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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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Gauzere J, Walling CA, Pick JL, Watt K, Jack P, Morris A, Morris S, Pemberton JM. The role of maternally transferred antibodies in maternal performance in red deer. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2065-2076. [PMID: 34245475 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13834] [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: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Maternal effects are ubiquitous. Yet, the pathways through which maternal effects occur in wild mammals remain largely unknown. We hypothesise that maternal immune transfer is a key mechanism by which mothers can affect their offspring fitness, and that individual variation in maternally derived antibodies mainly depends on a mother's characteristics and the environmental conditions she experiences. To test this, we assayed six colostrum-derived antibodies in the plasma of 1447 neonates in a wild red deer population. Neonatal antibody levels were mainly affected by maternal genes, environmental variation and costs of prior reproductive investment. We found consistent heterogeneity in maternal performance across traits, with mothers producing the heaviest calves also having calves with more antibodies. Unexpectedly, antibody levels were not associated with calf survival. We provide a unique example of how evolutionary theory on maternal effects can be used to gain insight into the causes of maternal effects in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gauzere
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Craig A Walling
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Joel L Pick
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Penny Jack
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Alison Morris
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sean Morris
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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Ibrahim M, Ahmad F, Yaqub B, Ramzan A, Imran A, Afzaal M, Mirza SA, Mazhar I, Younus M, Akram Q, Ali Taseer MS, Ahmad A, Ahmed S. Current trends of antimicrobials used in food animals and aquaculture. ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE GENES IN THE ENVIRONMENT 2020. [PMCID: PMC7153328 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818882-8.00004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Human population has been increasing rapidly, which ultimately increases human consumption, especially, animal protein requirements. Therefore, demands of animal protein consumption are increasing worldwide at an extraordinary rate. In order to meet the protein demand, intensive animal and aquaculture farming are considered. Like livestock farming (poultry, pigs, sheep, livestock, horses, rabbits, etc.), aquaculture farming (fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.) is also becoming the globe's emergent protein production sector. More than 580 aquaculture species are farmed worldwide. Current food animal and aquaculture farming are coupled with standard usage of antimicrobials. The antimicrobial drugs are major solutions for the management of contagious illnesses in food animals and aquaculture. In animal husbandry, antimicrobials are widely utilized for animal therapy, prophylaxis, or as growth promoters. Imprudent usage of these antimicrobials in food animals and aquaculture is a major contributing factor in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The widespread use of veterinary medicines is considered to signify a frightening population health threat. It not only results in the disclosure and escalation of resistant microbes but also causes other individual, animal, and ecological deterioration. The contribution of resistant microbes from various sources seems to be the major base of resistance in the environment. However, strict policies and regulations for antimicrobial usage in food animals and aquaculture must be made and applied. It is important to prevent their negative effects in humans, food animals, aquaculture, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Fiaz Ahmad
- Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Yaqub
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Ramzan
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Imran
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Afzaal
- Sustainable development study center GC University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | | | - Iqra Mazhar
- Sustainable development study center GC University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Younus
- Department of Basic Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Qaisar Akram
- Department of Basic Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan
| | | | - Ali Ahmad
- Department of Basic Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sarfraz Ahmed
- Department of Basic Siences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan
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Pacios-Palma I, Santoro S, Bertó-Moran A, Moreno S, Rouco C. Effects of myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus on the physiological condition of wild European rabbits: Is blood biochemistry a useful monitoring tool? Res Vet Sci 2016; 109:129-134. [PMID: 27892861 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) are the major viral diseases that affect the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). These diseases arrived in Europe within the last decades and have caused wild rabbit populations to decline dramatically. Both viruses are currently considered to be endemic in the Iberian Peninsula; periodic outbreaks that strongly impact wild populations regularly occur. Myxoma virus (MV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) alter the physiology of infected rabbits, resulting in physical deterioration. Consequently, the persistence and viability of natural populations are affected. The main goal of our study was to determine if blood biochemistry is correlated with serostatus in wild European rabbits. We carried out seven live-trapping sessions in three wild rabbit populations over a two-year period. Blood samples were collected to measure anti-MV and anti-RHDV antibody concentrations and to measure biochemical parameters related to organ function, protein metabolism, and nutritional status. Overall, we found no significant relationships between rabbit serostatus and biochemistry. Our main result was that rabbits that were seropositive for both MV and RHDV had low gamma glutamyltransferase concentrations. Given the robustness of our analyses, the lack of significant relationships may indicate that the biochemical parameters measured are poor proxies for serostatus. Another explanation is that wild rabbits might be producing attenuated physiological responses to these viruses because the latter are now enzootic in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pacios-Palma
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, AméricoVespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - Simone Santoro
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, AméricoVespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Bertó-Moran
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, AméricoVespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sacramento Moreno
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, AméricoVespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, AméricoVespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain; Wildlife Ecology and Management Team, Landcare Research, PO Box 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Department of Zoology, Campus de Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
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Neves F, Abrantes J, Almeida T, de Matos AL, Costa PP, Esteves PJ. Genetic characterization of interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, IL-15 and IL-18) with relevant biological roles in lagomorphs. Innate Immun 2015; 21:787-801. [PMID: 26395994 PMCID: PMC4609935 DOI: 10.1177/1753425915606209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ILs, as essential innate immune modulators, are involved in an array of biological processes. In the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, IL-15 and IL-18 have been implicated in inflammatory processes and in the immune response against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and myxoma virus infections. In this study we characterized these ILs in six Lagomorpha species (European rabbit, pygmy rabbit, two cottontail rabbit species, European brown hare and American pika). Overall, these ILs are conserved between lagomorphs, including in their exon/intron structure. Most differences were observed between leporids and American pika. Indeed, when comparing both, some relevant differences were observed in American pika, such as the location of the stop codon in IL-1α and IL-2, the existence of a different transcript in IL8 and the number of cysteine residues in IL-1β. Changes at N-glycosylation motifs were also detected in IL-1, IL-10, IL-12B and IL-15. IL-1α is the protein that presents the highest evolutionary distances, which is in contrast to IL-12A where the distances between lagomorphs are the lowest. For all these ILs, sequences of human and European rabbit are more closely related than between human and mouse or European rabbit and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Neves
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica/Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Tereza Almeida
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Paulo P Costa
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica/Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal Departmento Genética, CSPGF, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
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6
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Wells K, Brook BW, Lacy RC, Mutze GJ, Peacock DE, Sinclair RG, Schwensow N, Cassey P, O'Hara RB, Fordham DA. Timing and severity of immunizing diseases in rabbits is controlled by seasonal matching of host and pathogen dynamics. J R Soc Interface 2015; 12:rsif.2014.1184. [PMID: 25566883 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.1184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases can exert a strong influence on the dynamics of host populations, but it remains unclear why such disease-mediated control only occurs under particular environmental conditions. We used 16 years of detailed field data on invasive European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Australia, linked to individual-based stochastic models and Bayesian approximations, to test whether (i) mortality associated with rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is driven primarily by seasonal matches/mismatches between demographic rates and epidemiological dynamics and (ii) delayed infection (arising from insusceptibility and maternal antibodies in juveniles) are important factors in determining disease severity and local population persistence of rabbits. We found that both the timing of reproduction and exposure to viruses drove recurrent seasonal epidemics of RHD. Protection conferred by insusceptibility and maternal antibodies controlled seasonal disease outbreaks by delaying infection; this could have also allowed escape from disease. The persistence of local populations was a stochastic outcome of recovery rates from both RHD and myxomatosis. If susceptibility to RHD is delayed, myxomatosis will have a pronounced effect on population extirpation when the two viruses coexist. This has important implications for wildlife management, because it is likely that such seasonal interplay and disease dynamics has a strong effect on long-term population viability for many species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstans Wells
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Barry W Brook
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Robert C Lacy
- Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL 60513, USA
| | - Greg J Mutze
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Biosecurity SA, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - David E Peacock
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Biosecurity SA, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Ron G Sinclair
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Biosecurity SA, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Nina Schwensow
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Robert B O'Hara
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BIK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Damien A Fordham
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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Bose HM, Woodhouse MA, Powell R. Absence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi
antibodies in wild rabbits in England. Vet Rec 2015; 177:48. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.103188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - R. Powell
- Powell Torrance Diagnostic Services; Higham Gobion Bedfordshire UK
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