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Tokarz-Deptuła B, Kulus J, Baraniecki Ł, Stosik M, Deptuła W. Characterisation of Lagovirus europaeus GI-RHDVs (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Viruses) in Terms of Their Pathogenicity and Immunogenicity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5342. [PMID: 38791380 PMCID: PMC11120834 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105342] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses (RHDV) belong to the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus europaeus, genogroup GI, comprising four genotypes GI.1-GI.4, of which the genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 are pathogenic RHD viruses, while the genotypes GI.3 and GI.4 are non-pathogenic RCV (Rabbit calicivirus) viruses. Among the pathogenic genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 of RHD viruses, an antigenic variant of RHDV, named RHDVa-now GI.1a-RHDVa, was distinguished in 1996; and in 2010, a variant of RHDV-named RHDVb, later RHDV2 and now GI.2-RHDV2/b-was described; and recombinants of these viruses were registered. Pathogenic viruses of the genotype GI.1 were the cause of a disease described in 1984 in China in domestic (Oryctolagus (O.) cuniculus domesticus) and wild (O. cuniculus) rabbits, characterised by a very rapid course and a mortality rate of 90-100%, which spread in countries all over the world and which has been defined since 1989 as rabbit haemorrhagic disease. It is now accepted that GI.1-RHDV, including GI.1a-RHDVa, cause the predetermined primary haemorrhagic disease in domestic and wild rabbits, while GI.2-RHDV2/b cause it not only in rabbits, including domestic rabbits' young up to 4 weeks and rabbits immunised with rabbit haemorrhagic disease vaccine, but also in five various species of wild rabbits and seven different species of hares, as well as wild ruminants: mountain muskoxen and European badger. Among these viruses, haemagglutination-positive, doubtful and harmful viruses have been recorded and described and have been shown to form phylogenogroups, immunotypes, haematotypes and pathotypes, which, together with traits that alter and expand their infectious spectrum (rabbit, hare, wild ruminant, badger and various rabbit and hare species), are the determinants of their pathogenicity (infectivity) and immunogenicity and thus shape their virulence. These relationships are the aim of our consideration in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jakub Kulus
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (J.K.); (W.D.)
| | - Łukasz Baraniecki
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Michał Stosik
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, 65-516 Zielona Gora, Poland;
| | - Wiesław Deptuła
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (J.K.); (W.D.)
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Hall RN, Trought K, Strive T, Duckworth JA, Jenckel M. First Detection and Circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. Viruses 2024; 16:519. [PMID: 38675862 PMCID: PMC11053765 DOI: 10.3390/v16040519] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhage disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly pathogenic lagovirus that causes lethal disease in rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). Since its first detection in Europe in 2010, RHDV2 has spread worldwide and has been detected in over 35 countries so far. Here, we provide the first detailed report of the detection and subsequent circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. RHDV2 was first detected in New Zealand in 2018, with positive samples retrospectively identified in December 2017. Subsequent time-resolved phylogenetic analysis suggested a single introduction into the North Island between March and November 2016. Genetic analysis identified a GI.3P-GI.2 variant supporting a non-Australian origin for the incursion; however, more accurate identification of the source of the incursion remains challenging due to the wide global distribution of the GI.3P-GI.2 variant. Furthermore, our analysis suggests the spread of the virus between the North and South Islands of New Zealand at least twice, dated to mid-2017 and around 2018. Further phylogenetic analysis also revealed a strong phylogeographic pattern. So far, no recombination events with endemic benign New Zealand rabbit caliciviruses have been identified. This study highlights the need for further research and surveillance to monitor the distribution and diversity of lagoviruses in New Zealand and to detect incursions of novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Ausvet Pty Ltd., Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia;
| | - Katherine Trought
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Janine A. Duckworth
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Maria Jenckel
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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Sun Z, An Q, Li Y, Gao X, Wang H. Epidemiological characterization and risk assessment of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/b/GI.2) in the world. Vet Res 2024; 55:38. [PMID: 38532494 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A novel variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, designated RHDV2/b/GI.2, was first discovered in France in 2010. Subsequently, RHDV2 rapidly spread to Africa, North America, Australia, and Asia. RHDV2 outbreaks have resulted in significant economic losses in the global rabbit industry and disrupted the balance of natural ecosystems. Our study investigated the seasonal characteristics of RHDV2 outbreaks using seasonal indices. RHDV2 is prone to causing significant outbreaks within domestic and wild rabbit populations during the spring season and is more likely to induce outbreaks within wild rabbit populations during late autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Furthermore, based on outbreak data for domestic and wild rabbits and environmental variables, our study established two MaxEnt models to explore the relationship between RHDV2 outbreaks and the environmental factors and conducted outbreak risk predictions for RHDV2 in global domestic and wild rabbit populations. Both models demonstrated good predictive performance, with AUC values of 0.960 and 0.974, respectively. Road density, isothermality, and population density were identified as important variables in the outbreak of RHDV2 in domestic rabbits, while road density, normalized difference vegetation index, and mean annual solar radiation were considered key variables in the outbreak of RHDV2 in wild rabbits. The environmental factors associated with RHDV2 outbreaks identified in our study and the outbreak risk prediction maps generated in our study will aid in the formulation of appropriate RHDV2 control measures to reduce the risk of morbidity in domestic and wild rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Qi An
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuepeng Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongbin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
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Yu J, Li Y, Xiao L, Xie J, Guo Z, Ye Y, Lin Y, Cao Y, Wu X, Mao C, Li X, Pan M, Ye J, Zhou L, Huang J, Yang J, Wei Y, Zhang X, Zhang B, Kang R. Neglected Spleen Transcriptional Profile Reveals Inflammatory Disorder Conferred by Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 Infection. Viruses 2024; 16:495. [PMID: 38675838 PMCID: PMC11054208 DOI: 10.3390/v16040495] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an acute fatal disease caused by the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Since the first outbreaks of type 2 RHDV (RHDV2) in April 2020 in China, the persistence of this virus in the rabbit population has caused substantial economic losses in rabbit husbandry. Previous failures in preventing RHDV2 prompted us to further investigate the immune mechanisms underlying the virus's pathogenicity, particularly concerning the spleen, a vital component of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). For this, a previous RHDV2 isolate, CHN/SC2020, was utilized to challenge naive adult rabbits. Then, the splenic transcriptome was determined by RNA-Seq. This study showed that the infected adult rabbits had 3148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were associated with disease, signal transduction, cellular processes, and cytokine signaling categories. Of these, 100 upregulated DEGs were involved in inflammatory factors such as IL1α, IL-6, and IL-8. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway, which may play a vital role in CHN/SC2020 infection. At the same time, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly increased in the spleen at the late stages of infection. These findings suggested that RHDV2 (CHN/SC2020) might induce dysregulation of the cytokine network and compromise splenic immunity against viral infection, which expanded our understanding of RHDV2 pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifeng Yu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yan Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.L.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (B.Z.)
| | - Lu Xiao
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jing Xie
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Zhiqiang Guo
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yonggang Ye
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yi Lin
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Ye Cao
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xuejing Wu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Congjian Mao
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xingyu Li
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Meng Pan
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jianqiang Ye
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Long Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.L.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (B.Z.)
| | - Jian Huang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.L.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (B.Z.)
| | - Junyan Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yong Wei
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xianhui Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
| | - Bin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.L.); (L.Z.); (J.H.); (B.Z.)
| | - Runmin Kang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China; (J.Y.); (L.X.); (J.X.); (Z.G.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.); (Y.C.); (X.W.); (C.M.); (X.L.); (M.P.); (J.Y.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
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Krejmer-Rąbalska M, Peplińska M, Szewczyk B, Fitzner A. Serological characterisation of Lagovirus virus-like particles originating from native and mutated VP60 of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 and European brown hare syndrome virus. J Vet Res 2024; 68:9-17. [PMID: 38525228 PMCID: PMC10960260 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Since lagoviruses cannot be cultivated in vitro, using expression systems is an alternative and promising way of producing diagnostic viral antigens. It opens up their use as active immunogens for vaccine production. Material and Methods Virus-like particles (VLPs) were produced in a baculovirus expression system in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) insect cells based on wild-type and mutated variants of the virus capsid VP60 protein from a Polish strain of European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and wild-type and mutated versions of this protein from a Polish strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). The mutations were the substitution of an arginylglycylaspartic acid (Arg-Gly-Asp/RGD) motif in the P2 subdomain and, in the S or P2 domain, the substitution of three lysines. The VLPs were purified with sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Results Protein production was confirmed by Western blot analysis using rabbit or hare sera and ELISA tests with different types of monoclonal antibody. The haemagglutination properties of some VLPs were also evaluated. Electron microscopy of wild-type EBHSV, wild-type RHDV2 and the four VP60 variants produced in this experiment revealed the formation of characteristic VLP structures. Conclusion For the first time, mutated VLPs of RHDV2 with an RGD motif in the VP60 sequence were obtained, which could potentially be used to deliver cargo to eukaryotic cells. Virus-like particles based on the VP60 proteins of EBHSV and RHDV with a three-lysine substitution in the S or P2 domains were also obtained. Potential exists for VLPs of EBHSV and RHDV2 as vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Krejmer-Rąbalska
- Laboratory of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-307Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marta Peplińska
- Laboratory of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-307Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bogusław Szewczyk
- Laboratory of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-307Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Andrzej Fitzner
- Department of Foot and Mouth Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100Puławy, Poland
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Almeida T, Lopes AM, Estruch J, Rouco C, Cavadini P, Neimanis A, Gavier-Widén D, Le Gall-Reculé G, Velarde R, Abrantes J. A new HaCV-EBHSV recombinant lagovirus circulating in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) from Catalonia, Spain. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2872. [PMID: 38311618 PMCID: PMC10838927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53201-1] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2020/2021, several European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) outbreaks were recorded in European hares (Lepus europaeus) from Catalonia, Spain. Recombination analysis combined with phylogenetic reconstruction and estimation of genetic distances of the complete coding sequences revealed that 5 strains were recombinants. The recombination breakpoint is located within the non-structural protein 2C-like RNA helicase (nucleotide position ~ 1889). For the genomic fragment upstream of the breakpoint, a non-pathogenic EBHSV-related strain (hare calicivirus, HaCV; GII.2) was the most closely related sequence; for the rest of the genome, the most similar strains were the European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) strains recovered from the same 2020/2021 outbreaks, suggesting a recent origin. While the functional impact of the atypical recombination breakpoint remains undetermined, the novel recombinant strain was detected in different European brown hare populations from Catalonia, located 20-100 km apart, and seems to have caused a fatal disease both in juvenile and adult animals, confirming its viability and ability to spread and establish infection. This is the first report of a recombination event involving HaCV and EBHSV and, despite the recombination with a non-pathogenic strain, it appears to be associated with mortality in European brown hares, which warrants close monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Almeida
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- UMIB-Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josep Estruch
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Patrizia Cavadini
- WOAH Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Aleksija Neimanis
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, 75189, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dolores Gavier-Widén
- Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA), 75189, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé
- Avian and Rabbit Virology, Immunology and Parasitology Unit, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses), 22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Roser Velarde
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal.
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Cavadini P, Trogu T, Velarde R, Lavazza A, Capucci L. Recombination between non-structural and structural genes as a mechanism of selection in lagoviruses: The evolutionary dead-end of an RHDV2 isolated from European hare. Virus Res 2024; 339:199257. [PMID: 38347757 PMCID: PMC10654597 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The genus Lagovirus, belonging to the family Caliciviridae, emerged around the 1980s. It includes highly pathogenic species, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV/GI.1) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV/GII.1), which cause fatal hepatitis, and nonpathogenic viruses with enteric tropism, rabbit calicivirus (RCV/GI.3,4) and hare calicivirus (HaCV/GII.2). Lagoviruses have evolved along two independent genetic lineages: GI (RHDV and RCV) in rabbits and GII (EBHSV and HaCV) in hares. To be emphasized is that genomes of lagoviruses, like other caliciviruses, are highly conserved at RdRp-VP60 junctions, favoring intergenotypic recombination events at this point. The recombination between an RCV (genotype GI.3), donor of non-structural (NS) genes, and an unknown virus, donor of structural (S) genes, likely led to the emergence of a new lagovirus in the European rabbit, called RHDV type 2 (GI.2), identified in Europe in 2010. New RHDV2 intergenotypic recombinants isolated in rabbits in Europe and Australia originated from similar events between RHDV2 (GI.2) and RHDV (GI.1) or RCV (GI.3,4). RHDV2 (GI.2) rapidly spread worldwide, replacing RHDV and showing several lagomorph species as secondary hosts. The recombination events in RHDV2 viruses have led to a number of viruses with very different combinations of NS and S genes. Recombinant RHDV2 with NS genes from hare lineage (GII) was recently identified in the European hare. This study investigated the first RHDV2 (GI.2) identified in Italy in European hare (RHDV2_Bg12), demonstrating that it was a new virus that originated from the recombination between RHDV2, as an S-gene donor and a hare lagovirus, not yet identified but presumably nonpathogenic, as an NS gene donor. When rabbits were inoculated with RHDV2_Bg12, neither deaths nor seroconversions were recorded, demonstrating that RHDV2_Bg12 cannot infect the rabbit. Furthermore, despite intensive and continuous field surveillance, RHDV2_Bg12 has never again been identified in either hares or rabbits in Italy or elsewhere. This result showed that the host specificity of lagoviruses can depend not only on S genes, as expected until today, but potentially also on some species-specific NS gene sequences. Therefore, because RHDV2 (GI.2) infects several lagomorphs, which in turn probably harbor several specific nonpathogenic lagoviruses, the possibility of new speciation, especially in those other than rabbits, is real. RHDV2 Bg_12 demonstrated this, although the attempt apparently failed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Cavadini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Tiziana Trogu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roser Velarde
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WEH) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
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Domanico M, Cavadini P, Nardini R, Cecca D, Mastrandrea G, Eleni C, Galietta V, Attili L, Pizzarelli A, Onorati R, Amoruso C, Stilli D, Pacchiarotti G, Merzoni F, Caprioli A, Ricci I, Battisti A, Lavazza A, Scicluna MT. Pathological and virological insights from an outbreak of European brown hare syndrome in the Italian hare ( Lepus corsicanus). Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1250787. [PMID: 37928681 PMCID: PMC10622795 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1250787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease, mainly affecting European brown hares (Lepus europaeus). The etiological agent, EBHS virus (EBHSV), belongs to the Lagovirus genus within the Caliciviridae family. The Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus) is endemic to Central-Southern Italy and Sicily and is classified as a vulnerable species. L. corsicanus is known to be susceptible to EBHS, but virological data available is scarce due to the few cases detected so far. In this study, we describe the occurrence of EBHS in two free-ranging L. corsicanus, found dead in a protected area of Central Italy. The two hares were identified as L. corsicanus using phenotypic criteria and confirmed through mitochondrial DNA analysis. Distinctive EBHS gross lesions were observed at necropsy and confirmed by subsequent histological examination. EBHSV was detected in the livers of the two animals initially using an antigen detection ELISA, followed by an EBHSV-specific reverse transcription-PCR, thus confirming the viral infection as the probable cause of death. The EBHS viruses detected in the two hares were identical, as based on blast analysis performed for the VP60 sequences and showed 98.86% nucleotide identity and 100% amino acid identity with strain EBHSV/GER-BY/EI97.L03477/2019, isolated in Germany in 2019. Phylogenetic analysis places our virus in group B, which includes strains that emerged after the mid-1980s. This study supports previous reports of EBHS in L. corsicanus and further expands the knowledge of the pathological and virological characteristics of the etiological agent. The ability of EBHSV to cause a fatal disease in the Italian hare represents a serious threat to the conservation of this vulnerable species, especially in populations kept in enclosed protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariagiovanna Domanico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Cavadini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Nardini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Cecca
- Segretariato Generale della Presidenza della Repubblica—Servizio Tenuta di Castelporziano, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mastrandrea
- Segretariato Generale della Presidenza della Repubblica—Servizio Tenuta di Castelporziano, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Eleni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Galietta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Attili
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Pizzarelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Onorati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Amoruso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Stilli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pacchiarotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Merzoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Caprioli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Ida Ricci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Battisti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Scicluna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Rome, Italy
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Li Z, Song K, Du Y, Zhang Z, Fan R, Zheng P, Liu J. Diagnosis of a Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) and the Humoral Immune Protection Effect of VP60 Vaccine. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:6605-6617. [PMID: 37623236 PMCID: PMC10453004 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45080417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is known as rabbit plague and hemorrhagic pneumonia. It is an acute, septic, and highly fatal infectious disease caused by the Lagovirus rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in the family Caliciviridae that infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). At present, RHDV2 has caused huge economic losses to the commercial rabbit trade and led to a decline in the number of wild lagomorphs worldwide. We performed a necropsy and pathological observations on five dead rabbits on a rabbit farm in Tai'an, China. The results were highly similar to the clinical and pathological changes of typical RHD. RHDV2 strain was isolated and identified by RT-PCR, and partial gene sequencing and genetic evolution analysis were carried out. There were significant differences in genetic characteristics and antigenicity between RHDV2 and classical RHDV strain, and the vaccine prepared with the RHDV strain cannot effectively prevent rabbit infection with RHDV2. Therefore, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a novel rabbit hemorrhagic virus baculovirus vector inactivated vaccine (VP60) in clinical application by animal regression experiment. The result showed that VP60 could effectively induce humoral immunity in rabbits. The vaccine itself had no significant effect on the health status of rabbits. This study suggested that the clinical application of VP60 may provide new ideas for preventing the spread of RHD2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoming Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Kaimin Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Yongzhen Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Zhuanglong Zhang
- Research Center for Animal Disease Control Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Rupeng Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Pimiao Zheng
- Research Center for Animal Disease Control Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Jianzhu Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
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10
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Kardia E, Fakhri O, Pavy M, Mason H, Huang N, Smertina E, Jenckel M, Peng NYG, Estes MK, Strive T, Frese M, Smith I, Hall RN. Hepatobiliary organoids derived from leporids support the replication of hepatotropic lagoviruses. J Gen Virol 2023; 104. [PMID: 37584657 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001874] [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] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Lagovirus of the family Caliciviridae contains some of the most virulent vertebrate viruses known. Lagoviruses infect leporids, such as rabbits, hares and cottontails. Highly pathogenic viruses such as Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 1 (RHDV1) cause a fulminant hepatitis that typically leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation within 24-72 h of infection, killing over 95 % of susceptible animals. Research into the pathophysiological mechanisms that are responsible for this extreme phenotype has been hampered by the lack of a reliable culture system. Here, we report on a new ex vivo model for the cultivation of lagoviruses in cells derived from the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). We show that three different lagoviruses, RHDV1, RHDV2 and RHDVa-K5, replicate in monolayer cultures derived from rabbit hepatobiliary organoids, but not in monolayer cultures derived from cat (Felis catus) or mouse (Mus musculus) organoids. Virus multiplication was demonstrated by (i) an increase in viral RNA levels, (ii) the accumulation of dsRNA viral replication intermediates and (iii) the expression of viral structural and non-structural proteins. The establishment of an organoid culture system for lagoviruses will facilitate studies with considerable implications for the conservation of endangered leporid species in Europe and North America, and the biocontrol of overabundant rabbit populations in Australia and New Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egi Kardia
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Omid Fakhri
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Megan Pavy
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Hugh Mason
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nina Huang
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Elena Smertina
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Maria Jenckel
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nias Y G Peng
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mary K Estes
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Michael Frese
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Ina Smith
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Robyn N Hall
- Health and Biosecurity Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Present address: Ausvet, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
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11
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Santoro S, Aguayo-Adán JA, Rouco C. Comparison of the Impact between Classical and Novel Strains of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease on Wild Rabbit Populations in Spain. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050728. [PMID: 37237540 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The outbreaks of two strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) (GI.1 and GI.2) in the Iberian Peninsula have caused substantial economic losses in commercial rabbitries and have affected the conservation of rabbit-sensitive predators due to the dramatic decline of their natural populations. However, the assessment of the impact of both RHD strains on wild rabbit populations has been limited to a few small-scale studies. Little is known about the overall impact within its native range. In this study, we described and compared the effects of GI.1 and GI.2 countrywide by using time series of hunting bag data widely available across the country and compared their trend during the first eight years after the first outbreak of GI.1 (i.e., 1998) and GI.2 (i.e., 2011), respectively. We used Gaussian generalised additive models (GAM) with the number of hunted rabbits as the response variable and year as the predictor to evaluate the non-linear temporal dynamics of the population at the national and regional community levels. The first GI.1 caused a population decline of around 53%, affecting most Spanish regional communities where the disease occurred. The positive trend observed after GI.1 in Spain ended with the initial outbreak of GI.2, which did not appear to cause a national population decline. In contrast, we found significant variability in the rabbit population trend among regional communities, where some increased, and others decreased. Such a disparity is unlikely to be explained by a single factor; rather, it appears to result from several factors, such as climatic conditions, host resistance improvement, virulence attenuation, or population density. Our study suggests that a national comprehensive hunting bag series could aid in elucidating the differences in the impact of emerging diseases on a large scale. Future research should focus on national longitudinal serological studies to shed light on the immunological status of rabbit populations in different regions to better understand the evolution of RHD strains and the resistance gained by the wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Santoro
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Aguayo-Adán
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, 14006 Códoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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12
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Status of Infectious Diseases in Free-Ranging European Brown Hares ( Lepus europaeus) Found Dead between 2017 and 2020 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020239. [PMID: 36839511 PMCID: PMC9959346 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is a quite adaptable species, but populations have been decreasing for several decades in different countries, including Germany. To investigate infectious diseases as possible influences on observed population decline in the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, 118 deceased free-ranging European brown hares were collected between 2017 and 2020 and underwent detailed postmortem examination with extended sampling. Infectious diseases were a major cause of death (34.7%). The number of juveniles found exceeded the adult ones. The main pathomorphological findings were hepatitis (32.8%), pneumonia (22.2%), nephritis (19.1%), liver necrosis (12.9%), and enteritis (40.7%). An unusual main finding was steatitis (20.9%) of unknown origin. Animals were mainly emaciated and showed high infection rates with Eimeria spp. (91.3%) and Trichostrongylus spp. (36.2%). European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus reached an epidemic status with few fatal infections (4.2%) and high seroprevalence (64.9%), whereas the prevalence of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 was very low (0.8%) in hares in Schleswig-Holstein. Pathogens such as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (5.9%), Pasteurella multocida (0.8%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3.4%) only caused sporadic deaths. This study illustrates the wide distribution of various infectious pathogens with high mortality and even zoonotic potential. Infectious diseases need to be considered as an important influence on population dynamics in Schleswig-Holstein.
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Koh EY, Ong J, Wang Y, Toh X, Fernandez CJ, Huangfu T, Hall RN, Toh S, Lim K, Sng W, Lim HP, Ho K, Chang SF, Yap HH. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 from Singapore 2020 outbreak revealed an Australian recombinant variant. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead029. [PMID: 37207001 PMCID: PMC10190043 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a significant and debilitating viral disease affecting lagomorphs. In September 2020, Singapore reported its first cases of RHD virus (RHDV) infection in domesticated rabbits. The initial findings reported that the outbreak strain belonged to genotype GI.2 (RHDV2/RHDVb), and epidemiological investigations could not identify the definitive source of the virus origin. Further recombination detection and phylogenetic analyses of the Singapore outbreak strain revealed that the RHDV was a GI.2 structural (S)/GI.4 non-structural (NS) recombinant variant. Sequence analyses on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database showed high homology to recently emerged Australian variants, which were prevalent in local Australian lagomorph populations since 2017. Time-structured and phylogeographic analyses for the S and NS genes revealed a close genetic relationship between the Singapore RHDV strain and the Australian RHDV variants. More thorough epidemiological inquiries are necessary to ascertain how an Australian RHDV was introduced into the Singapore rabbit population, and opportune development of RHDV diagnostics and vaccines will be important to safeguard lagomorphs from future RHDV infection and disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasmine Ong
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Yifan Wang
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Xinyu Toh
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Charlene Judith Fernandez
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Taoqi Huangfu
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | | | - Steffie Toh
- Centre for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Kelvin Lim
- Veterinary Health Management, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Wendy Sng
- Veterinary Health Management, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Hwee Ping Lim
- Veterinary Health Management, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Kelvin Ho
- Veterinary Health Management, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Siow Foong Chang
- Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
| | - Him Hoo Yap
- Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens 259569, Singapore
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14
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Confirmation of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (GI.2) Circulation in North Africa. ACTA VET-BEOGRAD 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/acve-2022-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fatal acute hepatitis in domestic and wild lagomorphs. It has taken on major economic importance in countries like Morocco. In addition to the classical virus (RHDV), a novel emerged genotype (RHDV2) is circulating, especially in the north shore of the Mediterranean basin since 2010. Many small animal farmers reported clinical cases from several rabbitries in Agadir (Morocco) despite systematic vaccination against the RHDV. The main objective was to characterize the current RHDV strains circulating in the studied area to help to choose an adequate vaccine. For that, we extracted viral RNA from rabbit livers, carried out the PCR analyses, and we sequenced the viral structural capsid protein (VP60) of the RHDV. The phylogenetic analysis results allowed us to state that the novel genotype (RHDV2) is circulating in the studied geographical area, and to characterize the isolated sequences. As a conclusion, we recommend updating RHD epidemiological relating data and reviewing the vaccine protocols by both targeting RHDV (GI.1) and RHDV2 (GI.2) in any future preventive program.
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15
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The pathogenicity comparison of Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 strains in China by using relative quantitative assay. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20518. [PMID: 36443356 PMCID: PMC9705280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25118-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 belongs to Lagovirus in the Caliciviridae family. GI.1 causes an acute, septic, and highly lethal disease in rabbits. Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, a new variant of GI.1, has caused explosive mortality in rabbits of all ages in Sichuan Province, China. To explore the differences in pathogenicity of rabbits infected with GI.1/GI.2, we investigated the virulence and disease progression of a naturally occurring GI.1/GI.2 in 4-week-old, 13-week-old, and 25-week-old New Zealand White laboratory rabbits after GI.1/GI.2 infection. Objective measures of disease progression were recorded using continuous body-temperature monitoring. We observed the kittens were infected with GI.2 during the most urgent course of the disease, and GI.1 was not lethal to kittens. We found that the target organ of both GI.1 and GI.2 was the liver, but the disease course of the two viruses was differed. Our study enriches the research on the pathogenicity of GI.1 and GI.2 under the same conditions.
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16
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European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112423. [PMID: 36366520 PMCID: PMC9698305 DOI: 10.3390/v14112423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is one of the main causes of mortality in brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Europe. Since the mid-1990s, this highly lethal and contagious plague has been widespread in many European countries, contributing to a drastic decline in the number of free-living and farmed hares. A second lagovirus, able to infect some species of hares is rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) recognised in 2010, a new viral emergence of RHDV (GI.1) which is known to be responsible for haemorrhagic disease in rabbits-RHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current EBHS epidemiological situation on the basis of the presence of antibodies to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and anti-RHDV2 antibodies in sera collected from free-ranging hares in Central and Southeastern Poland in 2020-2021. Additionally, studies on the presence of EBHSV and RHDV2 antigens or their genetic material in the blood and internal organs taken from brown hares between 2014 - 2021 have been carried out. The results of the serological examination showed nearly 88% of tested blood samples were positive for EBHSV antibodies. No EBHSV was identified in the examined hares using virological and molecular tests. The positive results of EBHS serological studies confirmed the circulation and maintenance of EBHSV in free-living brown hares in Poland. However, no serological, virological or molecular evidence was obtained indicating that the brown hares tested had been in contact with RHDV2.
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Perera KD, Johnson D, Lovell S, Groutas WC, Chang KO, Kim Y. Potent Protease Inhibitors of Highly Pathogenic Lagoviruses: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus and European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0014222. [PMID: 35766511 PMCID: PMC9430360 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00142-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) are highly contagious diseases caused by lagoviruses in the Caliciviridae family. These infectious diseases are associated with high mortality and a serious threat to domesticated and wild rabbits and hares, including endangered species such as riparian brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius). In the United States (U.S.), only isolated cases of RHD had been reported until Spring 2020. However, RHD caused by GI.2/rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV)2/b was unexpectedly reported in April 2020 in New Mexico and has subsequently spread to several U.S. states, infecting wild rabbits and hares and making it highly likely that RHD will become endemic in the U.S. Vaccines are available for RHD; however, there is no specific treatment for this disease. Lagoviruses encode a 3C-like protease (3CLpro), which is essential for virus replication and a promising target for antiviral drug development. We have previously generated focused small-molecule libraries of 3CLpro inhibitors and demonstrated the in vitro potency and in vivo efficacy of some protease inhibitors against viruses encoding 3CLpro, including caliciviruses and coronaviruses. Here, we report the development of the enzyme and cell-based assays for the 3CLpro of GI.1c/RHDV, recombinant GI.3P-GI.2 (RHDV2/b), and GII.1/European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) as well as the identification of potent lagovirus 3CLpro inhibitors, including GC376, a protease inhibitor being developed for feline infectious peritonitis. In addition, structure-activity relationship study and homology modeling of the 3CLpro and inhibitors revealed that lagovirus 3CLpro share similar structural requirements for inhibition with other calicivirus 3CLpro. IMPORTANCE Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) are viral diseases that affect lagomorphs with significant economic and ecological impacts. RHD vaccines are available, but specific antiviral treatment for these viral infections would be a valuable addition to the current control measures. Lagoviruses encode 3C-like protease (3CLpro), which is essential for virus replication and an attractive target for antiviral drug discovery. We have screened and identified potent small-molecule inhibitors that block lagovirus 3CLpro in the enzyme- and cell-based assays. Our results suggest that these compounds have the potential for further development as antiviral drugs for lagoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishani Dinali Perera
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - David Johnson
- Computational Chemical Biology Core, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Scott Lovell
- Protein Structure Laboratory, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - William C. Groutas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA
| | - Kyeong-Ok Chang
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Yunjeong Kim
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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18
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Capucci L, Cavadini P, Lavazza A. Viral haemorrhagic disease: RHDV type 2 ten years later. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2022.16505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Until the early 1980s, it was totally unknown that lagomorphs were the hosts of several caliciviruses, which were included in the genus Lagovirus by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 2000. In those years, two new diseases appeared, with very similar clinical and pathological profiles and associated high mortality rates: rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in rabbits and European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS) in European brown hares. It took a few years to ascertain that both diseases, actually acute and fatal forms of hepatitis, were caused by two genetically related caliciviruses, but they were finally classified by ICTV into two distinct viral species on the basis of their molecular characterisation and epidemiological data: RHDV in rabbit and EBHSV in brown hare. RHD has had a devastating effect on rabbit farms, causing great economic damage, especially in China, where RHD was first noticed around 1982, and in Europe. RHD has also severely affected wild rabbit populations, whose drastic decline has caused serious ecological imbalances in territories such as Spain, where rabbits are a central link in the wildlife food chain. Since the early 1990s, with the increased availability on the market of RHDV vaccines effective in protecting rabbits from RHD, the impact of the disease on rabbit farms has been significantly reduced. In the following years, also considering that RHDV is an endemic virus that cannot be eradicated, farmers learned how to manage the continuous use of RHDV vaccine in relation to the epidemiological situation, the type of breeding farm and the costs of vaccination prophylaxis. Although precarious, management of the RHD risk for rabbit farmers reached an acceptable equilibrium, which was, however, completely upset starting from 2010 by the emergence of another lagovirus also causing RHD. The genome of the newly emerged virus shows limited differences from that of RHDV, but the phenotypic traits of the two viruses are distinctive in at least three main respects: 1) The antigenic profile of the virus (the “face” of the virus recognised by the antibodies) is largely different from that of RHDV. 2) Newborn rabbits only a couple of weeks old die of RHD when infected with the new virus, while RHDV infections run asymptomatic until 7-8 wk of age. 3) The new virus, which started in Europe, has spread over the years to several continents, affecting wild and/or domestic rabbit populations. During this worldwide distribution, the new virus infected several lagomorph species and was shown to cause RHD in most of them. Considering these marked differences and the fact that the new virus is not a variant of RHDV, we proposed the name RHDV type 2 (RHDV2). All these main distinctive traits that differentiate RHDV from RHDV2 have the following consequences in practice: 1) The antigenic difference between RHDV and RHDV2 (their ‘faces’) is so great that we need “new” specific vaccines to control RHDV2 (i.e. RHDV2 is a new serotype). 2) In the event of an RHDV2 infection in suckling rabbits, the presence of maternal antibodies to RHDV2 in the blood is the only way to prevent RHD. In contrast, newborns are naturally resistant to RHD if infected with RHDV and therefore, in terms of protection, the presence of maternal antibodies is useless. 3) When RHD outbreaks occur in territories where rabbits live in sympatry with populations of other lagomorphs, viral contamination in the environment reaches sufficiently high levels to facilitate the transmission of RHDV2 to other lagomorphs, including those with a lower susceptibility to infection than the rabbit. Taken together, these phenotypic traits characteristic of RHDV2 are the reason for its rapid spread across the territory and the concomitant disappearance of RHDV. Probably the most striking example of the epidemiological consequences related to the peculiar features of RHDV2 is its rapid spread in the USA and Mexico, where it is now practically endemic. There, despite repeated isolated outbreaks of RHD caused by RHDV from 2000 onwards in small rabbit farms, RHDV has never been able to become endemic.
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Development and Evaluation of a Duplex Lateral Flow Assay for the Detection and Differentiation between Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and /GI.2. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030401. [PMID: 35336775 PMCID: PMC8945490 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease is caused by a virus that affects the liver, the spleen and the lungs of rabbits, causing hepatitis, splenomegaly and haemorrhages. A new genotype of the virus was first reported in France in 2010 and has spread globally since then, replacing most of the circulating former viruses in many countries. The detection of the virus and the differentiation of both genotypes is of crucial importance for disease surveillance. In this article, a rapid test for antigen detection is described and evaluated, providing the first description of a quick and easy-to-use test that allows for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of the genotypes. A total of 136 samples, rabbit liver samples and liver exudates (liquid collected after freeze–thawing) classified as infected and non-infected, were analysed, with good results. These data confirm that the developed rapid test can be used as a reliable diagnostic test for disease surveillance, especially in farms and the field. Abstract Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2, recently named Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2) was first reported in France in 2010 and has spread globally since then, replacing most of the circulating former RHDV (genotype GI.1) in many countries. The detection and differentiation of both genotypes is of crucial importance for the surveillance of the disease. In this article, a duplex lateral flow assay (LFA) for antigen detection is described and evaluated, providing the first description of a quick and easy-to-use test that allows for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of RHDV genotypes GI.1 and GI.2. A panel of GI.1- or GI.2-infected and non-infected rabbit liver samples and liver exudates (136 samples) was analysed, obtaining a total sensitivity of 94.4% and specificity of 100%. These data confirm that the developed duplex LFA can be used as a reliable diagnostic test for RHD surveillance, especially in farms and the field.
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20
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Byrne AW, Marnell F, Barrett D, Reid N, Hanna REB, McElroy MC, Casey M. Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) in Ireland Focusing on Wild Irish Hares (Lepus timidus hibernicus): An Overview of the First Outbreaks and Contextual Review. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030288. [PMID: 35335613 PMCID: PMC8953227 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) is a pathogenic lagovirus that emerged in 2010, and which now has a global distribution. Outbreaks have been associated with local population declines in several lagomorph species, due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD)-associated mortality raising concerns for its potential negative impact on threatened or vulnerable wild populations. The Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is endemic to Ireland, and is of conservation interest. The first cases of RHDV2 in Ireland were reported in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in 2016, soon followed by the first known case in a wild rabbit also in 2016, from a population reported to be experiencing high fatalities. During summer 2019, outbreaks in wild rabbits were confirmed in several locations throughout Ireland. Six cases of RHDV2 in wild hares were confirmed between July and November 2019, at four locations. Overall, 27 cases in wildlife were confirmed in 2019 on the island of Ireland, with a predominantly southern distribution. Passive surveillance suggests that the Irish hare is susceptible to lethal RHDV2 infection, and that spillover infection to hares is geographically widespread in eastern areas of Ireland at least, but there is a paucity of data on epidemiology and population impacts. A literature review on RHD impact in closely related Lepus species suggests that intraspecific transmission, spillover transmission, and variable mortality occur in hares, but there is variability in reported resistance to severe disease and mortality amongst species. Several key questions on the impact of the pathogen in Irish hares remain. Surveillance activities throughout the island of Ireland will be important in understanding the spread of infection in this novel host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W. Byrne
- One-Health Scientific Support Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, D02 WK12 Dublin, Ireland;
- Correspondence: or
| | - Ferdia Marnell
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), D07 N7CV Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Damien Barrett
- One-Health Scientific Support Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, D02 WK12 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Neil Reid
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
| | - Robert E. B. Hanna
- Veterinary Science Division (VSD), Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD, UK;
| | - Máire C. McElroy
- Bacteriology and Parasitology Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Backweston, W23 VW2C Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Mícheál Casey
- Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVL) Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Backweston, W23 VW2C Dublin, Ireland;
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21
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Calvete C, Capucci L, Lavazza A, Sarto MP, Calvo AJ, Monroy F, Calvo JH. Changes in European wild rabbit population dynamics and the epidemiology of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in response to artificially increased viral transmission. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:2682-2696. [PMID: 34913607 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations are severely affected by rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), currently aggravated by the spread of the new lagovirus serotype RHDV2 that replaced the classical RHDV strains (RHDV/RHDVa). This virus causes high mortality in both adult and young rabbits and to date, there is no management tool to effectively reduce its impact in wild rabbit populations. This hinders the success of common strategies, such as habitat management or restocking, in areas where rabbits are native. However, the present study, conducted on enclosed wild rabbit populations, showed that spreading RHDV2 on baits during breeding periods induced infection of young rabbits, reducing mortality rates, presumably due to maternal antibody protection. This reduced the young rabbit mortality hazard by a third and more juvenile rabbits immune to RHDV2 were recruited into the adult breeding population. Young rabbits from populations in which the force of infection of RHDV2 was increased, however, exhibited considerably higher susceptibility to infection by RHDV than those from non-treated control populations. Since co-circulation of classical RHDVs was ruled out, differences in the type and degree of immunisation, the level of cross-protection and/or other unknown factors, such as the circulation of undetected non-pathogenic lagoviruses, arose as possible explanations. This meant that although the present work demonstrated the possibility of successfully modulating the impact of RHD in wild populations, the epidemiological complexity of the situation where several lagoviruses circulate requires additional research to determine final applicability of the proposed method. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Calvete
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Avda. Montañana 930, Zaragoza, 50059, España.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, España
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - María P Sarto
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Avda. Montañana 930, Zaragoza, 50059, España
| | - Antonio J Calvo
- Management of Health, Food Safety and Public Health, TRAGSATEC, C/ Julián Camarillo 6 A, Madrid, 28037, Spain
| | - Fernando Monroy
- Management of Health, Food Safety and Public Health, TRAGSATEC, C/ Julián Camarillo 6 A, Madrid, 28037, Spain
| | - Jorge H Calvo
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Avda. Montañana 930, Zaragoza, 50059, España.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, España.,ARAID, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
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22
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Mahar JE, Jenckel M, Huang N, Smertina E, Holmes EC, Strive T, Hall RN. Frequent intergenotypic recombination between the non-structural and structural genes is a major driver of epidemiological fitness in caliciviruses. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab080. [PMID: 34754513 PMCID: PMC8570162 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity of lagoviruses (Caliciviridae) in Australia has increased considerably in recent years. By the end of 2017, five variants from three viral genotypes were present in populations of Australian rabbits, while prior to 2014 only two variants were known. To understand the evolutionary interactions among these lagovirus variants, we monitored their geographical distribution and relative incidence over time in a continental-scale competition study. Within 3 years of the incursion of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2, denoted genotype GI.1bP-GI.2 [polymerase genotype]P-[capsid genotype]) into Australia, two novel recombinant lagovirus variants emerged: RHDV2-4e (genotype GI.4eP-GI.2) in New South Wales and RHDV2-4c (genotype GI.4cP-GI.2) in Victoria. Although both novel recombinants contain non-structural genes related to those from benign, rabbit-specific, enterotropic viruses, these variants were recovered from the livers of both rabbits and hares that had died acutely. This suggests that the determinants of host and tissue tropism for lagoviruses are associated with the structural genes, and that tropism is intricately connected with pathogenicity. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the RHDV2-4c recombinant emerged independently on multiple occasions, with five distinct lineages observed. Both the new RHDV2-4e and -4c recombinant variants replaced the previous dominant parental RHDV2 (genotype GI.1bP-GI.2) in their respective geographical areas, despite sharing an identical or near-identical (i.e. single amino acid change) VP60 major capsid protein with the parental virus. This suggests that the observed replacement by these recombinants was not driven by antigenic variation in VP60, implicating the non-structural genes as key drivers of epidemiological fitness. Molecular clock estimates place the RHDV2-4e recombination event in early to mid-2015, while the five RHDV2-4c recombination events occurred from late 2015 through to early 2017. The emergence of at least six viable recombinant variants within a 2-year period highlights the high frequency of these events, detectable only through intensive surveillance, and demonstrates the importance of recombination in lagovirus evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie E Mahar
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Maria Jenckel
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nina Huang
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Elena Smertina
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Robyn N Hall
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
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23
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Mohamed F, Gidlewski T, Berninger ML, Petrowski HM, Bracht AJ, de Rueda CB, Barrette RW, Grady M, O'Hearn ES, Lewis CE, Moran KE, Sturgill TL, Capucci L, Root JJ. Comparative susceptibility of eastern cottontails and New Zealand white rabbits to classical rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and RHDV2. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e968-e978. [PMID: 34738741 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In 2010, a genetically distinct RHDV named RHDV2 emerged in Europe and spread to many other regions, including North America in 2016. Prior to this study it was unknown if eastern cottontails (ECT(s); Sylvilagus floridanus), one of the most common wild lagomorphs in the United States, were susceptible to RHDV2. In this study, 10 wild-caught ECTs and 10 New Zealand white rabbits (NZWR(s); O. cuniculus) were each inoculated orally with either RHDV (RHDVa/GI.1a; n = 5 per species) or RHDV2 (a recombinant GI.1bP-GI.2; n = 5 per species) and monitored for the development of disease. Three of the five ECTs that were infected with RHDV2 developed disease consistent with RHD and died at 4 and 6 days post-inoculation (DPI). The RHDV major capsid protein/antigen (VP60) was detected in the livers of three ECTs infected with RHDV2, but none was detected in the ECTs infected with RHDV. Additionally, RHD viral RNA was detected in the liver, spleen, intestine and blood of ECTs infected with RHDV2, but not in the ECTs infected with RHDV. RHD viral RNA was detected in urine, oral swabs and rectal swabs in at least two of five ECTs infected with RHDV2. One ECT inoculated with RHDV2 seroconverted and developed a high antibody titre by the end of the experimental period (21 DPI). ECTs inoculated with the classic RHDV did not seroconvert. In comparison, NZWRs inoculated with RHDV2 exhibited high mortality (five of five) at 2 DPI and four of five NZWRs inoculated with RHDV either died or were euthanized at 2 DPI indicating both of these viruses were highly pathogenic to this species. This experiment indicates that ECTs are susceptible to RHDV2 and can shed viral RNA, thereby suggesting this species could be involved in the epidemiology of this virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fawzi Mohamed
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Gidlewski
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Disease Program, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Mary L Berninger
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Heather M Petrowski
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Alexa J Bracht
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Carla Bravo de Rueda
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Roger W Barrette
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Meredith Grady
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Disease Program, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily S O'Hearn
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Charles E Lewis
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Karen E Moran
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York, USA
| | - Tracy L Sturgill
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimenatale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - J Jeffrey Root
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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24
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Aguayo-Adán JA, Rouco C, Delibes-Mateos M, Santoro S. Lack of evidence for differences in the spread of classic (Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1) and novel (Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2) rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses in Europe and North Africa. Vet Rec 2021; 190:e1067. [PMID: 34713453 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.1067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fast-spreading diseases affecting wildlife populations threaten biodiversity. Two caliciviruses, Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2, caused rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in wild rabbits. Despite having different characteristics, these variants spread quickly, posing a threat to wild rabbit populations. METHODS In this study, we conducted a thorough review of the scientific literature and reports of international organisations of first detections of both variants of RHDV in the Euro-Mediterranean region. We concentrated on this area to avoid bias due to intentional human introductions. RESULTS The estimated mean spread rate of GI.2 was higher than that of GI.1 (GI.2: 479 km/year, range: 47-7346; GI.1: 330 km/year, 37-6248). These differences were not statistically significant. This lack of difference may be due to the interactions between each variant's virulence characteristics. Humans may have a dominant effect on their spread. Potential limitations associated with the observational process could have hindered our ability to identify statistical differences. CONCLUSIONS The lack of difference in the spread patterns of the two variants could be due to a biological cause, human facilitation or a lack of statistical power. Adapting protocols to detect diseases in wildlife using homogeneous criteria will be indispensable in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Aguayo-Adán
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO-IESA, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Miguel Delibes-Mateos
- Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO-IESA, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,IESA-CSIC, Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Simone Santoro
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
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25
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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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26
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Phylogenetic Analysis of European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus Strains from Poland (1992-2004). Viruses 2021; 13:v13101999. [PMID: 34696431 PMCID: PMC8539919 DOI: 10.3390/v13101999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is lethal to several species of free-living hares worldwide. The genetic characterization of its virus (EBHSV) strains in European circulation and epidemiological knowledge of EBHSV infections is not yet complete. The study determined the nucleotide sequences of the genomes of EBHSV strains from Poland and analyzed their genetic and phylogenetic relationships to a group of hare lagoviruses. The genome of five virus strains detected in Poland between 1992 and 2004 was obtained by RT-PCR and sequencing of the obtained amplicons. The genetic relationships of the EBHSV strains were analyzed using the full genome and VP60 gene sequences. Additionally, the amino acid sequence of the VP60 gene was analyzed to identify mutations specific to recognized EBHSV subgroups. Partial amplification of the virus open reading frame (ORF)1 and ORF2 regions obtained nearly complete nucleotide genome sequences of the EBHSV strains. Phylogenetic analysis placed them in a GII.1 cluster with other European strains related to nonpathogenic hare caliciviruses. VP60 gene analysis allocated these EBHSV strains to the G1.2, G2.2–2.3 or G3 virus genetic groups. The amino acid sequence differences in the entire genome ranged from 1.1 to 2.6%. Compared to a reference French EBHSV-GD strain, 22 variable amino acid sites were identified in the VP60 region of the Polish strains, but only six were in VP10. Single amino acid changes appeared in different sequence positions among Polish and other European virus strains from different genetic groups, as well as in VP10 sequences of nonpathogenic hare caliciviruses. The results of the study showed a high genetic homogeneity of EBHSV strains from Poland despite their different location occurrence and initial detection times. These strains are also phylogenetically closely related to other EBHSV strains circulating in Europe, likely confirming the slow evolutionary dynamics of this lagovirus species.
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Kennedy A, Britton L, Byrne AW, Byrne C, Casey M, Flynn O, Lozano JM, Marnell F, McElroy M, Reid N, Wilson M, FitzGerald W. First detected case of rabbit Haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus). Ir Vet J 2021; 74:25. [PMID: 34537065 PMCID: PMC8449885 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-021-00205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a Lagovirus, a subgroup of the family Caliciviridae. RHDV2 is a variant first described in France in 2010, and has since spread globally. It has been reported in several Lagomorph species (rabbits, hares, and their relatives) as well as other mammals including voles and shrews. The disease has raised international concerns for its potential impact on population abundance trajectories, particularly as 25% of Lagomorphs are currently Red-Listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is a subspecies of the mountain hare, L. timidus, and is endemic to Ireland, making it an Evolutionarily Significant Unit of intrinsic value. CASE PRESENTATION The first case of RHDV2 was detected in a wild Irish hare in July 2019. The individual exhibited atypical neurological behaviour (running in circles) prior to death. On necropsy, pink tinged foam was seen in the trachea and congestion was noted in the lungs, but there was no evidence of haemorrhages in any other organ. Both the liver and spleen were tested by reverse transcription real time qPCR confirming high levels of RHDV2 RNA. Histopathology confirmed multifocal necrotising hepatitis. CONCLUSION The Irish hare is susceptible to RHDV2 infection. Further investigation is warranted to explore the clinical, epidemiological, and population biology implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aideen Kennedy
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Louise Britton
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew W Byrne
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Christina Byrne
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mícheál Casey
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Flynn
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jose Maria Lozano
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ferdia Marnell
- National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, 90 King Street North, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maire McElroy
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Neil Reid
- Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast (QUB), Belfast, UK
| | - Margaret Wilson
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Ireland
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28
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Asin J, Rejmanek D, Clifford DL, Mikolon AB, Henderson EE, Nyaoke AC, Macías-Rioseco M, Streitenberger N, Beingesser J, Woods LW, Lavazza A, Capucci L, Crossley B, Uzal FA. Early circulation of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 in domestic and wild lagomorphs in southern California, USA (2020-2021). Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e394-e405. [PMID: 34487612 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2) causes a severe systemic disease with hepatic necrosis. Differently from classic RHDV, which affects only European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), RHDV2 can affect many leporid species, including hares (Lepus spp.) and cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.). RHDV2 emerged in Europe in 2010 and spread worldwide. During the last 5 years, there have been multiple outbreaks in North America since the first known event in 2016 in Quebec, Canada, including several detections in British Columbia, Canada, between 2018 and 2019, Washington State and Ohio, USA, in 2018 and 2019, and New York, USA, in 2020. However, the most widespread outbreak commenced in March 2020 in the southwestern USA and Mexico. In California, RHDV2 spread widely across several southern counties between 2020 and 2021, and the aim of this study was to report and characterize these early events of viral incursion and circulation within the state. Domestic and wild lagomorphs (n = 81) collected between August 2020 and February 2021 in California with a suspicion of RHDV2 infection were tested by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR on the liver, and histology and immunohistochemistry for pan-lagovirus were performed on liver sections. In addition, whole genome sequencing from 12 cases was performed. During this period, 33/81 lagomorphs including 24/59 domestic rabbits (O. cuniculus), 3/16 desert cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus audubonii), and 6/6 black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) tested positive. All RHDV2-positive animals had hepatic necrosis typical of pathogenic lagovirus infection, and the antigen was detected in sections from individuals of the three species. The 12 California sequences were closely related (98.9%-99.95%) to each other, and also very similar (99.0%-99.4%) to sequences obtained in other southwestern states during the 2020-2021 outbreak; however, they were less similar to strains obtained in New York in 2020 (96.7%-96.9%) and Quebec in 2016 (92.4%-92.6%), suggesting that those events could be related to different viral incursions. The California sequences were more similar (98.6%-98.7%) to a strain collected in British Columbia in 2018, which suggests that that event could have been related to the 2020 outbreak in the southwestern USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Asin
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Daniel Rejmanek
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis branch, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Deana L Clifford
- Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, California, USA
| | - Andrea B Mikolon
- California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Eileen E Henderson
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Akinyi C Nyaoke
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Melissa Macías-Rioseco
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare branch, University of California-Davis, Tulare, California, USA
| | - Nicolas Streitenberger
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Juliann Beingesser
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Leslie W Woods
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis branch, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Beate Crossley
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis branch, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
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29
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Velarde R, Abrantes J, Lopes AM, Estruch J, Côrte-Real JV, Esteves PJ, García-Bocanegra I, Ruiz-Olmo J, Rouco C. Spillover event of recombinant Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2 into the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) in Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 68:3187-3193. [PMID: 34324796 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Viruses that affect lagomorphs have decades of reported history of spillover events. One of these viruses is the causative agent of the so-called rabbit or 'lagomorph' haemorrhagic disease (e.g. Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and L. europaeus/GI.2). In particular, L. europaeus/GI.2 has shown a great capacity to recombine with existing lagoviruses. In fact, it has replaced the former GI.1 genotype in the wild, and recently, an increase on spillover events has been detected among several lagomorph species including European and North American species of hares. In this study, we report for the first time the infection of a wild Iberian hare with GI.2 (RHDV2/b), potential shedding and associated histopathological alterations. We identify the recombinant GI.4P-GI.2 as causative of the infection and discuss plausible causes regarding the origin of the spillover event and its potential consequences for the Iberian hare wild populations, which is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula as well as an important game and prey species for many predators, including endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Velarde
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WEH) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Joana Abrantes
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (InBIO), University of Porto, Vairao, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana M Lopes
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (InBIO), University of Porto, Vairao, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS)/Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josep Estruch
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WEH) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - João V Côrte-Real
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (InBIO), University of Porto, Vairao, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (InBIO), University of Porto, Vairao, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jordi Ruiz-Olmo
- Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departmento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universdad de Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain.,Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO-IESA, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Córdoba, Spain
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30
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Pathology of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2/b (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2) in Native North American Lagomorphs. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:694-700. [PMID: 33961043 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, a notifiable foreign animal disease in the US, was reported for the first time in wild native North American lagomorphs in April 2020 in the southwestern US. Affected species included the desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), and antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni). Desert cottontails (n=7) and black-tailed jackrabbits (n=7) collected in April and May 2020 were necropsied at the US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and tested positive for Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also known as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (GI.2/RHDV2/b), by real-time PCR at the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Gross and microscopic lesions were similar to those reported in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and other hare (Lepus) species with GI.2/RHDV2/b infection; they included epistaxis (12/13; 92%); massive hepatocellular dissociation (14/14; 100%) and necrosis or apoptosis (11/11; 100%); pulmonary congestion (12/12; 100%), edema (12/13; 92%), and hemorrhage (11/12; 92%); and acute renal tubular injury (3/8; 38%). As in previous reports, massive hepatocellular dissociation and necrosis or apoptosis was the most diagnostically distinct finding. As North American Sylvilagus and Lepus species appear to be susceptible to fatal GI.2/RHDV2/b infection, additional work is needed to understand the host range, pathogenicity, and potential population effects of GI.2/RHDV2/b in North America.
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31
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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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32
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Feral rabbit populations in a peri-urban area: insights about invasion dynamics and potential management strategies. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01505-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWhere introduced, the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus is considered among the most destructive and invasive species. To date, research focused mostly on populations of wild rabbit, whereas little is known on feral domestic rabbit populations. In this work, we reported the establishment of two self-sustaining populations of feral rabbits in Italy. Direct observations were conducted to assess rabbit range expansion and population increase over time. We also evaluated prey-predator interactions between rabbits and native red foxes Vulpes vulpes, by means of camera trapping and the analysis of fox scats. Moreover, we also assessed the social perception towards feral rabbits and the acceptability of various management options through the administration of a structured questionnaire to park visitors. Rabbit populations increased between 2018 and 2019, as well as the size of the invaded range. Rabbits are predated by foxes, but they seem to have adapted their activity rhythms to minimize the risk of predation, becoming diurnal. Park visitors loved rabbits and deemed them to be a positive presence in the park, which deserve to live there. Surgical sterilization of rabbits was the only management option which was partially supported. Feral domestic rabbits, albeit a neglected species in invasion biology, can become extremely successful invaders of urban green areas: in < 5 years, rabbits were able to colonize our study area and become a food resource for native predators and also an iconic species. These three points raise concerns about the potential impacts of invasive feral rabbits in European urban green areas and call for further research in this direction.
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Ambagala A, Schwantje H, Laurendeau S, Snyman H, Joseph T, Pickering B, Hooper-McGrevy K, Babiuk S, Moffat E, Lamboo L, Lung O, Goolia M, Pinette M, Embury-Hyatt C. Incursions of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 in Canada-Clinical, molecular and epidemiological investigation. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 68:1711-1720. [PMID: 33915034 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a newly emerging Lagovirus belonging to the family Caliciviridae. After its first discovery in 2010 in France, this highly pathogenic virus rapidly spread to neighbouring countries and has become the dominant strain, replacing the classical RHDV strains. RHDV2 was first reported in North America in 2016 in Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada, and it was reported again in 2018 and 2019 on Vancouver Island and the southwest mainland of British Columbia (BC). The whole genome sequence of the RHDV2 Quebec isolate resembled the 2011 RHDV2-N11 isolate from Navarra, Spain with 97% identity at the nucleotide level. The epidemiological investigation related to this outbreak involved three hobby farms and one personal residence in Quebec. In February 2018, high mortality was reported in a large colony of feral rabbits on the Vancouver Island University Campus, Nanaimo, BC. The virus identified showed only 93% identity to the Quebec RHDV2 isolate at the nucleotide level. Additional cases of RHDV2 on Vancouver Island and on the BC mainland affecting feral and captive domestic, and commercial rabbits were reported subsequently. Vaccination was recommended to control the outbreak and an inactivated bivalent vaccine was made available to the private veterinary practices. In June 2019, an isolated RHDV2 outbreak was reported in pet rabbits in an apartment building in Vancouver, BC. This virus showed only 97% identity to the RHDV2 isolates responsible for the BC outbreak in 2018 at the nucleotide level, suggesting that it was an independent incursion. The outbreak in BC killed a large number of feral European rabbits; however, there were no confirmed cases of RHD in native rabbit species in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aruna Ambagala
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Helen Schwantje
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| | - Sonja Laurendeau
- Animal Health-Traceability and Terrestrial Animal Disease Control, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Heindrich Snyman
- Animal Health Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Tomy Joseph
- Animal Health Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Bradley Pickering
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Kathleen Hooper-McGrevy
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Shawn Babiuk
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Estella Moffat
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Lindsey Lamboo
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Oliver Lung
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Melissa Goolia
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Mathieu Pinette
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Carissa Embury-Hyatt
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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34
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Katayama A, Miyazaki A, Okazaki N, Nakayama T, Mikami O. An outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) caused by Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in Ehime, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 83:931-934. [PMID: 33840722 PMCID: PMC8267198 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of ten 1–2-year-old rabbits died within 2 weeks at a facility in Ehime prefecture
in May 2019. Necropsy revealed liver discoloration and fragility, hemorrhage of some
organs and blood coagulation failure. On histopathologic examination, necrotizing
hepatitis was a common finding, together with fibrin thrombi in the small vessels and
hemorrhage in some organs. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus gene was detected in
liver samples, and viral particles of approximately 32 nm in diameter were found in the
cytoplasm of degenerated hepatocytes by electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis based
on the partial VP60 gene sequence classified it as Lagovirus europaeus
GI.2/RHDV2. This is the first confirmed outbreak of RHD caused by globally emerging
GI.2/RHDV2 in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiho Katayama
- Ehime Prefectural Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, 743-1 Tanokubo, Touon, Ehime 791-0212, Japan
| | - Ayako Miyazaki
- National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan
| | - Naohito Okazaki
- Ehime Prefectural Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, 743-1 Tanokubo, Touon, Ehime 791-0212, Japan
| | - Teruko Nakayama
- Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture, 240 Kamiharamachi, Tobe, Ehime 791-2191, Japan
| | - Osamu Mikami
- Hokkaido Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 4 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-0045, Japan
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35
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Taggart PL, Hall RN, Cox TE, Kovaliski J, McLeod SR, Strive T. Changes in virus transmission dynamics following the emergence of RHDV2 shed light on its competitive advantage over previously circulating variants. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1118-1130. [PMID: 33724677 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is highly pathogenic to European rabbits. Until recently, only one serotype of RHDV was known, GI.1/RHDV. RHDV2/GI.2 is a novel virus that has rapidly spread and become the dominant pathogenic calicivirus in wild rabbits worldwide. It is speculated that RHDV2 has three competitive advantages over RHDV: (a) the ability to partially overcome immunity to other variants; (b) the ability to clinically infect young rabbits; and (c) a wider host range. These differences would be expected to influence virus transmission dynamics. We used markers of recent infection (IgM/IgA antibodies) to investigate virus transmission dynamics pre and post the arrival of RHDV2. Our data set contained over 3,900 rabbits sampled across a 7-year period at 12 Australian sites. Following the arrival of RHDV2, seasonal peaks in IgM and IgA seropositivity shifted forward one season, from winter to autumn and spring to winter, respectively. Contrary to predictions, we found only weak effects of rabbit age, seropositivity to non-pathogenic calicivirus RCV-A1 and population abundance on IgM/IgA seropositivity. Our results demonstrate that RHDV2 enters rabbit populations shortly after the commencement of annual breeding cycles. Upon entering, the population RHDV2 undergoes extensive replication in young rabbits, causing clinical disease, high virus shedding, mortality and the creation of virus-laden carcasses. This results in high virus contamination in the environment, furthering the transmission of RHDV2 and initiating outbreaks, whilst simultaneously removing the susceptible cohort required for the effective transmission of RHDV. Although RHDV may enter the population at the same time point, it is sub-clinical in young rabbits, causing minimal virus shedding and low environmental contamination. Our results demonstrate a major shift in epidemiological patterns in virus transmission, providing the first evidence that RHDV2's ability to clinically infect young rabbits is a key competitive advantage in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Taggart
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries NSW, Orange, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT, Australia.,School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Robyn N Hall
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Tarnya E Cox
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries NSW, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | - John Kovaliski
- Biosecurity SA, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Steven R McLeod
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries NSW, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Acton, ACT, 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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37
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Abade Dos Santos FA, Pinto A, Burgoyne T, Dalton KP, Carvalho CL, Ramilo DW, Carneiro C, Carvalho T, Peleteiro MC, Parra F, Duarte MD. Spillover events of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (recombinant GI.4P-GI.2) from Lagomorpha to Eurasian badger. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1030-1045. [PMID: 33683820 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a major threat to domestic and wild European rabbits. Presently, in Europe, the disease is caused mainly by Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/b or Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), the origin of which is still unclear, as no RHDV2 reservoir hosts were identified. After the RHDV2 emergence in 2010, viral RNA was detected in a few rodent species. Furthermore, RHDV2 was found to cause disease in some hare species resembling the disease in rabbits, evidencing the ability of the virus to cross the species barrier. In this study, through molecular, histopathologic, antigenic and morphological evidences, we demonstrate the presence and replication of RHDV2 in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) found dead in the district of Santarém, Portugal, between March 2017 and January 2020. In these animals, we further classify the RHDV2 as a Lagovirus europaeus recombinant GI.4P-GI.2. Our results indicate that Meles meles is susceptible to RHDV2, developing systemic infection, and excreting the virus in the faeces. Given the high viral loads seen in several organs and matrices, we believe that transmission to the wild rabbit is likely. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy data show the presence of calicivirus compatible virions in the nucleus of hepatocytes, which constitutes a paradigm shift for caliciviruses' replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio A Abade Dos Santos
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of. Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, Portugal.,National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Andreia Pinto
- Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Centre, Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Thomas Burgoyne
- Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Centre, Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK.,UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kevin P Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Carina L Carvalho
- National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - David W Ramilo
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of. Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla Carneiro
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of. Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tânia Carvalho
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M Conceição Peleteiro
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of. Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Margarida D Duarte
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of. Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, Portugal.,National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, Oeiras, Portugal
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38
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Recombination at the emergence of the pathogenic rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14502. [PMID: 32879332 PMCID: PMC7468141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71303-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease is a viral disease that emerged in the 1980s and causes high mortality and morbidity in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In 2010, a new genotype of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus emerged and replaced the former circulating Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 strains. Several recombination events have been reported for the new genotype Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2, with pathogenic (variants GI.1a and GI.1b) and benign (genotype GI.4) strains that served as donors for the non-structural part while GI.2 composed the structural part; another recombination event has also been described at the p16/p23 junction involving GI.4 strains. In this study, we analysed new complete coding sequences of four benign GI.3 strains and four GI.2 strains. Phylogenetic and recombination detection analyses revealed that the first GI.2 strains, considered as non-recombinant, resulted from a recombination event between GI.3 and GI.2, with GI.3 as the major donor for the non-structural part and GI.2 for the structural part. Our results indicate that recombination contributed to the emergence, persistence and dissemination of GI.2 as a pathogenic form and that all described GI.2 strains so far are the product of recombination. This highlights the need to study full-genomic sequences of lagoviruses to understand their emergence and evolution.
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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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40
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Reemers S, Peeters L, van Schijndel J, Bruton B, Sutton D, van der Waart L, van de Zande S. Novel Trivalent Vectored Vaccine for Control of Myxomatosis and Disease Caused by Classical and a New Genotype of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030441. [PMID: 32764375 PMCID: PMC7565868 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxoma virus (MV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are the major causes of lethal viral diseases in the European rabbit. In 2010, a new RHDV genotype (RHDV2) emerged in the field that had limited cross-protection with the classical RHDV (RHDV1). For optimal protection of rabbits and preventing spread of disease, a vaccine providing protection against all three key viruses would be ideal. Therefore, a novel trivalent myxoma vectored RHDV vaccine (Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS) was developed similar to the existing bivalent myxoma vectored RHDV vaccine Nobivac Myxo-RHD. The new vaccine contains the Myxo-RHDV1 strain already included in Nobivac Myxo-RHD and a similarly produced Myxo-RHDV2 strain. This paper describes several key safety and efficacy studies conducted for European licensing purposes. Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS showed to be safe for use in rabbits from five weeks of age onwards, including pregnant rabbits, and did not spread from vaccinated rabbits to in-contact controls. Furthermore, protection to RHDV1 and RHDV2 was demonstrated by challenge, while the serological response to MV was similar to that after vaccination with Nobivac Myxo-RHD. Therefore, routine vaccination with Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS can prevent the kept rabbit population from these major viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Reemers
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Leon Peeters
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
| | - Joyce van Schijndel
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
| | - Beth Bruton
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
| | - David Sutton
- Global Marketing Companion Animals, MSD Animal Health, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ, UK;
| | - Leo van der Waart
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
| | - Saskia van de Zande
- Companion Animals R&D, MSD Animal Health, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (J.v.S.); (B.B.); (L.v.d.W.); (S.v.d.Z.)
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41
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Cavadini P, Molinari S, Merzoni F, Vismarra A, Posautz A, Alzaga Gil V, Chiari M, Giannini F, Capucci L, Lavazza A. Widespread occurrence of the non-pathogenic hare calicivirus (HaCV Lagovirus GII.2) in captive-reared and free-living wild hares in Europe. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:509-518. [PMID: 32603021 PMCID: PMC8247275 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The Lagovirus genus comprises both pathogenic viruses as European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV- GII.1) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease viruses (RHDV-GI.1 and RHDV2-GI.2), that principally infect European brown hares (Lepus europeaus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), respectively, causing severe necrotic hepatitis, spleen enlargement and disseminated haemorrhage. This genus includes also non-pathogenic agents, such as rabbit calicivirus (RCV-E1 - GI.3) and the non-pathogenic hare Lagovirus, provisionally named hare calicivirus (HaCV - GII.2). The latter had been identified for the first time in 2012 in the gut contents and faeces of healthy young hares raised in a breeding farm. In this study, we further investigated the presence of HaCV by testing the intestinal tract of 621 wild hares collected between 2010 and 2018 in Northern and Central Italy, and in 2011 in Austria, Germany and Spain. These wild hares were found dead for causes other than EBHS or were healthy hares shot during the hunting season. Forty-three out of 322 hare samples from Italy and 14 out of 299 samples from Austria and Germany were positive for HaCV-GII.2 by RT-PCR using universal primers for lagoviruses and primers specific for HaCV. Sequence analysis of the full capsid protein gene conducted on 12 strains representative of different years and locations indicated that these viruses belong to the same, single cluster as the prototype strain initially identified at the hares' farm (HaCV_Bs12_1). The relatively high level of genetic variation (88% nt identity) within this cluster suggests HaCVs may have been circulating widely in Europe for some time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Cavadini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Molinari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Merzoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alice Vismarra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Annika Posautz
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mario Chiari
- D.G. Welfare, Regional Health Authority of Lombardy, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Giannini
- Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, Portoferraio, Località-Enfola, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna and OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
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Erfan AM, Shalaby AG. Genotyping of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus detected in diseased rabbits in Egyptian Provinces by VP60 sequencing. Vet World 2020; 13:1098-1107. [PMID: 32801560 PMCID: PMC7396351 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.1098-1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an economically important disorder of rabbits, where infection results in severe losses to the meat and fur industries. Our goal was to characterize the RHD virus (RHDV) strains currently circulating in different regions of Egypt. Materials and Methods Fifty rabbits suspected of harboring RHDV from 15 Egyptian governorates were evaluated. Diseased rabbits were identified by clinical signs and postmortem lesions. RHDV was confirmed through hemagglutination assay (HA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Partial sequencing of the VP60 gene was performed for genotyping. Results From 50 rabbits, we identified 16 cases of RHDV (32%) by HA and PCR, including seven males and nine females. We identified two distinct genotypes through sequencing of an amplified fragment of the virus VP60 gene. One group is composed of those circulating primarily in upper Egypt, which is closely related to the classical G3-G5 virus strains, and the second group, circulating predominantly in lower Egypt, was more closely related to the RHDV2 variant. The overall nucleotide sequence identity ranged from 78.4% to 100%, and identity with the vaccine strains ranged from 78.8% to 91.1%. Conclusion Our results constitute important documentation of RHDV strains currently circulating in Egypt. The findings suggest that there may be a limit to the effectiveness of currently applied vaccine strains as this formulation may not cover all circulating strains. A wider investigation that includes both domestic and wild rabbits will be needed to identify appropriate control measures for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Erfan
- Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki. Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | - Azhar G Shalaby
- Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki. Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, 12618, Egypt
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Buehler M, Jesse ST, Kueck H, Lange B, Koenig P, Jo WK, Osterhaus A, Beineke A. Lagovirus europeus GI.2 (rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2) infection in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Germany. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:166. [PMID: 32460756 PMCID: PMC7254734 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02386-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. In 2010 a new genotype of lagovirus (GI.2), emerged in Europe, infecting wild and domestic population of rabbits and hares. CASE PRESENTATION We describe the infection with a GI.2 strain, "Bremerhaven-17", in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in a zoo facility in Germany. Postmortem examination revealed RHD-like lesions including necrotizing hepatitis. RT-qPCR and AG-ELISA confirmed presence of GI.2. Recombination and phylogenetic analysis grouped the identified strain with other GI.2 strains, sharing nucleotide identity of 91-99%. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Buehler
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sonja T Jesse
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heike Kueck
- Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Bastian Lange
- Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Patricia Koenig
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Wendy K Jo
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Albert Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Beineke
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany.
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Strive T, Piper M, Huang N, Mourant R, Kovaliski J, Capucci L, Cox TE, Smith I. Retrospective serological analysis reveals presence of the emerging lagovirus RHDV2 in Australia in wild rabbits at least five months prior to its first detection. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:822-833. [PMID: 31665828 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The lagovirus rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has been circulating in Australia since the mid-1990s when it was released to control overabundant rabbit populations. In recent years, the viral diversity of different RHDVs in Australia has increased, and currently four different types of RHDV are known to be circulating. To allow for ongoing epidemiological studies and impact assessments of these viruses on Australian wild rabbit populations, it is essential that serological tools are updated. To this end, reference sera were produced against all four virulent RHDVs (RHDV, RHDV2 and two different strains of RHDVa) known to be present in Australia and tested in a series of available immunological assays originally developed for the prototype RHDV, to assess patterns of cross-reactivity and the usefulness of these assays to detect lagovirus antibodies, either in a generic or specific manner. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) developed to detect antibody isotypes IgM, IgA and IgG were sufficiently cross-reactive to detect antibodies raised against all four virulent lagoviruses. For the more specific detection of antibodies to the antigenically more different RHDV2, a competition ELISA was adapted using RHDV2-specific monoclonal antibodies in combination with Australian viral antigen. Archival serum banks from a long-term rabbit monitoring site where rabbits were sampled quarterly over a period of 6 years were re-screened using this assay and revealed serological evidence for the arrival of RHDV2 in this population at least 5 months prior to its initial detection in Australia in a dead rabbit in May 2015. The serological methods and reference reagents described here will provide valuable tools to study presence, prevalence and impact of RHDV2 on Australian rabbit populations; however, the discrimination of different antigenic variants of RHDVs as well as mixed infections at the serological level remains challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia
| | - Melissa Piper
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nina Huang
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia
| | - Roslyn Mourant
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
| | - John Kovaliski
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Biosecurity SA, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Capucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Brescia, Italy
| | - Tarnya E Cox
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia.,Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, Australia
| | - Ina Smith
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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45
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García-Bocanegra I, Camacho-Sillero L, Risalde MA, Dalton KP, Caballero-Gómez J, Agüero M, Zorrilla I, Gómez-Guillamón F. First outbreak of myxomatosis in Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis). Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:2204-2208. [PMID: 31293076 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Myxomatosis is an infectious disease caused by myxoma virus (MYXV; genus Leporipoxvirus), which affects the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sporadically brown hares (Lepus europaeus). Here, we describe the first outbreak of myxomatosis in Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis). Between mid-July and the end of September 2018, around 530 dead animals were detected in Iberian hare populations in southern Spain. The apparent mean mortality rate was 56.7%, and the estimated mean case fatality rate was 69.2%. Histopathological and molecular results confirmed MYXV infections in all hares analysed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first myxomatosis outbreak causing a high mortality in hares and the first detailed characterization of a myxomatosis outbreak in the Iberian hare. The absence of cases in sympatric wild rabbits suggests differences in the susceptibility between both lagomorph species to the virus strain implicated in the outbreak. After the first case, the number of affected areas increased sharply affecting most of the Iberian Peninsula where the Iberian hare is present. Further studies are required to elucidate the origin of the implicated MYXV strain as well as to assess the impact of this outbreak on the Iberian hare populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonor Camacho-Sillero
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Fauna Silvestre en Andalucía (PVE), Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - Maria A Risalde
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Kevin P Dalton
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Javier Caballero-Gómez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Montserrat Agüero
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV), Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Zorrilla
- Centro de Análisis y Diagnóstico de la Fauna Silvestre en Andalucía, Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua M.P., Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - Félix Gómez-Guillamón
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Fauna Silvestre en Andalucía (PVE), Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
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46
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Camacho-Sillero L, Caballero-Gómez J, Gómez-Guillamón F, Martínez-Padilla A, Agüero M, Miguel ES, Zorrilla I, Rayas E, Talavera V, García-Bocanegra I. Monitoring of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (GI.2) epidemic in European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in southern Spain, 2013-2017. Vet Microbiol 2019; 237:108361. [PMID: 31521392 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly infectious disease in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), caused by a virus belonging to the genus Lagovirus (RHDV; family Caliciviridae). In 2010, a new genotype of RHDV (RHDV2 or RHDVb, currently designated GI.2) emerged in France, affecting both domestic rabbits, even those vaccinated for the classical RHDV genotypes (currently designated GI.1) and wild rabbits. GI.2 was subsequently identified in other European countries. The aim of the present study was to monitor the GI.2 epidemic in wild rabbits in Andalusia (southern Spain) during the period 2013-2017. At the beginning of summer 2013, high mortalities were detected in wild rabbit populations in southern Spain. A total of 96 affected hunting or protected areas were surveyed. The first outbreak was observed on June 2013. The number of outbreaks sharply increased in 2013 and 2014, with a decreasing trend being observed during the following years. The spatial distribution of GI.2 was not homogeneous, since most of the detected outbreaks were concentrated in the western part of Andalusia. The outbreaks peaked in winter and spring and have been detected in the last five consecutive years, which suggests endemic circulation of GI.2 in wild rabbit populations in Spain. A total of 190 dead rabbits from 87 of the 96 areas surveyed were collected during the study period. Mortality affected rabbits of different age classes, including kittens. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of GI.2 RNA in the livers of 185 of the 190 (97.4%) rabbits. Phylogenetic analysis performed on eleven samples collected in different provinces of Andalusia between 2013 and 2017, showed high nucleotide identity with GI.2 strains Spain, France and Portugal. The results constitute an important step in understanding of the emergence and spread of GI.2 in this country and will provide valuable information for the development of surveillance programs in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Camacho-Sillero
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua (AMAYA), Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain
| | - J Caballero-Gómez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain; Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain
| | - F Gómez-Guillamón
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain; Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - A Martínez-Padilla
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain
| | - M Agüero
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV), Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Algete, Madrid, Spain
| | - E San Miguel
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV), Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Algete, Madrid, Spain
| | - I Zorrilla
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua (AMAYA), Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - E Rayas
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua (AMAYA), Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - V Talavera
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua (AMAYA), Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - I García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Spain.
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47
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Rocchi M, Maley M, Dagleish M, Boag B. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 in hares in Scotland. Vet Rec 2019; 185:23. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.l4481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mara Rocchi
- Surveillance Unit; Moredun Research Institute; Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0PZ
| | - Madeleine Maley
- Surveillance Unit; Moredun Research Institute; Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0PZ
| | - Mark Dagleish
- Surveillance Unit; Moredun Research Institute; Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0PZ
| | - Brian Boag
- The James Hutton Institute; Invergowrie Dundee DD2 5DA
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48
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Immunogenicity in Rabbits of Virus-Like Particles from a Contemporary Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (GI.2/RHDV2/b) Isolated in The Netherlands. Viruses 2019; 11:v11060553. [PMID: 31207978 PMCID: PMC6631637 DOI: 10.3390/v11060553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) type 2 (GI.2/RHDV2/b) is an emerging pathogen in wild rabbits and in domestic rabbits vaccinated against RHDV (GI.1). Here we report the genome sequence of a contemporary RHDV2 isolate from the Netherlands and investigate the immunogenicity of virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in insect cells. RHDV2 RNA was isolated from the liver of a naturally infected wild rabbit and the complete viral genome sequence was assembled from sequenced RT-PCR products. Phylogenetic analysis based on the VP60 capsid gene demonstrated that the RHDV2 NL2016 isolate clustered with other contemporary RHDV2 strains. The VP60 gene was cloned in a baculovirus expression vector to produce VLPs in Sf9 insect cells. Density-gradient purified RHDV2 VLPs were visualized by transmission electron microscopy as spherical particles of around 30 nm in diameter with a morphology resembling authentic RHDV. Immunization of rabbits with RHDV2 VLPs resulted in high production of serum antibodies against VP60, and the production of cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-4) was significantly elevated in the immunized rabbits compared to the control group. The results demonstrate that the recombinant RHDV2 VLPs are highly immunogenic and may find applications in serological detection assays and might be further developed as a vaccine candidate to protect domestic rabbits against RHDV2 infection.
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49
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Kwit E, Rzeżutka A. Molecular methods in detection and epidemiologic studies of rabbit and hare viruses: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019; 31:497-508. [PMID: 31131728 DOI: 10.1177/1040638719852374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Various PCR-based assays for rabbit viruses have gradually replaced traditional virologic assays, such as virus isolation, because they offer high-throughput analysis, better test sensitivity and specificity, and allow vaccine and wild-type virus strains to be fully typed and differentiated. In addition, PCR is irreplaceable in the detection of uncultivable or fastidious rabbit pathogens or those occurring in low quantity in a tested sample. We provide herein an overview of the current state of the art in the molecular detection of lagomorph viral pathogens along with details of their targeted gene or nucleic acid sequence and recommendations for their application. Apart from the nucleic acids-based methods used for identification and comprehensive typing of rabbit viruses, novel methods such as microarray, next-generation sequencing, and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) could also be employed given that they offer greater throughput in sample screening for viral pathogens. Molecular methods should be provided with an appropriate set of controls, including an internal amplification control, to confirm the validity of the results obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Kwit
- Department of Food and Environmental Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Artur Rzeżutka
- Department of Food and Environmental Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
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50
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Rouco C, Aguayo-Adán JA, Santoro S, Abrantes J, Delibes-Mateos M. Worldwide rapid spread of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.2/RHDV2/b). Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1762-1764. [PMID: 30924292 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We describe the extremely rapid worldwide spread of the Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2/RHDV2/b (henceforth GI.2), the causative infectious agent of the so-called 'novel' rabbit haemorrhagic disease of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We tracked down all novel confirmed detections of GI.2 between May 2010 and November 2018 by carrying out a two-step in-depth review. We suggest that such spread would not have been possible without anthropogenic involvement. Our results also point out the importance of reviewing and adapting the protocols of virus detection and management in order to control, mitigate and contain properly, not only GI.2, but also new viruses that may emerge in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | | | - Simone Santoro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO-InBIO/UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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