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Coelho J, Pacheco H, Rafael M, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Alves PC, Santos N. Dynamics of Humoral Immunity to Myxoma and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Viruses in Wild European Rabbits Assessed by Longitudinal Semiquantitative Serology. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0005023. [PMID: 37314328 PMCID: PMC10434053 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00050-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are important drivers of the population decline of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species. Both viruses elicit strong immune responses, but the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity are imperfectly known. This study aimed to assess the determinants of the long-term dynamics of antibodies to each virus based on a longitudinal capture-mark-recapture of wild European rabbits and semiquantitative serological data of MYXV and RHDV GI.2-specific IgG. The study included 611 indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) normalized absorbance ratios for each MYXV and RHDV GI.2 from 505 rabbits from 2018 to 2022. Normalized absorbance ratios were analyzed using log-linear mixed models, showing a significant positive relationship with the time since the first capture of individual rabbits, with monthly increases of 4.1% for antibodies against MYXV and 2.0% against RHDV GI.2. Individual serological histories showed fluctuations over time, suggesting that reinfections boosted the immune response and likely resulted in lifelong immunity. Normalized absorbance ratios significantly increased with the seroprevalence in the population, probably because of recent outbreaks, and with body weight, highlighting the role of MYXV and RHDV GI.2 in determining survival to adulthood. Juvenile rabbits seropositive for both viruses were found, and the dynamics of RHDV GI.2 normalized absorbance ratios suggest the presence of maternal immunity up to 2 months of age. Semiquantitative longitudinal serological data provide epidemiological information, otherwise lost when considering only qualitative data, and support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to RHDV GI.2 and MYXV upon natural infection. IMPORTANCE This study addresses the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity to two major viral pathogens of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species of major ecological relevance. Such studies are particularly challenging in free-ranging species, and a combination of longitudinal capture-mark-recapture and semiquantitative serology was used to address this question. Over 600 normalized absorbance ratios of iELISA, obtained from 505 individual rabbits in 7 populations over 5 years, were analyzed using linear mixed models. The results support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus upon natural infection and suggest the presence of maternal immunity to the latter in wild juvenile rabbits. These results contribute to understanding the epidemiology of two viral diseases threatening this keystone species and assist in developing conservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Coelho
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Henrique Pacheco
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Marta Rafael
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
| | - Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
- GISAZ-ENZOEM, Animal Health and Zoonoses Research Group, Competitive Research Unit on Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Paulo Célio Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
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Liu C, Lin M, Hu H, Liu X, Bian Y, Huang X, Li X, Yu W, Luo F, Deng S. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 protein expressed in recombinant swinepox virus self-assembles into virus-like particles with strong immunogenicity in rabbits. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:960374. [PMID: 35992711 PMCID: PMC9387593 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.960374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is an economically significant infectious disease of rabbits, and its infection causes severe losses in the meat and fur industry. RHD Virus (RHDV) is difficult to proliferate in cell lines in vitro, which has greatly impeded the progress of investigating its replication mechanism and production of inactivated virus vaccines. RHDV VP60 protein is a major antigen for developing RHD subunit vaccines. Herein, we constructed a TK-deactivated recombinant Swinepox virus (rSWPV) expressing VP60 protein and VP60 protein coupled with His-tag respectively, and the expression of foreign proteins was confirmed using immunofluorescence assay and western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the recombinant VP60, with or without His-tag, self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs). Its efficacy was evaluated by comparison with available commercial vaccines in rabbits. ELISA and HI titer assays showed that high levels of neutralizing antibodies were induced at the first week after immunization with the recombinant strain and were maintained during the ongoing monitoring for the following 13 weeks. Challenge experiments showed that a single immunization with 106 PFU of the recombinant strain protected rabbits from lethal RHDV infection, and no histopathological changes or antigenic staining was found in the vaccine and rSWPV groups. These results suggest that rSWPV expressing RHDV VP60 could be an efficient candidate vaccine against RHDV in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjin Liu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Min Lin
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Huanyi Hu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaolan Liu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanchao Bian
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Wenyang Yu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Feng Luo
- Jiangxi Jinyibo Biotechnology Company, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shunzhou Deng
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- *Correspondence: Shunzhou Deng,
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Chen M, Fan Z, Hu B, Song Y, Wei H, Qiu R, Zhu W, Xu W, Wang F. Pathogenicity of the newly emerged Lagovirus europaeus GI.2 strain in China in experimentally infected rabbits. Vet Microbiol 2021; 265:109311. [PMID: 34965497 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In April 2020, rabbit hemorrhagic virus type 2 (Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), which causes highly infectious fatal rabbit hemorrhagic disease, was emerged in China. The phylogenetic analyses of the complete genome sequence of GI.2 showed that it belonged to the non-recombinant GI.3/GI.2 genotype. However, the pathogenicity of this GI.2 strain differed from that of early typical GI.2 strains in Europe. To prevent the spread of the new strain in China, its pathogenicity urgently needs to be studied. Thus, viral shedding and distribution as well as clinical symptoms, histopathological changes, and serum cytokines were studied in experimentally GI.2/SC2020-infected rabbit adults and kits. The kit group showed a shorter survival time after the challenge than the adult group did. The mortality rate was higher in the kits (80 %) than in the adults (30 %). Viral RNA could be detected in both nasal and fecal swabs, and the main dissemination route appeared to be the fecal route. Viral RNA rapidly increased in the blood of the adults and kits at 6 h post-infection, indicating that blood viral load testing can be used for early diagnosis. The most affected organs were the liver and spleen, and the lesions were more severe in the kits than in the adults. The liver contained the highest viral RNA levels. Moreover, serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were increased in the infected rabbits. In conclusion, our findings will help to understand the evolutionary trends and pathogenic characteristics of GI.2 strains in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Chen
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyu Fan
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhua Song
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Houjun Wei
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Rulong Qiu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Weifeng Zhu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Weizhong Xu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China.
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Hall RN, King T, O’Connor TW, Read AJ, Vrankovic S, Piper M, Strive T. Passive Immunisation against RHDV2 Induces Protection against Disease but Not Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9101197. [PMID: 34696305 PMCID: PMC8537872 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a lagovirus in the family Caliciviridae. The closely related Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, termed RHDV1 throughout this manuscript for clarity) has been used extensively as a biocontrol agent in Australia since the mid-1990s to manage wild rabbit populations, a major economic and environmental pest species. Releasing RHDV1 into populations with a high proportion of rabbits less than 8–10 weeks of age leads to non-lethal infection in many of these young animals, with subsequent seroconversion and long-term immunity against reinfection. In contrast, RHDV2 causes lethal disease even in young rabbits, potentially offering substantial benefits for rabbit management programs over RHDV1. However, it is not clear how acquired resistance from maternal antibodies may influence immunity after RHDV2 infection. In this study, we assessed serological responses after RHDV2 challenge in young rabbits of three different ages (5-, 7-, or 9-weeks-old) that were passively immunised with either high- (titre of 2560 by RHDV IgG ELISA; 2.41 mg/mL total protein) or low- (titre of 160–640 by RHDV IgG ELISA; 1.41 mg/mL total protein) dose RHDV2 IgG to simulate maternal antibodies. All rabbits treated with a high dose and 75% of those treated with a low dose of RHDV2 IgG survived virus challenge. Surviving animals developed robust lagovirus-specific IgA, IgM, and IgG responses within 10 days post infection. These findings demonstrate that the protection against RHDV2 conferred by passive immunisation is not sterilising. Correspondingly, this suggests that the presence of maternal antibodies in wild rabbit populations may impede the effectiveness of RHDV2 as a biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-6246-4245
| | - Tegan King
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Tiffany W. O’Connor
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia (A.J.R.); (S.V.)
| | - Andrew J. Read
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia (A.J.R.); (S.V.)
| | - Sylvia Vrankovic
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia (A.J.R.); (S.V.)
| | - Melissa Piper
- Agriculture & Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia;
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
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Hall RN, King T, O’Connor T, Read AJ, Arrow J, Trought K, Duckworth J, Piper M, Strive T. Age and Infectious Dose Significantly Affect Disease Progression after RHDV2 Infection in Naïve Domestic Rabbits. Viruses 2021; 13:1184. [PMID: 34205750 PMCID: PMC8234499 DOI: 10.3390/v13061184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2 or GI.2, referring to any virus with lagovirus GI.2 structural genes) is a recently emerged calicivirus that causes generalised hepatic necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation leading to death in susceptible lagomorphs (rabbits and hares). Previous studies investigating the virulence of RHDV2 have reported conflicting results, with case fatality rates ranging from 0% to 100% even within a single study. Lagoviruses are of particular importance in Australia and New Zealand where they are used as biocontrol agents to manage wild rabbit populations, which threaten over 300 native species and result in economic impacts in excess of $200 million AUD annually to Australian agricultural industries. It is critically important that any pest control method is both highly effective (i.e., virulent, in the context of viral biocontrols) and has minimal animal welfare impacts. To determine whether RHDV2 might be a suitable candidate biocontrol agent, we investigated the virulence and disease progression of a naturally occurring Australian recombinant RHDV2 in both 5-week-old and 11-week-old New Zealand White laboratory rabbits after either high or low dose oral infection. Objective measures of disease progression were recorded through continuous body temperature monitoring collars, continuous activity monitors, and twice daily observations. We observed a 100% case fatality rate in both infected kittens and adult rabbits after either high dose or low dose infection. Clinical signs of disease, such as pyrexia, weight loss, and reduced activity, were evident in the late stages of infection. Clinical disease, i.e., welfare impacts, were limited to the period after the onset of pyrexia, lasting on average 12 h and increasing in severity as disease progressed. These findings confirm the high virulence of this RHDV2 variant in naïve rabbits. While age and infectious dose significantly affected disease progression, the case fatality rate was consistently 100% under all conditions tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Tegan King
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Tiffany O’Connor
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia; tiffany.o' (T.O.); (A.J.R.)
| | - Andrew J. Read
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia; tiffany.o' (T.O.); (A.J.R.)
| | - Jane Arrow
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Katherine Trought
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Janine Duckworth
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Melissa Piper
- Agriculture & Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia;
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
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Müller C, Hrynkiewicz R, Bębnowska D, Maldonado J, Baratelli M, Köllner B, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. Immunity against Lagovirus europaeus and the Impact of the Immunological Studies on Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030255. [PMID: 33805607 PMCID: PMC8002203 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early 1980s, a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic fever in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) emerged, causing a very high rate of mortality in these animals. Since the initial occurrence of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), several hundred million rabbits have died after infection. The emergence of genetically-different virus variants (RHDV GI.1 and GI.2) indicated the very high variability of RHDV. Moreover, with these variants, the host range broadened to hare species (Lepus). The circulation of RHDV genotypes displays different virulences and a limited induction of cross-protective immunity. Interestingly, juvenile rabbits (<9 weeks of age) with an immature immune system display a general resistance to RHDV GI.1, and a limited resistance to RHDV GI.2 strains, whereas less than 3% of adult rabbits survive an infection by either RHDV GI.1. or GI.2. Several not-yet fully understood phenomena characterize the RHD. A very low infection dose followed by an extremely rapid viral replication could be simplified to the induction of a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), a severe loss of lymphocytes—especially T-cells—and death within 36 to 72 h post infection. On the other hand, in animals surviving the infection or after vaccination, very high titers of RHDV-neutralizing antibodies were induced. Several studies have been conducted in order to deepen the knowledge about the virus’ genetics, epidemiology, RHDV-induced pathology, and the anti-RHDV immune responses of rabbits in order to understand the phenomenon of the juvenile resistance to this virus. Moreover, several approaches have been used to produce efficient vaccines in order to prevent an infection with RHDV. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about anti-RHDV resistance and immunity, RHDV vaccination, and the further need to establish rationally-based RHDV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Müller
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Rafał Hrynkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Dominika Bębnowska
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
| | | | | | - Bernd Köllner
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (P.N.-R.)
| | - Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (P.N.-R.)
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Characterization of the Maternally Derived Antibody Immunity against Rhdv-2 after Administration in Breeding Does of an Inactivated Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030484. [PMID: 32872139 PMCID: PMC7564433 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Inactivated strain-specific vaccines have been successfully used to control rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) caused by RHDV-2 in the rabbit industry. It is unknown whether and how vaccination of breeding does contributed to protect the population of young susceptible rabbit kits. The present study investigates whether the immunity against RHDV-2 produced by vaccination of breeding does is transmitted to their progeny and its dynamic once inherited by kits. For this purpose, New Zealand female rabbits of 8–9 weeks of age were allocated into 2 groups of 40 subjects each and bred during 6 reproductive cycles. The first experimental group was vaccinated with a commercially available inactivated vaccine against RHDV-2 whereas the second group was inoculated with PBS. Moreover, the present study was also meant to identify the mechanisms of transmission of that maternal immunity. For this reason, rabbit kits of vaccinated and non-vaccinated breeding does were cross-fostered before milk uptake. The RHDV-2 antibody response was monitored in the blood serum of breeding does and of their kits by competition ELISA (cELISA) and solid-phase ELISA (spELISA). Since it has been clearly demonstrated that cELISA positive rabbits are protected from RHD, we avoided the resorting of the challenge of the kits with RHDV-2. Results showed that RHDV-2 antibodies were inherited by kits up to one year from vaccination of breeding does. Once inherited, the maternally derived antibody response against RHDV-2 lasted at least until 28 days of life. Finally, the study also elucidated that the major contribution to the maternal derived immunity against RHDV-2 in kits was provided during gestation and probably transmitted through transplacental mechanisms although lactation provided a little contribution to it. The present study contributed to elucidate the characteristics of the maternal antibody immunity produced by vaccination and its mechanisms of transmission.
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Peñaflor-Téllez Y, Trujillo-Uscanga A, Escobar-Almazán JA, Gutiérrez-Escolano AL. Immune Response Modulation by Caliciviruses. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2334. [PMID: 31632406 PMCID: PMC6779827 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Noroviruses and Sapoviruses, classified in the Caliciviridae family, are small positive-stranded RNA viruses, considered nowadays the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis globally in both children and adults. Although most noroviruses have been associated with gastrointestinal disease in humans, almost 50 years after its discovery, there is still a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding its biology and pathogenesis mainly because they can be neither conveniently grown in cultured cells nor propagated in animal models. However, other members of this family such as Feline calicivirus (FCV), Murine norovirus (MNV), Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), and Porcine sapovirus (PS), from which there are accessible propagation systems, have been useful to study the calicivirus replication strategies. Using cell cultures and animal models, many of the functions of the viral proteins in the viral replication cycles have been well-characterized. Moreover, evidence of the role of viral proteins from different members of the family in the establishment of infection has been generated and the mechanism of their immunopathogenesis begins to be understood. In this review, we discuss different aspects of how caliciviruses are implicated in membrane rearrangements, apoptosis, and evasion of the immune responses, highlighting some of the pathogenic mechanisms triggered by different members of the Caliciviridae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoatzin Peñaflor-Téllez
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adrian Trujillo-Uscanga
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jesús Alejandro Escobar-Almazán
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ana Lorena Gutiérrez-Escolano
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
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Neave MJ, Hall RN, Huang N, McColl KA, Kerr P, Hoehn M, Taylor J, Strive T. Robust Innate Immunity of Young Rabbits Mediates Resistance to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Caused by Lagovirus Europaeus GI.1 But Not GI.2. Viruses 2018; 10:E512. [PMID: 30235853 PMCID: PMC6163550 DOI: 10.3390/v10090512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rabbit caliciviruses Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 both cause acute necrotizing hepatitis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Whilst GI.2 is highly virulent in both young and adult rabbits, rabbits younger than eight weeks of age are highly resistant to disease caused by GI.1, although they are still permissive to infection and viral replication. To investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of this age related resistance to GI.1, we compared liver transcriptomes of young rabbits infected with GI.1 to those of adult rabbits infected with GI.1 and young rabbits infected with GI.2. Our data suggest that kittens have constitutively heightened innate immune responses compared to adult rabbits, particularly associated with increased expression of major histocompatibility class II molecules and activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and cholangiocytes. This enables them to respond more rapidly to GI.1 infection than adult rabbits and thus limit virus-induced pathology. In contrast, these responses were not fully developed during GI.2 infection. We speculate that the observed downregulation of multiple genes associated with innate immunity in kittens during GI.2 infection may be due to virally-mediated immunomodulation, permitting fatal disease to develop. Our study provides insight into the fundamental host⁻pathogen interactions responsible for the differences in age-related susceptibility, which likely plays a critical role in defining the success of GI.2 in outcompeting GI.1 in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Neave
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Robyn N Hall
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Nina Huang
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Kenneth A McColl
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Peter Kerr
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Marion Hoehn
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | | | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Pinheiro A, Neves F, Lemos de Matos A, Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Mage R, Esteves PJ. An overview of the lagomorph immune system and its genetic diversity. Immunogenetics 2015; 68:83-107. [PMID: 26399242 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the lagomorph immune system remains largely based upon studies of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a major model for studies of immunology. Two important and devastating viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, are affecting European rabbit populations. In this context, we discuss the genetic diversity of the European rabbit immune system and extend to available information about other lagomorphs. Regarding innate immunity, we review the most recent advances in identifying interleukins, chemokines and chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, antiviral proteins (RIG-I and Trim5), and the genes encoding fucosyltransferases that are utilized by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus as a portal for invading host respiratory and gut epithelial cells. Evolutionary studies showed that several genes of innate immunity are evolving by strong natural selection. Studies of the leporid CCR5 gene revealed a very dramatic change unique in mammals at the second extracellular loop of CCR5 resulting from a gene conversion event with the paralogous CCR2. For the adaptive immune system, we review genetic diversity at the loci encoding antibody variable and constant regions, the major histocompatibility complex (RLA) and T cells. Studies of IGHV and IGKC genes expressed in leporids are two of the few examples of trans-species polymorphism observed outside of the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, we review some endogenous viruses of lagomorph genomes, the importance of the European rabbit as a model for human disease studies, and the anticipated role of next-generation sequencing in extending knowledge of lagomorph immune systems and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pinheiro
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fabiana Neves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Joana Abrantes
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rose Mage
- NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
- CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal.
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Matthaei M, Kerr PJ, Read AJ, Hick P, Haboury S, Wright JD, Strive T. Comparative quantitative monitoring of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses in rabbit kittens. Virol J 2014; 11:109. [PMID: 24913134 PMCID: PMC4060863 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-11-109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Only one strain (the Czech CAPM-v351) of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has been released in Australia and New Zealand to control pest populations of the European rabbit O. cuniculus. Antigenic variants of RHDV known as RHDVa strains are reportedly replacing RHDV strains in other parts of the world, and Australia is currently investigating the usefulness of RHDVa to complement rabbit biocontrol efforts in Australia and New Zealand. RHDV efficiently kills adult rabbits but not rabbit kittens, which are more resistant to RHD the younger they are and which may carry the virus without signs of disease for prolonged periods. These different infection patterns in young rabbits may significantly influence RHDV epidemiology in the field and hence attempts to control rabbit numbers. Methods We quantified RHDV replication and shedding in 4–5 week old rabbits using quantitative real time PCR to assess their potential to shape RHDV epidemiology by shedding and transmitting virus. We further compared RHDV-v351 with an antigenic variant strain of RHDVa in kittens that is currently being considered as a potential RHDV strain for future release to improve rabbit biocontrol in Australia. Results Kittens were susceptible to infection with virus doses as low as 10 ID50. Virus growth, shedding and transmission after RHDVa infection was found to be comparable or non-significantly lower compared to RHDV. Virus replication and shedding was observed in all kittens infected, but was low in comparison to adult rabbits. Both viruses were shed and transmitted to bystander rabbits. While blood titres indicated that 4–5 week old kittens mostly clear the infection even in the absence of maternal antibodies, virus titres in liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph node were still high on day 5 post infection. Conclusions Rabbit kittens are susceptible to infection with very low doses of RHDV, and can transmit virus before they seroconvert. They may therefore play an important role in RHDV field epidemiology, in particular for virus transmission within social groups during virus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - Ecosystem Sciences, ACT 2601 Black Mountain, Australia.
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Strive T, Elsworth P, Liu J, Wright JD, Kovaliski J, Capucci L. The non-pathogenic Australian rabbit calicivirus RCV-A1 provides temporal and partial cross protection to lethal Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus infection which is not dependent on antibody titres. Vet Res 2013; 44:51. [PMID: 23834204 PMCID: PMC3733936 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The endemic non-pathogenic Australian rabbit calicivirus RCV-A1 is known to provide some cross protection to lethal infection with the closely related Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV). Despite its obvious negative impacts on viral biocontrol of introduced European rabbits in Australia, little is known about the extent and mechanisms of this cross protection. In this study 46 rabbits from a colony naturally infected with RCV-A1 were exposed to RHDV. Survival rates and survival times did not correlate with titres of serum antibodies specific to RCV-A1 or cross reacting to RHDV, but were instead influenced by the time between infection with the two viruses, demonstrating for the first time that the cross protection to lethal RHDV infection is transient. These findings are an important step towards a better understanding of the complex interactions of co-occurring pathogenic and non-pathogenic lagoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Strive
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
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Marques R, Costa-E-Silva A, Águas A, Teixeira L, Ferreira P. Early inflammatory response of young rabbits attending natural resistance to calicivirus (RHDV) infection. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012; 150:181-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Le Pendu J, Esteves PJ. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV): a review. Vet Res 2012; 43:12. [PMID: 22325049 PMCID: PMC3331820 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a calicivirus of the genus Lagovirus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in adult European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). First described in China in 1984, the virus rapidly spread worldwide and is nowadays considered as endemic in several countries. In Australia and New Zealand where rabbits are pests, RHDV was purposely introduced for rabbit biocontrol. Factors that may have precipitated RHD emergence remain unclear, but non-pathogenic strains seem to pre-date the appearance of the pathogenic strains suggesting a key role for the comprehension of the virus origins. All pathogenic strains are classified within one single serotype, but two subtypes are recognised, RHDV and RHDVa. RHD causes high mortality in both domestic and wild adult animals, with individuals succumbing between 48-72 h post-infection. No other species has been reported to be fatally susceptible to RHD. The disease is characterised by acute necrotising hepatitis, but haemorrhages may also be found in other organs, in particular the lungs, heart, and kidneys due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. Resistance to the disease might be explained in part by genetically determined absence or weak expression of attachment factors, but humoral immunity is also important. Disease control in rabbitries relies mainly on vaccination and biosecurity measures. Such measures are difficult to be implemented in wild populations. More recent research has indicated that RHDV might be used as a molecular tool for therapeutic applications. Although the study of RHDV and RHD has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate cell culture system for the virus, several aspects of the replication, epizootology, epidemiology and evolution have been disclosed. This review provides a broad coverage and description of the current knowledge on the disease and the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
- INSERM, U892, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
- CITS, Centro de Investigacao em Tecnologias de Saude, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
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Rohde J, Schirrmeier H, Granzow H, Rziha HJ. A new recombinant Orf virus (ORFV, Parapoxvirus) protects rabbits against lethal infection with rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Vaccine 2011; 29:9256-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2011] [Revised: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 09/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Teixeira L, Marques RM, Águas AP, Ferreira PG. A simple and rapid method for isolation of caliciviruses from liver of infected rabbits. Res Vet Sci 2010; 91:164-166. [PMID: 20825960 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Revised: 06/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), a member of the Caliciviridae family, is the etiologic agent of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD); this viral disease is highly contagious and kills more than 90% of infected adult rabbits. Research on experimental calicivirus infection uses inocula obtained from livers of rabbits dying from calicivirus infection. This implies that caliciviruses have to be purified from liver homogenates. Current methods to isolate caliciviruses from rabbit livers are time consuming. We propose here a new procedure for fast purification of rabbit caliciviruses from liver homogenates that uses centrifugation through an iodixanol gradient. This method offers in approximately 2 h a sample with a high degree of calicivirus purity, as shown by its biochemical and immunocytochemistry analysis, which is also able to kill adult rabbits from RHD within 48 h of inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzia Teixeira
- Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS) and Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal.
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Marques RM, Costa-E-Silva A, Aguas AP, Teixeira L, Ferreira PG. Early acute depletion of lymphocytes in calicivirus-infected adult rabbits. Vet Res Commun 2010; 34:659-68. [PMID: 20697811 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-010-9437-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a lethal infection caused by calicivirus that kills 90% of the infected adult rabbits within 3 days. The calicivirus replicates in the liver and causes a fulminant hepatitis. Most studies on the pathology of RHD have been focused on the fulminant liver disease. This may not be the only mechanism in the pathogenesis of RHD: calicivirus infection may also induce leukopenia in the infected adult rabbits. We show now by flow cytometry analysis that the calicivirus induces an early decrease in B and T cells, in both spleen and liver. The depletion of B and T cells was associated with apoptosis labelled by annexin V. These changes occurred in rabbits before they showed enzymatic evidence of liver damage and persisted after liver transaminase values were very high. We conclude that depletion of lymphocytes caused by the calicivirus infection precedes or attends liver damage. The relative contribution of this lymphocyte depletion for the pathogenesis of the fatal calicivirus infection of rabbits remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel M Marques
- Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Science) and UMIB (Unit for Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research), University of Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal, European Union.
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Bergin IL, Wise AG, Bolin SR, Mullaney TP, Kiupel M, Maes RK. Novel calicivirus identified in rabbits, Michigan, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2010; 15:1955-62. [PMID: 19961675 PMCID: PMC3044539 DOI: 10.3201/eid1512.090839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This virus is distinct from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. We report a disease outbreak in a Michigan rabbitry of a rabbit calicivirus distinct from the foreign animal disease agent, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The novel virus has been designated Michigan rabbit calicivirus (MRCV). Caliciviruses of the Lagovirus genus other than RHDV have not been described in US rabbit populations. The case-fatality rate was 32.5% (65/200). Clinical signs included hemorrhage and sudden death, with hepatic necrosis. Analysis of viral RNA sequence from >95% of the viral genome showed an average similarity of 79% with RHDV. Similarity of the predicted MRCV capsid amino acid sequence ranged from 89.8% to 91.3%, much lower than the 98% amino acid similarity between RHDV strains. Experimentally infected rabbits lacked clinical disease, but MRCV was detected in tissues by PCR. We propose that MRCV primarily causes subclinical infection but may induce overt RHD-like disease under certain field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Bergin
- University of Michigan, Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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