Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2011
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Influenza B virus, like influenza A virus is a respiratory pathogen that affects humans worldwide, causing epidemics annually. Influenza B is milder than Influenza A, although the mortality rate for influenza B can approach 40% in some years. :\1any natural reservoirs for influenza A have been characterized but the only known reservoir known for influenza B arc humans. While some evidence exists that seals may be hosts for influenza B virus infection, the true nature of their involvement is still currently unknown. Studies in the 1970's demonstrated the ability of influenza B to replicate in swine, and we hypothesize that swine may provide another reservoir for influenza B replication. In order to examine the possibility of swine as a reservoir, specific traditional assays such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot assays, and hemagglutination inhibition assays (HAI) were developed to screen a set of scrum samples for the presence of influenza B specific antibody. While the results of both the in-house ELISA and the western blot assays were inconclusive due to ineffective control samples, the results of the HAI assay were more promising. The results of the HAI indicated that cross-reactivity between influenza A and B viruses was not occurring. In addition, nearly 16% of swine scrum samples contain influenza B specific antibody, indicating that pigs arc exposed to influenza B viruses. Questions remain for further analysis regarding whether or not the pig fulfills the requirements for a replicative host, information that will be the focus of future work.
Key words: epidemiology; influenza B; pathogenicity; non-human reservoir
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Influenza viruses -- Reproduction
Swine -- Virus diseases
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
96
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Kolb, Elizabeth, "The Development of Multiple Assays to Detect Influenza B in Swine" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1801.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1801