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Ringenberg JM, Weir K, Linder T, Lenoch J. Detections of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) Following the 2020 Outbreak in Wild Lagomorphs across the Western United States. Viruses 2024; 16:1106. [PMID: 39066268 PMCID: PMC11281353 DOI: 10.3390/v16071106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly infectious, often fatal viral disease that affects both domestic and wild lagomorph species. In the United States (U.S.), the virus first was detected in wild lagomorph populations in the southwest in March 2020 and has continued to be detected in native North American lagomorph species over several years. The susceptibility of host species and exact mechanisms of environmental transmission across the U.S. landscape remain poorly understood. Our study aims to increase the understanding of RHDV2 in wild lagomorph populations by providing a history of detection. We present and summarize results from all RHDV2-suspect wild lagomorph morbidity and mortality samples submitted for diagnostic testing in the U.S. from March 2020 to March 2024. Samples were submitted from 916 wild lagomorphs across eight native North American species in 14 western states, of which 313 (34.2%) tested positive by RHDV2 RT-qPCR. Detections of RHDV2 in pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) and riparian brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) suggest that the risk to threatened and endangered species warrants more attention. Continuing to investigate wild lagomorph morbidity and mortality events and tracking RHDV2 detections over time can help inform on disease epidemiology and wild lagomorph population trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jourdan M. Ringenberg
- National Wildlife Disease Program, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (K.W.); (T.L.); (J.L.)
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Hinds J, Apaa T, Parry RH, Withers AJ, MacKenzie L, Staley C, Morrison J, Bennett M, Bremner-Harrison S, Chadwick EA, Hailer F, Harrison SW, Lambin X, Loose M, Mathews F, Tarlinton R, Blanchard A. Multiple novel caliciviruses identified from stoats (Mustela erminea) in the United Kingdom. Access Microbiol 2024; 6:000813.v4. [PMID: 39130737 PMCID: PMC11316584 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000813.v4] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Caliciviridae family, comprising positive-sense RNA viruses, is characterised by its non-enveloped, small virions, broad host range, and notable tendency for host switching. These viruses are primarily associated with gastroenteric disease, though they can lead to haemorrhagic or respiratory infections. Our study employed a metagenomics analysis of faecal samples from stoats (Mustela erminea), identifying two novel calicivirus species, named stoat vesivirus and stoat valovirus. Stoat vesivirus was identified in three samples (ST008, ST006, ST004), exhibiting a genome wide nucleotide identity of approximately 92 %. The complete coding sequences of these samples were 8471 (ST004) and 8322 (ST006) nucleotides in length, respectively. Each comprised three open reading frames (ORF), closely resembling the Vesivirus mink calicivirus (China/2/2016), with 70-72 % similarity in ORF1, 61-62 % in ORF2 and 71 % in ORF3. Phylogenetic analysis robustly supported stoat vesivirus as belonging within the Vesivirus genus. The second calivicirus (stoat valovirus), detected solely in sample ST008, was 6527 nucleotides in length and with complete coding sequences present. It shared highest similarity with St-Valérien swine virus and marmot norovirus HT16, showing 39.5 and 38.8 % protein identity with ORF1 and 43.3 and 42.9 % for VP1. Stoat valovirus is borderline for meeting the ICTV criteria for a new genus, demonstrating 60 % divergence in ORF1 compared to the other valovirus', however it clusters basally within the Valovirus genus, supporting leaving it included in this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Hinds
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Ternenge Apaa
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone Surrey, UK
| | - Rhys H. Parry
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Amy J. Withers
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone Surrey, UK
| | - Laura MacKenzie
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ceri Staley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Joshua Morrison
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Malcolm Bennett
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Samantha Bremner-Harrison
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
- Vincent Wildlife Trust, Eastnor, Ledbury, UK
| | | | - Frank Hailer
- Organisms and Environment, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Cardiff University-Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research, Beijing, PR China
| | - Stephen W.R. Harrison
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mathew Loose
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Fiona Mathews
- School of Life sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK
| | - Rachael Tarlinton
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Adam Blanchard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
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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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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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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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Sahraoui L, Lahouassa H, Maziz-Bettahar S, Lopes AM, Almeida T, Ainbaziz H, Abrantes J. First detection and molecular characterization of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Algeria. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1235123. [PMID: 37745217 PMCID: PMC10513046 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1235123] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has been responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide, both in domestic and in wild rabbits. Despite the apparent control of RHD in rabbitries through vaccination, several studies highlighted the rapid evolution of RHDV by recombination, which may facilitate the emergence of new pathogenic strains. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence and characterize RHDV in Algeria. For this, rabbit samples were collected in the north of Algeria, between 2018 and 2021, from small farms where the virus was suspected after the sudden death of a high number of rabbits, and from healthy hunted wild rabbits. The domestic rabbits revealed clinical signs and lesions that were suggestive of RHD. RT-PCR showed that 79.31% of the domestic rabbit samples were positive for RHDV, while in 20.69%, including the hunted rabbits, the virus was not detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the Algerian strains allowed the confirmation and identification as GI.2 (RHDV2), and showed a close relation to GI.3P-GI.2 recombinant strains, suggesting a potential introduction from other countries, with an older strain potentially originated from neighboring Tunisia, while more recent isolates grouped with strains from North America. Our study reports for the first time the presence of GI.2 (RHDV2) in Algeria with multiple routes of introduction. Consequently, we propose that RHDV control in Algeria should be based on epidemiological surveys in association with an adequate prophylactic program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynda Sahraoui
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Hichem Lahouassa
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Samia Maziz-Bettahar
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Saad Dahlab University of Blida1, Blida, Algeria
| | - Ana M. Lopes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, 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
| | - Tereza Almeida
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Hacina Ainbaziz
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Coelho J, Pacheco H, Rafael M, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Alves PC, Santos N. Dynamics of Humoral Immunity to Myxoma and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Viruses in Wild European Rabbits Assessed by Longitudinal Semiquantitative Serology. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0005023. [PMID: 37314328 PMCID: PMC10434053 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00050-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are important drivers of the population decline of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species. Both viruses elicit strong immune responses, but the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity are imperfectly known. This study aimed to assess the determinants of the long-term dynamics of antibodies to each virus based on a longitudinal capture-mark-recapture of wild European rabbits and semiquantitative serological data of MYXV and RHDV GI.2-specific IgG. The study included 611 indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) normalized absorbance ratios for each MYXV and RHDV GI.2 from 505 rabbits from 2018 to 2022. Normalized absorbance ratios were analyzed using log-linear mixed models, showing a significant positive relationship with the time since the first capture of individual rabbits, with monthly increases of 4.1% for antibodies against MYXV and 2.0% against RHDV GI.2. Individual serological histories showed fluctuations over time, suggesting that reinfections boosted the immune response and likely resulted in lifelong immunity. Normalized absorbance ratios significantly increased with the seroprevalence in the population, probably because of recent outbreaks, and with body weight, highlighting the role of MYXV and RHDV GI.2 in determining survival to adulthood. Juvenile rabbits seropositive for both viruses were found, and the dynamics of RHDV GI.2 normalized absorbance ratios suggest the presence of maternal immunity up to 2 months of age. Semiquantitative longitudinal serological data provide epidemiological information, otherwise lost when considering only qualitative data, and support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to RHDV GI.2 and MYXV upon natural infection. IMPORTANCE This study addresses the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity to two major viral pathogens of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species of major ecological relevance. Such studies are particularly challenging in free-ranging species, and a combination of longitudinal capture-mark-recapture and semiquantitative serology was used to address this question. Over 600 normalized absorbance ratios of iELISA, obtained from 505 individual rabbits in 7 populations over 5 years, were analyzed using linear mixed models. The results support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus upon natural infection and suggest the presence of maternal immunity to the latter in wild juvenile rabbits. These results contribute to understanding the epidemiology of two viral diseases threatening this keystone species and assist in developing conservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Coelho
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Henrique Pacheco
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Marta Rafael
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
| | - Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
- GISAZ-ENZOEM, Animal Health and Zoonoses Research Group, Competitive Research Unit on Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Paulo Célio Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
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8
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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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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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Shah PT, Bahoussi AN, Yang C, Yao G, Dong L, Wu C, Xing L. Genetic Characteristics and Phylogeographic Dynamics of Lagoviruses, 1988-2021. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040815. [PMID: 37112796 PMCID: PMC10143477 DOI: 10.3390/v15040815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), rabbit calicivirus (RCV), and hare calicivirus (HaCV) belong to the genus Lagovirus of the Caliciviridae family that causes severe diseases in rabbits and several hare (Lepus) species. Previously, Lagoviruses were classified into two genogroups, e.g., GI (RHDVs and RCVs) and GII (EBHSV and HaCV) based on partial genomes, e.g., VP60 coding sequences. Herein, we provide a robust phylogenetic classification of all the Lagovirus strains based on full-length genomes, grouping all the available 240 strains identified between 1988 and 2021 into four distinct clades, e.g., GI.1 (classical RHDV), GI.2 (RHDV2), HaCV/EBHSV, and RCV, where the GI.1 clade is further classified into four (GI.1a-d) and GI.2 into six sub-clades (GI.2a-f). Moreover, the phylogeographic analysis revealed that the EBHSV and HaCV strains share their ancestor with the GI.1, while the RCV shares with the GI.2. In addition, all 2020-2021 RHDV2 outbreak strains in the USA are connected to the strains from Canada and Germany, while RHDV strains isolated in Australia are connected with the USA-Germany haplotype RHDV strain. Furthermore, we identified six recombination events in the VP60, VP10, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) coding regions using the full-length genomes. The amino acid variability analysis showed that the variability index exceeded the threshold of 1.00 in the ORF1-encoded polyprotein and ORF2-encoded VP10 protein, respectively, indicating significant amino acid drift with the emergence of new strains. The current study is an update of the phylogenetic and phylogeographic information of Lagoviruses that may be used to map the evolutionary history and provide hints for the genetic basis of their emergence and re-emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pir Tariq Shah
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Amina Nawal Bahoussi
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Caiting Yang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Guanhan Yao
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Development, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Li Dong
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Changxin Wu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Li Xing
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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Pinto FF, Abrantes J, Ferreira PG, Nóbrega M, Marcos R. Case series: Four fatal rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus infections in urban pet rabbits. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1144227. [PMID: 37035809 PMCID: PMC10073570 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1144227] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Four pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus) diagnosed with a fatal infection by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV GI.2) were identified in the same week and further investigated. All animals lived in an urban environment (Lisbon, Portugal), were between 8 months and 2 years old and none had been vaccinated against RHDV2 (GI.2). Three animals arrived at the clinic and died shortly afterward and it was only possible to collect material for RT-qPCR (RHDV) test. These rabbits tested positive for RHDV2, with high viral loads. In the fourth case, additional clinical and post-mortem gross and histological evaluations were performed. This 8 month old intact female indoor pet rabbit was presented with apathy, tachypnea and tachycardia. Radiographic projections revealed no clinical revealed no clinical abnormalities. Serum biochemistry revealed a significant increase in AST and ALT with a small hypoglycemia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an acute hepatitis. Despite hospitalization support, after 30 h of admission, the rabbit lost consciousness and developed anorexia and pyrexia in the last minutes before death. Post-mortem analysis and molecular testing by RT-qPCR, confirmed the diagnosis of RHDV2 (GI.2) infection also with high viral load. In conclusion, this paper reports a case series that demonstrates the severe infectious ability and the high mortality associated with RHDV even in rabbits from urban environments. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of always considering rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) as a differential diagnosis in pet rabbits with non-specific clinical signs, and should warn veterinarians that pet rabbits living indoors can also be infected with a fatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Fontes Pinto
- HIPRA, Malveira, Portugal
- UMIB—Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CIBIO—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Filipe Fontes Pinto ;
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes Ferreira
- 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, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Ricardo Marcos
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Al-Ebshahy E, Abas O, Abo-ElKhair M. Co-circulation of GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus in Egypt. Virusdisease 2022; 33:422-428. [PMID: 36447817 PMCID: PMC9701251 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-022-00791-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: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, Egypt has experienced an increased incidence of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) infection even among vaccinated rabbits. The present study estimates the emergence of RHDV in vaccinated (n = 10) and unvaccinated (n = 8) domestic rabbitries in Beheira and Kafr El-Sheikh provinces, Egypt, during the period 2018-2020. A total of 8 out of 18 (44.4%) liver extracts were able to agglutinate human type O RBCs with HA titers ranged from 8 to 12 log2, and then subsequently confirmed for the presence of RHDV RNA using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The VP60 gene sequences of three selected isolates, designated Beh-1, Beh-9 and kaf-14, were submitted to the GenBank database and the accession numbers MZ782083 to MZ782085 were assigned, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Kaf-14 isolate was placed into the GI.1 genotype, while the Beh-1 and Beh-9 isolates were grouped into the GI.2 genotype. Overall, the three isolates shared 78.6-98.7%.nucleotide identity with previously published Egyptian sequences. In comparison with the GI.1a Giza2006 vaccine strain, the three isolates exhibited divergence ranging from 4.5 to 17.4% at the amino acid level. Approximately 55.5-87.5% of the amino acid substitutions were located in the P2 subdomain of the VP60 capsid protein which contains the main determinants of antigenicity and cellular recognition. In conclusion, our results provide crucial evidence for the co-circulation of RHDV GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes in Egypt and highlight the antigenic diversity among vaccine and field strains. Therefore, new effective vaccines are urgently required to counter the spread of GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Al-Ebshahy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Osama Abas
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Detection of a new emerging strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (GI.2) in China. J Vet Res 2022; 66:289-295. [PMID: 36349130 PMCID: PMC9597937 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2022-0048] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In May 2020, an outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease 2 (RHD2) caused by the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2, GI.2) occurred in Sichuan, China. The acute onset and short disease course resulted in rabbit mortality as high as 42.86%. Currently, basic research on the aetiology and genetic characteristics of GI.2 is lacking in China. Material and Methods Pathological changes in various tissues from infected rabbits were investigated and the viral genome was characterised. This study used RT-PCR, histopathology and scanning electron microscopy to identify the pathogen in samples from infected rabbits that had died. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on whole genome sequence analysis, and recombination events were analysed. Results RT-PCR identified the presence of GI.2. Histopathology revealed liver cell necrosis and haemorrhaging into lung alveoli. Electron microscopy demonstrated spherical GI.2 particles that were 40 nm in size. The gene sequence length of the isolate was 7,445 bp (GenBank accession number MW178244). A phylogenetic analysis based on the genome of the isolated strain and 60 reference strains showed that the isolate was grouped together with GI.2 strain MT586027.1 in a relatively independent sub-branch. The results of the recombination analysis showed that the strain was recombined from the MT586027.1 (major parent) and MN90145.1 (minor parent) strains, and recombination breakpoints were at locations in the 2858–5137 nt range. Conclusion The results of this study extend our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of GI.2.
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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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Zhou J, Ma Y, Wang M, Zhang Y, Chen B, Chen D, Li L, Li M. Establishment of a duplex Taqman RT-PCR for the differential detection of RHDV GI.1 and GI.2. J Virol Methods 2022; 304:114526. [PMID: 35339577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114526] [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: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious and acute fatal hepatitis of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), caused by a calicivirus (genus Lagovirus). Up to 2010, all RHD viruses (RHDV) isolated belonged to one genotype. In 2010, a new genotype of RHDV (RHDV2/b, currently designated GI.2 based on phylogenetic analysis) emerged in France. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, simple, specific and sensitive TaqMan real-time PCR assay for the classic strain of RHDV and RHDV2 detection. Specific primers and probes were designed for the VP60 gene of RHDV and RHDV2 within the conserved region of viral genome. RESULTS This study was demonstrated to be highly specific for RHDV and RHDV2, without cross-reactions with other non-targeted viruses. The detection limit of this work was 102 copies of RHDV and RHDV2, respectively. The coefficient of variation of the assay was less than 5% for both intra-assay and inter-assay. The reproducibility of method was assessed using plasmids and the coefficient of variation obtained was 0.2 to 3.70. Of 79 clinical samples, 68 were positive samples (86.08%), of which 60 were classic RHDV variants (75.9%), 4 were co-infected (5.06%) and 8 were RHDV2 (10.12%), those results are more sensitivity compare with conventional RT-PCR RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this duplex TaqMan RT-qPCR based on VP60 gene of RHDV and RHDV2 could be a valuable tool in diagnose and molecular epidemiological study of the RHDV and RHDV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Sichuan BoCe Testing Tech Co., Ltd., Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yanjun Ma
- Sichuan BoCe Testing Tech Co., Ltd., Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Min Wang
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention in Bazhou District, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province, Bazhong, 636600, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dishi Chen
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Li Li
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Mingxiang Li
- Sichuan BoCe Testing Tech Co., Ltd., Chengdu, 610041, China
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Patel KK, Strive T, Hall RN, Mutze G, Page B, Korcz M, Booth-Remmers M, Smith IL, Huang DN, Kovaliski J, Jayasinghe Ellakkala Appuhamilage RMJ, Taggart PL. Cross-protection, infection, and case fatality rates in wild European rabbits experimentally challenged with different rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e1959-e1971. [PMID: 35315981 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14530] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is now the dominant calicivirus circulating in wild rabbit populations in Australia. This study compared the infection and case fatality rates of RHDV2 and two RHDVs in wild rabbits, as well as their ability to overcome immunity to the respective other strains. Wild rabbits were allocated to groups either blindly or based on prescreening for RHDV/RHDV2 antibodies at capture. Rabbits were monitored regularly until their death or humane killing at 7 days post infection. Liver and eyeball samples were collected for lagovirus testing and aging rabbits, respectively. At capture, rabbits showed high seroprevalence to RHDV2 but not to RHDV. In RHDV/RHDV2 seronegative rabbits at capture, infection rates were highest in those inoculated with RHDV2 (81.8%, 18/22), followed by K5 (53.8%, 7/13) and CZECH (40.0%, 2/5), but these differences were not statistically significant. In rabbits with previous exposure to RHDV2 at capture, infection rates were highest when inoculated with K5 (59.6%, 31/52) followed by CZECH (46.0%, 23/50), with infection rates higher in younger rabbits for both viruses. In RHDV/RHDV2 seronegative rabbits at capture, case fatality rates were highest for those inoculated with K5 (71.4%), followed by RHDV2 (50.0%) and CZECH (50.0%). In rabbits with previous exposure to RHDV2 at capture, case fatality rates were highest in rabbits inoculated with K5 (12.9%) followed by CZECH (8.7%), with no case fatalities following RHDV2 inoculation. Case fatality rates did not differ significantly between inoculums in either serostatus group at capture. Based on multivariable modelling, time to death post RHDV inoculation increased in rabbits with recent RHDV2 exposure compared to seronegative rabbits and with age. The results suggest that RHDV2 may cause higher mortalities than other variants in seronegative rabbit populations but that K5 may be more effective in reducing rabbit populations in an RHDV2-dominant landscape. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kandarp K Patel
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia.,Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robyn N Hall
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia.,Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Greg Mutze
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Bradley Page
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia
| | - Matthew Korcz
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Mahalia Booth-Remmers
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Subiaco, Western Australia, 6008, Australia
| | - Ina L Smith
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia
| | - D Nina Huang
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia.,Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - John Kovaliski
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia
| | - Ridma M J Jayasinghe Ellakkala Appuhamilage
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Urrbrae, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia
| | - Patrick L Taggart
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Capital Territory, Bruce, 2617, Australia.,Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries NSW, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 2620, Australia
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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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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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Chen M, Fan Z, Hu B, Song Y, Wei H, Qiu R, Zhu W, Xu W, Wang F. Pathogenicity of the newly emerged Lagovirus europaeus GI.2 strain in China in experimentally infected rabbits. Vet Microbiol 2021; 265:109311. [PMID: 34965497 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In April 2020, rabbit hemorrhagic virus type 2 (Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), which causes highly infectious fatal rabbit hemorrhagic disease, was emerged in China. The phylogenetic analyses of the complete genome sequence of GI.2 showed that it belonged to the non-recombinant GI.3/GI.2 genotype. However, the pathogenicity of this GI.2 strain differed from that of early typical GI.2 strains in Europe. To prevent the spread of the new strain in China, its pathogenicity urgently needs to be studied. Thus, viral shedding and distribution as well as clinical symptoms, histopathological changes, and serum cytokines were studied in experimentally GI.2/SC2020-infected rabbit adults and kits. The kit group showed a shorter survival time after the challenge than the adult group did. The mortality rate was higher in the kits (80 %) than in the adults (30 %). Viral RNA could be detected in both nasal and fecal swabs, and the main dissemination route appeared to be the fecal route. Viral RNA rapidly increased in the blood of the adults and kits at 6 h post-infection, indicating that blood viral load testing can be used for early diagnosis. The most affected organs were the liver and spleen, and the lesions were more severe in the kits than in the adults. The liver contained the highest viral RNA levels. Moreover, serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were increased in the infected rabbits. In conclusion, our findings will help to understand the evolutionary trends and pathogenic characteristics of GI.2 strains in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Chen
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyu Fan
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhua Song
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Houjun Wei
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Rulong Qiu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Weifeng Zhu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Weizhong Xu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Engineering Research of Veterinary Bio-products, Nanjing, China.
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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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21
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Tokarz-Deptuła B, Palma J, Baraniecki Ł, Stosik M, Kołacz R, Deptuła W. What Function Do Platelets Play in Inflammation and Bacterial and Viral Infections? Front Immunol 2021; 12:770436. [PMID: 34970260 PMCID: PMC8713818 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.770436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The article presents the function of platelets in inflammation as well as in bacterial and viral infections, which are the result of their reaction with the endovascular environment, including cells of damaged vascular endothelium and cells of the immune system. This role of platelets is conditioned by biologically active substances present in their granules and in their specific structures - EV (extracellular vesicles).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanna Palma
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Michał Stosik
- Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Roman Kołacz
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
| | - Wiesław Deptuła
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
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22
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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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23
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An Outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in British Columbia, Canada. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:983-986. [PMID: 34516651 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
From 2018 to 2019, an outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 occurred in British Columbia, Canada, in feral and domestic European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Anthropogenic translocation of infected animals is suspected to have played a role in the introduction and spread of the virus.
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24
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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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25
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Dalton KP, Alvarado C, Reytor E, del Carmen Nuñez M, Podadera A, Martínez-Alonso D, Alonso JMM, Nicieza I, Gómez-Sebastián S, Dalton RM, Parra F, Escribano JM. Chimeric VLPs Bearing VP60 from Two Serotypes of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Are Protective against Both Viruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9091005. [PMID: 34579243 PMCID: PMC8472679 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9091005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The VP60 capsid protein from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), the causative agent of one of the most economically important disease in rabbits worldwide, forms virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed using heterologous protein expression systems such as recombinant baculovirus, yeasts, plants or mammalian cell cultures. To prevent RHDV dissemination, it would be beneficial to develop a bivalent vaccine including both RHDV GI.1- and RHDV GI.2-derived VLPs to achieve robust immunisation against both serotypes. In the present work, we developed a strategy of production of a dual-serving RHDV vaccine co-expressing the VP60 proteins from the two RHDV predominant serotypes using CrisBio technology, which uses Tricholusia ni insect pupae as natural bioreactors, which are programmed by recombinant baculovirus vectors. Co-infecting the insect pupae with two baculovirus vectors expressing the RHDV GI.1- and RHDV GI.2-derived VP60 proteins, we obtained chimeric VLPs incorporating both proteins as determined by using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies. The resulting VLPs showed the typical size and shape of this calicivirus as determined by electron microscopy. Rabbits immunised with the chimeric VLPs were fully protected against a lethal challenge infection with the two RHDV serotypes. This study demonstrates that it is possible to generate a dual cost-effective vaccine against this virus using a single production and purification process, greatly simplifying vaccine manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P. Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus El Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Santiago Gascón, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (K.P.D.); (A.P.); (J.M.M.A.); (I.N.); (F.P.)
| | - Carmen Alvarado
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Edel Reytor
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Maria del Carmen Nuñez
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Ana Podadera
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus El Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Santiago Gascón, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (K.P.D.); (A.P.); (J.M.M.A.); (I.N.); (F.P.)
| | - Diego Martínez-Alonso
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Jose Manuel Martin Alonso
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus El Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Santiago Gascón, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (K.P.D.); (A.P.); (J.M.M.A.); (I.N.); (F.P.)
| | - Ines Nicieza
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus El Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Santiago Gascón, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (K.P.D.); (A.P.); (J.M.M.A.); (I.N.); (F.P.)
| | - Silvia Gómez-Sebastián
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Romy M. Dalton
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
| | - Francisco Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus El Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Santiago Gascón, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (K.P.D.); (A.P.); (J.M.M.A.); (I.N.); (F.P.)
| | - José M. Escribano
- Alternative Gene Expression S.L. Ronda de Poniente 14, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain; (C.A.); (E.R.); (M.d.C.N.); (D.M.-A.); (S.G.-S.); (R.M.D.)
- Correspondence:
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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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Huneau-Salaün A, Boucher S, Fontaine J, Le Normand B, Lopez S, Maurice T, Nouvel L, Bruchec A, Coton J, Martin G, Le Gall-Reculé G, Le Bouquin S. Retrospective studies on rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreaks caused by RHDV GI.2 virus on farms in France from 2013 to 2018. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2021.12800] [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
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a critical health threat to the rabbit industry in Europe. In 2018, the French rabbit industry adopted a voluntary control plan against this disease. In this context, two epidemiological studies were conducted on RHD outbreaks that occurred between 2013 and 2018 in France. The objectives were to describe the spread of RHD due to the new genotype RHDV GI.2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus GI.2) and to identify rearing factors influencing the occurrence of the disease in order to guide the prevention measures recommended in the control plan. An analysis of cases on 295 farms between 2013 and 2017 showed that 32% of farms were affected at least once; the incidence of the disease increased in 2016-2017 compared to 2013-2015. Farms already affected in 2013-2015 had a higher risk of being infected in 2016-2017 than those that remained unaffected until 2015 (Relative Risk and 95% Confident Interval 1.7 [1.1-2.7]). A case-control study carried out between 2016 and 2018 on 37 outbreaks and 32 control farms revealed variability in biosecurity and decontamination practices between farms. The risk of being infected tends to be linked to these practices, but certain structural factors (e.g. the manure disposal system, transfer of rabbits at weaning) could also influence the risk of virus introduction into farms. In the context of a limited vaccination coverage of the farms (only females are vaccinated), these hypotheses will be studied further, using information from the RHD outbreak monitoring system implemented at the same time as the control plan in 2018.
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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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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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30
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Abrantes J, Lopes AM. A Review on the Methods Used for the Detection and Diagnosis of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV). Microorganisms 2021; 9:972. [PMID: 33946292 PMCID: PMC8146303 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the early 1980s, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been threatened by the rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). The disease is caused by a lagovirus of the family Caliciviridae, the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The need for detection, identification and further characterization of RHDV led to the development of several diagnostic tests. Owing to the lack of an appropriate cell culture system for in vitro propagation of the virus, much of the methods involved in these tests contributed to our current knowledge on RHD and RHDV and to the development of vaccines to contain the disease. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the RHDV diagnostic tests used since the first RHD outbreak and that include molecular, histological and serological techniques, ranging from simpler tests initially used, such as the hemagglutination test, to the more recent and sophisticated high-throughput sequencing, along with an overview of their potential and their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/InBio-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal;
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana M. Lopes
- CIBIO/InBio-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal;
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS)/Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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31
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Hänske GG, König P, Schuhmann B, Bertram CA, Müller K. Death in four RHDV2-vaccinated pet rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). J Small Anim Pract 2021; 62:700-703. [PMID: 33900627 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To create awareness of single RHDV2 infections and cases of death despite immunisation with RHDV2-specific vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective case series of four companion rabbits. Patient signalment, vaccination history, pathology and molecular examinations were obtained from the medical records. RESULTS The animals died peracutely or with nonspecific symptoms like apathy and inappetence. Pathological examination indicated and molecular biological findings confirmed RHDV2 infection in four animals. Several partner animals died at the same time under the same circumstances. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This is the first report of fatalities in RHDV2-vaccinated companion rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 infection with documented case and vaccination history. Veterinarians should be aware of possible single fatal RHDV2 infections despite vaccination, should initiate the clarification of suspected cases and inform vaccine manufacturers and competent authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Hänske
- Tiermedizinzentrum Berlin, Kufsteiner Straße 22, 10825, Berlin, Germany
| | - P König
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald, Insel Riems, 17493, Germany
| | - B Schuhmann
- Tiermedizinzentrum Berlin, Kufsteiner Straße 22, 10825, Berlin, Germany
| | - C A Bertram
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| | - K Müller
- Department of Veterinary Medicine/Small Animal Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
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Toh X, Ong J, Chan C, Teo XH, Toh S, Fernandez CJ, Huangfu T. First detection of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) in Singapore. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1521-1528. [PMID: 33892517 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14116] [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: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a significant viral disease caused by infection with Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The first documented cases of RHDV in Singapore occurred in adult pet European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in September 2020. Rabbits presented with acute hyporexia, lethargy, huddled posture, and varying degrees of pyrexia and tachypnoea. Clinical pathology consistently reflected markedly elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP). Hepatic lobe torsion was ruled out using ultrasonography and colour Doppler studies in all patients. A total of 11 rabbits owned by 3 families were presented to the clinics; 8/11 rabbits died within 48 hr of presentation, while the remaining two rabbits had recovered after prolonged hospitalization and one rabbit was aclinical. Histopathology revealed acute, marked diffuse hepatocellular necrosis and degeneration, findings which were suggestive for RHDV infection and prompted the undertaking of further molecular diagnostics. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction of the liver samples detected RHDV RNA. Molecular characterization of viral genomes by whole genome sequencing revealed that the outbreak strain was of the genotype GI.2 (RHDV2/RHDVb). Nucleotide sequences of the VP60 gene were compared with various RHDV variants using phylogenetic analysis. The sample genome shared highest sequence identity with a GI.2-genotyped virus from GenBank (RHDV isolate Algarve 1 polyprotein and minor structural protein (VP10) genes, GenBank accession KF442961). The combination of clinical, histopathological, molecular and sequencing technologies enabled rapid detection and detailed genetic characterization of the RHDV virus causing the present outbreak for prompt implementation of disease control measures in Singapore. Further epidemiological investigations of potential virus introduction into Singapore are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Toh
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
| | - Jasmine Ong
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
| | - Cathy Chan
- The Animal Doctors Pte Ltd (Singapore), Singapore
| | - Xuan Hui Teo
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
| | - Steffie Toh
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
| | - Charlene Judith Fernandez
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
| | - Taoqi Huangfu
- Center for Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Professional and Scientific Services, Animal and Veterinary Service, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore
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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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Abstract
Viral diseases, whether of animals or humans, are normally considered as problems to be managed. However, in Australia, two viruses have been used as landscape-scale therapeutics to control European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the preeminent invasive vertebrate pest species. Rabbits have caused major environmental and agricultural losses and contributed to extinction of native species. It was not until the introduction of Myxoma virus that effective control of this pest was obtained at a continental scale. Subsequent coevolution of rabbit and virus saw a gradual reduction in the effectiveness of biological control that was partially ameliorated by the introduction of the European rabbit flea to act as an additional vector for the virus. In 1995, a completely different virus, Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), escaped from testing and spread through the Australian rabbit population and again significantly reduced rabbit numbers and environmental impacts. The evolutionary pressures on this virus appear to be producing quite different outcomes to those that occurred with myxoma virus and the emergence and invasion of a novel genotype of RHDV in 2014 have further augmented control. Molecular studies on myxoma virus have demonstrated multiple proteins that manipulate the host innate and adaptive immune response; however the molecular basis of virus attenuation and reversion to virulence are not yet understood.
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35
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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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36
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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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Harcourt-Brown N, Silkstone M, Whitbread TJ, Harcourt-Brown FM. RHDV2 epidemic in UK pet rabbits. Part 1: clinical features, gross post mortem and histopathological findings. J Small Anim Pract 2020; 61:419-427. [PMID: 32383506 PMCID: PMC7496995 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To report clinical features, gross post mortem and histopathological findings from an investigation into sudden or unexpected death in rabbits that was undertaken during an outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Materials and Methods Using a standard protocol, veterinarians were invited to submit case histories and results of their post mortem examination of pet rabbits that died unexpectedly. Histopathological examination of heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidney samples was collated with macroscopic appearance and clinical details. Results Hepatocellular necrosis, characteristic of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, was observed in 185 of 300 (62%) submissions, often accompanied by glomerular thrombosis and changes in other organs. Evidence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease was not apparent on histopathology in 113 of 300 (38%) rabbits. Gross post mortem examination by veterinary practitioners did not always reflect reported histopathological changes. No macroscopic abnormalities were seen in 78/185 (42%) of rabbit haemorrhagic disease cases. Rapid death and death of other rabbits in the household were common features of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Ante mortem clinical signs included anorexia, collapse, lethargy, seizures, icterus, bleeding from the mouth, dyspnoea, hypothermia, pyrexia, bradycardia or poor blood clotting. Clinical Importance Rabbit haemorrhagic disease can be suspected from a history of sudden death, especially if multiple rabbits are affected. There is not always macroscopic evidence of the disease but histopathology is useful to support or refute a diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and provide information about other causes of death.
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Abstract
Recently, multiple infectious organisms have been identified as the cause of emerging diseases in lagomorphs. The most important of these emerging diseases is rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) type 2, a new variant with differences in pathogenicity to classical RHDV. Hepatitis E is considered an emerging zoonotic infectious disease, with widespread prevalence in many different rabbit populations. Mycobacteriosis has been recently reported in other captive domestic rabbit populations. This article provides a recent review of the published literature on emerging infectious diseases in rabbits, including farmed, laboratory, and pet rabbits, some of which have zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Gleeson
- Department of Avian and Exotic Pets, ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital, 9599 Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232, USA
| | - Olivia A Petritz
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
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Ramsey DSL, Cox T, Strive T, Forsyth DM, Stuart I, Hall R, Elsworth P, Campbell S. Emerging RHDV2 suppresses the impact of endemic and novel strains of RHDV on wild rabbit populations. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David S. L. Ramsey
- Arthur Rylah Institute Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Bruce ACT Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Tarnya Cox
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Bruce ACT Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research UnitDepartment of Primary Industries Orange NSW Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Bruce ACT Australia
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity Canberra ACT Australia
| | - David M. Forsyth
- Vertebrate Pest Research UnitDepartment of Primary Industries Orange NSW Australia
| | - Ivor Stuart
- Arthur Rylah Institute Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
| | - Robyn Hall
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Bruce ACT Australia
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity Canberra ACT Australia
| | | | - Susan Campbell
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Albany WA Australia
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40
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Rosell JM, de la Fuente LF, Parra F, Dalton KP, Badiola Sáiz JI, Pérez de Rozas A, Badiola Díez JJ, Fernández de Luco D, Casal J, Majó N, Casas J, Garriga R, Fernández Magariños XM. Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease: A 30-Year Study of the Occurrence on Commercial Farms in Spain. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E780. [PMID: 31658748 PMCID: PMC6827050 DOI: 10.3390/ani9100780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this retrospective study, we describe the relative occurrence of clinical myxomatosis, and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), on 1714 commercial farms visited in Spain, between 1988 and 2018. We determined the annual prevalence based on 817 visits to 394 farms affected by myxomatosis. Myxomatosis was more prevalent from August to March, being lowest in June (3%) and highest in September (8.9%). With regard to RHD, we assessed 253 visits to 156 affected farms. We analyzed mean annual and monthly incidence. Two important RHD epidemics occurred; the first in 1988-1989 due to RHDV GI.1 (also known as RHDV), and the second from 2011 to 2013 due to RHDV GI.2 (RHDV2 or RHDVb). These epidemics occurred at times when effective vaccination had not been carried out. Relative monthly incidence in 2011-2018 was higher from April to August (p < 0.001). The results we obtained from 1404 necropsies on 102 farms did not clearly relate serosanguinous nasal discharge in rabbits with disease caused by GI.2 infection. We also assessed vaccination schedules used on 200 doe farms visited from the end of 2014 to 2018; 95.5% vaccinated against myxomatosis and 97.5% against RHD. Both diseases remain prevalent; however, effective vaccination has produced a steady decline in myxomatosis and RHDV GI.1 and GI.2 on-farm detection. The maintenance of high hygienic standards will be needed to continue and improve this control. However, further studies are required to investigate the causes of sustained virus presence and vaccine breaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan M Rosell
- Cunivet Service. P.O. Box 518, 43080 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - L Fernando de la Fuente
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Avda. Profesor Pedro Cármenes s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain.
| | - Francisco Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Calle Doctor Fernando Bongera s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Kevin P Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Calle Doctor Fernando Bongera s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - J Ignacio Badiola Sáiz
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Ana Pérez de Rozas
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Juan J Badiola Díez
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Calle de Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Daniel Fernández de Luco
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Calle de Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Jordi Casal
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Natàlia Majó
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Jordina Casas
- Federació d'Associacions de Cunicultors de Catalunya (FACC). Carrer Ull de Llebre, 13 08734 Olèrdola (Barcelona), Spain.
| | - Ricard Garriga
- Federació d'Associacions de Cunicultors de Catalunya (FACC). Carrer Ull de Llebre, 13 08734 Olèrdola (Barcelona), Spain.
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Le Minor O, Boucher S, Joudou L, Mellet R, Sourice M, Le Moullec T, Nicolier A, Beilvert F, Sigognault-Flochlay A. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: experimental study of a recent highly pathogenic GI.2/RHDV2/b strain and evaluation of vaccine efficacy. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2019.11082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In 2010, a variant of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) belonging to a new GI.2 genotype was identified in France and rapidly spread worldwide. Due to antigenic difference, new vaccines including G1.2 strains have been developed to confer adequate protection. An increase in the pathogenicity of the circulating strains was recently reported. The objective of this experimental study was to characterise the infection with a highly pathogenic GI.2/RHDV2/b isolate (2017) and assess the efficacy of Filavac VHD K C+V vaccine (Filavie) against this strain. Four and 10-wk-old specific pathogen-free rabbits were inoculated with a recommended dose of vaccine. After 7 d, controls and vaccinated rabbits were challenged and clinically monitored for 14 d. All animals were necropsied and blood, organs and urine were sampled for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. In adult groups, regular nasal and rectal swabbing were performed, and faeces were collected after death to monitor RNA shedding. In control groups, the challenge strain induced acute RHD between 31 and 72 h post-inoculation, with a mortality rate of 100% for kits and 89% for adult rabbits. Except for a shorter mean time to death in kits, similar clinical signs and lesions were observed between age groups. The vaccination significantly prevented all mortality, clinical signs, detection of viral RNA in serum and gross lesions in kits and adult rabbits. In adult groups, we also demonstrated that vaccine significantly protected from detectable RNA shedding via naso-conjunctival and rectal routes. Two weeks after challenge, RNA copies were not detected by PCR in the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, faeces and urine of vaccinated adult rabbits. The findings for kits were similar, except that very low levels of RNA were present in the liver and spleen of a few rabbits. These data show that immunisation prevented any significant viral multiplication and/or allowed a rapid clearance. We concluded that, despite the quick evolution of GI.2/RHDV2/b strains, the protection conferred by the vaccine remains adequate. In the context of coexistence of both GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes in some countries, with the circulation of multiples recombinant viruses, the vaccination should be based on the association of strains from both genotypes.
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42
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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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Rahali N, Sghaier S, Kbaier H, Zanati A, Bahloul C. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus isolated in Tunisia from 2015 to 2018. Arch Virol 2019; 164:2327-2332. [PMID: 31177352 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Two distinct genotypes responsible for rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) are reported, GI.1 (RHDV) and GI.2 (RHDV2). Vaccines based on these two genotypes are only partially cross-protective. Hence, knowing which genotype is circulating is important for appropriate control measures. We have investigated 25 field samples isolated between 2015 and 2018 from rabbits with clinical signs of RHD. Only GI.2 (RHDV2) is currently circulating in Tunisia. All Tunisian samples were grouped together with typical genotypic and phenotypic mutations. Therefore, we recommend initiating an extensive preventive vaccination program based on GI.2 vaccines in addition to a regular monitoring of the circulating lagoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Rahali
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT01 Microbiologie Moléculaire, Vaccinologie et Développement Biotechnologique, 13, Place Pasteur BP-74, 1002, Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia
| | - Soufien Sghaier
- Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie, Service Virologie, 20 Rue Djebel Lakhdar La Rabta, 1006, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Houaida Kbaier
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT01 Microbiologie Moléculaire, Vaccinologie et Développement Biotechnologique, 13, Place Pasteur BP-74, 1002, Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia
| | - Amira Zanati
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT01 Microbiologie Moléculaire, Vaccinologie et Développement Biotechnologique, 13, Place Pasteur BP-74, 1002, Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia
| | - Chokri Bahloul
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT01 Microbiologie Moléculaire, Vaccinologie et Développement Biotechnologique, 13, Place Pasteur BP-74, 1002, Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia.
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Smertina E, Urakova N, Strive T, Frese M. Calicivirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases: Evolution, Structure, Protein Dynamics, and Function. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1280. [PMID: 31244803 PMCID: PMC6563846 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Caliciviridae are viruses with a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome that is packaged into an icosahedral, environmentally stable protein capsid. The family contains five genera (Norovirus, Nebovirus, Sapovirus, Lagovirus, and Vesivirus) that infect vertebrates including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) replicates the genome of RNA viruses and can speed up evolution due to its error-prone nature. Studying calicivirus RdRps in the context of genuine virus replication is often hampered by a lack of suitable model systems. Enteric caliciviruses and RHDV in particular are notoriously difficult to propagate in cell culture; therefore, molecular studies of replication mechanisms are challenging. Nevertheless, research on recombinant proteins has revealed several unexpected characteristics of calicivirus RdRps. For example, the RdRps of RHDV and related lagoviruses possess the ability to expose a hydrophobic motif, to rearrange Golgi membranes, and to copy RNA at unusually high temperatures. This review is focused on the structural dynamics, biochemical properties, kinetics, and putative interaction partners of these RdRps. In addition, we discuss the possible existence of a conserved but as yet undescribed structural element that is shared amongst the RdRps of all caliciviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Smertina
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nadya Urakova
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Michael Frese
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Abstract
Many infectious diseases originating from, or carried by, wildlife affect wildlife conservation and biodiversity, livestock health, or human health. We provide an update on changes in the epidemiology of 25 selected infectious, wildlife-related diseases in Europe (from 2010-16) that had an impact, or may have a future impact, on the health of wildlife, livestock, and humans. These pathogens were selected based on their: 1) identification in recent Europe-wide projects as important surveillance targets, 2) inclusion in European Union legislation as pathogens requiring obligatory surveillance, 3) presence in recent literature on wildlife-related diseases in Europe since 2010, 4) inclusion in key pathogen lists released by the Office International des Epizooties, 5) identification in conference presentations and informal discussions on a group email list by a European network of wildlife disease scientists from the European Wildlife Disease Association, or 6) identification as pathogens with changes in their epidemiology during 2010-16. The wildlife pathogens or diseases included in this review are: avian influenza virus, seal influenza virus, lagoviruses, rabies virus, bat lyssaviruses, filoviruses, canine distemper virus, morbilliviruses in aquatic mammals, bluetongue virus, West Nile virus, hantaviruses, Schmallenberg virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, African swine fever virus, amphibian ranavirus, hepatitis E virus, bovine tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium bovis), tularemia ( Francisella tularensis), brucellosis ( Brucella spp.), salmonellosis ( Salmonella spp.), Coxiella burnetii, chytridiomycosis, Echinococcus multilocularis, Leishmania infantum, and chronic wasting disease. Further work is needed to identify all of the key drivers of disease change and emergence, as they appear to be influencing the incidence and spread of these pathogens in Europe. We present a summary of these recent changes during 2010-16 to discuss possible commonalities and drivers of disease change and to identify directions for future work on wildlife-related diseases in Europe. Many of the pathogens are entering Europe from other continents while others are expanding their ranges inside and beyond Europe. Surveillance for these wildlife-related diseases at a continental scale is therefore important for planet-wide assessment, awareness of, and preparedness for the risks they may pose to wildlife, domestic animal, and human health.
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Neave MJ, Hall RN, Huang N, McColl KA, Kerr P, Hoehn M, Taylor J, Strive T. Robust Innate Immunity of Young Rabbits Mediates Resistance to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Caused by Lagovirus Europaeus GI.1 But Not GI.2. Viruses 2018; 10:E512. [PMID: 30235853 PMCID: PMC6163550 DOI: 10.3390/v10090512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rabbit caliciviruses Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 both cause acute necrotizing hepatitis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Whilst GI.2 is highly virulent in both young and adult rabbits, rabbits younger than eight weeks of age are highly resistant to disease caused by GI.1, although they are still permissive to infection and viral replication. To investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of this age related resistance to GI.1, we compared liver transcriptomes of young rabbits infected with GI.1 to those of adult rabbits infected with GI.1 and young rabbits infected with GI.2. Our data suggest that kittens have constitutively heightened innate immune responses compared to adult rabbits, particularly associated with increased expression of major histocompatibility class II molecules and activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and cholangiocytes. This enables them to respond more rapidly to GI.1 infection than adult rabbits and thus limit virus-induced pathology. In contrast, these responses were not fully developed during GI.2 infection. We speculate that the observed downregulation of multiple genes associated with innate immunity in kittens during GI.2 infection may be due to virally-mediated immunomodulation, permitting fatal disease to develop. Our study provides insight into the fundamental host⁻pathogen interactions responsible for the differences in age-related susceptibility, which likely plays a critical role in defining the success of GI.2 in outcompeting GI.1 in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Neave
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Robyn N Hall
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Nina Huang
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Kenneth A McColl
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Peter Kerr
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Marion Hoehn
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | | | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) was detected in European rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) for the first time ever in Finland in 2016. Reports of dead feral rabbits in Helsinki started to accumulate from April 2016. The Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira received the first animals in late April, and the main necropsy finding was severe, acute necrotizing hepatitis. Genetic material from RHD virus (RHDV) was detected in the liver and was further characterized as RHDV2. The Finnish virus did not group with RHDV strains from a concurrent outbreak in neighboring Sweden, suggesting another origin. The outbreak peaked in May and lasted until August, after which sightings of both live and dead rabbits became rare. No major outbreaks in domestic rabbits were observed, although infection in one pet rabbit was confirmed.
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Neimanis A, Larsson Pettersson U, Huang N, Gavier-Widén D, Strive T. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Vet Res 2018; 49:46. [PMID: 29866169 PMCID: PMC5987473 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-018-0540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also known as RHDV2 or RHDVb, is an emerging virus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In contrast to L. europaeus GI.1 (or RHDV/RHDVa) viruses that are only pathogenic for adults, GI.2 causes clinical disease in both adults and kittens. However, detailed descriptions of the pathology of this virus that may provide insight into its pathogenicity and emergence are lacking. Using an Australian GI.2 field strain isolated in 2015, we provide the first detailed description of pathology, viral antigen distribution and tissue load of GI.2 in adult and 5-week old New Zealand white rabbits using histology, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Liver was the target organ, but in contrast to GI.1 viruses, lesions and inflammatory responses did not differ between adults and kittens. Lymphocytic inflammation, proposed to be protective in kittens infected with GI.1, was notably absent. We also present the first descriptions of bone marrow changes in RHD, including decreased myeloid-to-erythroid ratio. Consistent with other pathogenic lagoviruses, intracellular viral antigen was demonstrated in hepatocytes and cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system. In terminal stages of disease, viral loads were highest in liver, serum and spleen. Despite the small sample size, our data suggest that unlike early European GI.2 strains, the pathogenicity of the Australian GI.2 virus is similar to GI.1 viruses. Additionally, GI.2 was fatal for all (n = 5) inoculated kittens in this study. This may significantly alter RHD epidemiology in the field, and may impact biocontrol programs for invasive rabbits in Australia where GI.1 viruses are intentionally released.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksija Neimanis
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Larsson Pettersson
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nina Huang
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health & Biosecurity, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australia
| | - Dolores Gavier-Widén
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health & Biosecurity, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australia
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Cooke B. Long-term monitoring of disease impact: rabbit haemorrhagic disease as a biological control case study. Vet Rec 2018; 182:571-572. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.k2105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Cooke
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra; Australian Capital Territory 2611 Australia
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Dalton KP, Balseiro A, Juste RA, Podadera A, Nicieza I, Del Llano D, González R, Martin Alonso JM, Prieto JM, Parra F, Casais R. Clinical course and pathogenicity of variant rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in experimentally infected adult and kit rabbits: Significance towards control and spread. Vet Microbiol 2018; 220:24-32. [PMID: 29885797 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RHDVb has become the dominant RHDV on the Iberian Peninsula. A better understanding of its pathogenicity is required to aid control measures. Thus, the clinical course, humoral immune response, viraemia and kinetics of RHDV-N11 (a Spanish RHDVb isolate) infection in different tissues at both viral RNA and protein levels were studied in experimentally infected young and adult rabbits. The case fatality rate differed between the two age groups, with 21% of kits succumbing while no deaths were observed in adults. Fever and viremia were strongly associated with death, which occurred 48 h post infection (PI) too fast for an effective humoral immune response to be mounted. A significant effect on the number of viral RNA copies with regard to the variables age, tissue and time PI (p < 0.0001 in all cases) was detected. Histological lesions in infected rabbits were consistently more frequent and severe in liver and spleen and additionally intestine in kits, these tissues containing the highest levels of viral RNA and protein. Although no adults showed lesions or virus antigen in intestine, both kits and adults maintained steady viral RNA levels from days 1 to 7 PI in this organ. Analysis revealed the fecal route as the main dissemination route of RHDV-N11. Subclinically infected rabbits had detectable viral RNA in their faeces for up to seven days and thus may play an important role spreading the virus. This study allows a better understanding of the transmission of this virus and improvement of the control strategies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - A Balseiro
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - R A Juste
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - A Podadera
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - I Nicieza
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - D Del Llano
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - R González
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - J M Martin Alonso
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - J M Prieto
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - F Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - R Casais
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
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