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PLoS One. 2016 Aug 17;11(8):e0161195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161195. eCollection 2016.
Epidemiological and Virological Characterization of Influenza B Virus Infections.
Sharabi S1,2, Drori Y1,2, Micheli M1, Friedman N1,2, Orzitzer S1, Bassal R3, Glatman-Freedman A3,4, Shohat T2,3, Mendelson E1,2, Hindiyeh M1,2, Mandelboim M1,2.
Author information
Abstract
While influenza A viruses comprise a heterogeneous group of clinically relevant influenza viruses, influenza B viruses form a more homogeneous cluster, divided mainly into two lineages: Victoria and Yamagata. This divergence has complicated seasonal influenza vaccine design, which traditionally contained two seasonal influenza A virus strains and one influenza B virus strain. We examined the distribution of the two influenza B virus lineages in Israel, between 2011-2014, in hospitalized and in non-hospitalized (community) influenza B virus-infected patients. We showed that influenza B virus infections can lead to hospitalization and demonstrated that during some winter seasons, both influenza B virus lineages circulated simultaneously in Israel. We further show that the influenza B virus Yamagata lineage was dominant, circulating in the county in the last few years of the study period, consistent with the anti-Yamagata influenza B virus antibodies detected in the serum samples of affected individuals residing in Israel in the year 2014. Interestingly, we found that elderly people were particularly vulnerable to Yamagata lineage influenza B virus infections.
PMID: 27533045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161195
[PubMed - in process] Free full text
Epidemiological and Virological Characterization of Influenza B Virus Infections.
Sharabi S1,2, Drori Y1,2, Micheli M1, Friedman N1,2, Orzitzer S1, Bassal R3, Glatman-Freedman A3,4, Shohat T2,3, Mendelson E1,2, Hindiyeh M1,2, Mandelboim M1,2.
Author information
Abstract
While influenza A viruses comprise a heterogeneous group of clinically relevant influenza viruses, influenza B viruses form a more homogeneous cluster, divided mainly into two lineages: Victoria and Yamagata. This divergence has complicated seasonal influenza vaccine design, which traditionally contained two seasonal influenza A virus strains and one influenza B virus strain. We examined the distribution of the two influenza B virus lineages in Israel, between 2011-2014, in hospitalized and in non-hospitalized (community) influenza B virus-infected patients. We showed that influenza B virus infections can lead to hospitalization and demonstrated that during some winter seasons, both influenza B virus lineages circulated simultaneously in Israel. We further show that the influenza B virus Yamagata lineage was dominant, circulating in the county in the last few years of the study period, consistent with the anti-Yamagata influenza B virus antibodies detected in the serum samples of affected individuals residing in Israel in the year 2014. Interestingly, we found that elderly people were particularly vulnerable to Yamagata lineage influenza B virus infections.
PMID: 27533045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161195
[PubMed - in process] Free full text