza virus strains from Moscow and Habarovsk that caused outbreaks of influenza in Nov. and Dec. 1977 in several cities of the USSR were studied and their hemagglutinins and neuraminidases were compared with those of other human and animal influenza viruses including A/whale/Pacific Ocean/76. In HI [hemagglutination inhibition] tests these isolates, designated A/USSR/77, reacted with immune serum against A/FM/1/47 (H1N1) to the homologous titer, and with antiserum against A/whale/PO/19/76 virus to 1/8 of the homologous titer. In neuraminidase inhibition tests all A/USSR/77 isolates showed the presence of human N1 type neuraminidase, more closely related to A/sw/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1) than to A/FM/1/47 (H1N1) virus. The hemagglutinin of A/whale/Pacific Ocean/19/76 virus occupies an intermediate position between HO and H1, but its neuraminidase is close to Nav2. The virus from whales [Balaenopteridae] multiplies better at low (28.degree. C) and at high (40.degree. C) temperatures than do the viruses of human origin that were tested.