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Hall RN, Trought K, Strive T, Duckworth JA, Jenckel M. First Detection and Circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. Viruses 2024; 16:519. [PMID: 38675862 PMCID: PMC11053765 DOI: 10.3390/v16040519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhage disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly pathogenic lagovirus that causes lethal disease in rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). Since its first detection in Europe in 2010, RHDV2 has spread worldwide and has been detected in over 35 countries so far. Here, we provide the first detailed report of the detection and subsequent circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. RHDV2 was first detected in New Zealand in 2018, with positive samples retrospectively identified in December 2017. Subsequent time-resolved phylogenetic analysis suggested a single introduction into the North Island between March and November 2016. Genetic analysis identified a GI.3P-GI.2 variant supporting a non-Australian origin for the incursion; however, more accurate identification of the source of the incursion remains challenging due to the wide global distribution of the GI.3P-GI.2 variant. Furthermore, our analysis suggests the spread of the virus between the North and South Islands of New Zealand at least twice, dated to mid-2017 and around 2018. Further phylogenetic analysis also revealed a strong phylogeographic pattern. So far, no recombination events with endemic benign New Zealand rabbit caliciviruses have been identified. This study highlights the need for further research and surveillance to monitor the distribution and diversity of lagoviruses in New Zealand and to detect incursions of novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Ausvet Pty Ltd., Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia;
| | - Katherine Trought
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Janine A. Duckworth
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Maria Jenckel
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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Pinheiro A, de Sousa-Pereira P, Esteves PJ. The IgA of hares ( Lepus sp.) and rabbit confirms that the leporids IgA explosion is old and reveals a new case of trans-species polymorphism. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1192460. [PMID: 37600766 PMCID: PMC10435986 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1192460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the mammalian mucosal antibody, providing an important line of defense against pathogens. With 15 IgA subclasses, the European rabbit has an extremely complex IgA system, strikingly more complex than most other mammals, which have only one IgA or, in the case of hominoids, two IgA subclasses. Similar to the two hominoid primate IGHA genes, the expansion of the rabbit IGHA genes appears to have begun in an ancestral lagomorph since multiple IgA copies were found by Southern blot analysis for the genera Sylvilagus, Lepus, and Ochotona. Results To gain a better insight into the extraordinary lagomorph IgA evolution, we sequenced, for the first time, expressed IgA genes for two Lepus species, L. europaeus and L. granatensis. These were aligned with the 15 rabbit IgA isotypes, and evolutionary analyses were conducted. The obtained phylogenetic tree shows that the Lepus IgA sequences cluster with and among the rabbit IgA isotypes, and the interspecies and intraspecies nucleotide genetic distances are similar. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of the Lepus and rabbit IgA confirms that there are two trans-species polymorphisms and that the rabbit and Lepus sequences share a common genetic pool. In fact, the main differences between the studied leporids IgAs reside in the characteristics of the hinge region. Conclusion The Lepus IgA sequences we have obtained strongly suggest that the great expansion of the leporid IGHA genes occurred in a common ancestral species and was then maintained in the descendants. A strong selective pressure caused the extraordinary expansion of the IGHA genes but then subsided, leading to the maintenance of the acquired polymorphisms in the descendants, with little subsequent divergence. This is a unique evolutionary pattern in which an ancient gene expansion has been maintained for approximately 18 million years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pinheiro
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto (CIBIO-UP), InBIO, Laboratório Associado, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Patrícia de Sousa-Pereira
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto (CIBIO-UP), InBIO, Laboratório Associado, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro J. Esteves
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto (CIBIO-UP), InBIO, Laboratório Associado, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde (CITS), CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
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Lopes AM, Almeida T, Diz S, Côrte-Real JV, Osório HC, Ramilo DW, Rebelo MT, da Fonseca IP, Esteves PJ, Alves PC, Santos N, Abrantes J. The potential role of scavenging flies as mechanical vectors of Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2. Virol J 2023; 20:103. [PMID: 37237382 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02065-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations of the Iberian Peninsula have been severely affected by the emergence of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2 (RHDV2/b). Bushflies and blowflies (Muscidae and Calliphoridae families, respectively) are important RHDV vectors in Oceania, but their epidemiological role is unknown in the native range of the European rabbit. In this study, scavenging flies were collected between June 2018 and February 2019 in baited traps at one site in southern Portugal, alongside a longitudinal capture-mark-recapture study of a wild European rabbit population, aiming to provide evidence of mechanical transmission of GI.2 by flies. Fly abundance, particularly from Calliphoridae and Muscidae families, peaked in October 2018 and in February 2019. By employing molecular tools, we were able to detect the presence of GI.2 in flies belonging to the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae and Drosophilidae. The positive samples were detected during an RHD outbreak and absent in samples collected when no evidence of viral circulation in the local rabbit population was found. We were able to sequence a short viral genomic fragment, confirming its identity as RHDV GI.2. The results suggest that scavenging flies may act as mechanical vectors of GI.2 in the native range of the southwestern Iberian subspecies O. cuniculus algirus. Future studies should better assess their potential in the epidemiology of RHD and as a tool for monitoring viral circulation in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Tereza Almeida
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Diz
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João V Côrte-Real
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) München, Munich, Germany
| | - Hugo C Osório
- Centro de Estudos de Vectores e Doenças Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Marateca, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David W Ramilo
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-s-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Rebelo
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-s-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
- CITS - Center of Investigation in Health Technologies, CESPU, 4585-116, Gandra, Portugal
| | - Paulo C Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal.
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Vanalli C, Mari L, Casagrandi R, Boag B, Gatto M, Cattadori IM. Modeling the contribution of antibody attack rates to single and dual helminth infections in a natural system. Math Biosci 2023; 360:109010. [PMID: 37088125 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Within-host models of infection can provide important insights into the processes that affect parasite spread and persistence in host populations. However, modeling can be limited by the availability of empirical data, a problem commonly encountered in natural systems. Here, we used six years of immune-infection observations of two gastrointestinal helminths (Trichostrongylus retortaeformis and Graphidium strigosum) from a population of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to develop an age-dependent, mathematical model that explicitly included species-specific and cross-reacting antibody (IgA and IgG) responses to each helminth in hosts with single or dual infections. Different models of single infection were formally compared to test alternative mechanisms of parasite regulation. The two models that best described single infections of each helminth species were then coupled through antibody cross-immunity to examine how the presence of one species could alter the host immune response to, and the within-host dynamics of, the other species. For both single infections, model selection suggested that either IgA or IgG responses could equally explain the observed parasite intensities by host age. However, the antibody attack rate and affinity level changed between the two helminths, it was stronger against T. retortaeformis than against G. strigosum and caused contrasting age-intensity profiles. When the two helminths coinfect the same host, we found variation of the species-specific antibody response to both species together with an asymmetric cross-immune response driven by IgG. Lower attack rate and affinity of antibodies in dual than single infections contributed to the significant increase of both helminth intensities. By combining mathematical modeling with immuno-infection data, our work provides a tractable model framework for disentangling some of the complexities generated by host-parasite and parasite-parasite interactions in natural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Vanalli
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802 PA, USA.
| | - Lorenzo Mari
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Renato Casagrandi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Brian Boag
- The James Hutton Institute, DD2 5DA Invergowrie, UK
| | - Marino Gatto
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Isabella M Cattadori
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802 PA, USA
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5
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Marín-García PJ, Llobat L, Rouco C, Aguayo-Adán JA, Larsen T, Cambra-López M, Blas E, Pascual Amorós JJ. Unravelling the Role of Metabolites for Detecting Physiological State of Wild Animals: European Rabbit's (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Case. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 36428452 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been defined as a keystone species in the Mediterranean ecosystem. Rabbits have been classed as "endangered" by the IUCN within their native range. In this sense, animal nutrition may play a fundamental and limiting role in the conservation of wild species. The overarching goal of ecological nutrition is to unravel the extensive web of nutritional links that direct animals in their interactions with their ecological environments. The main aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different feed intake, geographic location, animal sex, and reproductive stage on glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and plasmatic urea nitrogen (PUN), albumin, glutamate, and total protein metabolites. Additionally, we examined the potential of these metabolites as biomarkers. Full stomach contents and blood samples were collected from European wild rabbits (n = 89) for the analysis of the metabolites described above. Our work shows that the levels of these metabolites are affected by the sex of the animals, as well as by their reproductive stage (glucose, NEFA and albumin). There were signs of better optimisation of resources by females than by other groups of animals. These data may be interesting in the study of nutritional components that could be affecting physiological state of this species.
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Calle A, Zamora-Ceballos M, Bárcena J, Blanco E, Ramírez MÁ. Comparison of Biological Features of Wild European Rabbit Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Different Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6420. [PMID: 35742872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the European rabbit is an "endangered" species and a notorious biological model, the analysis and comparative characterization of new tissue sources of rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) have not been well addressed. Here, we report for the first time the isolation and characterization of rMSCs derived from an animal belonging to a natural rabbit population within the native region of the species. New rMSC lines were isolated from different tissues: oral mucosa (rOM-MSC), dermal skin (rDS-MSC), subcutaneous adipose tissue (rSCA-MSC), ovarian adipose tissue (rOA-MSC), oviduct (rO-MSC), and mammary gland (rMG-MSC). The six rMSC lines showed plastic adhesion with fibroblast-like morphology and were all shown to be positive for CD44 and CD29 expression (characteristic markers of MSCs), and negative for CD34 or CD45 expression. In terms of pluripotency features, all rMSC lines expressed NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2. Furthermore, all rMSC lines cultured under osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic conditions showed differentiation capacity. In conclusion, this study describes the isolation and characterization of new rabbit cell lines from different tissue origins, with a clear mesenchymal pattern. We show that rMSC do not exhibit differences in terms of morphological features, expression of the cell surface, and intracellular markers of pluripotency and in vitro differentiation capacities, attributable to their tissue of origin.
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Allmert T, Jeschke JM, Evans T. An assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien rabbits and hares. Ambio 2022; 51:1314-1329. [PMID: 34709588 PMCID: PMC8931149 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01642-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Directly comparable data on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien species informs the effective prioritisation of their management. We used two frameworks, the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT), to create a unified dataset on the severity and type of impacts caused by alien leporids (rabbits and hares). Literature was reviewed to collate impact data, which was categorised following EICAT and SEICAT guidelines. We aimed to use these data to identify: (1) alien leporid species with severe impacts, (2) their impact mechanisms, (3) the native species and local communities vulnerable to impacts and (4) knowledge gaps. Native species from a range of taxonomic groups were affected by environmental impacts which tended to be more damaging than socio-economic impacts. Indirect environmental impacts were particularly damaging and underreported. No impact data were found for several alien leporid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Allmert
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Present Address: Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Evans
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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8
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Abade dos Santos FA, Carvalho CL, Parra F, Dalton KP, Peleteiro MC, Duarte MD. A Quadruplex qPCR for Detection and Differentiation of Classic and Natural Recombinant Myxoma Virus Strains of Leporids. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222112052. [PMID: 34769480 PMCID: PMC8584577 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A natural recombinant myxoma virus (referred to as ha-MYXV or MYXV-Tol08/18) emerged in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in late 2018 and mid-2020, respectively. This new virus is genetically distinct from classic myxoma virus (MYXV) strains that caused myxomatosis in rabbits until then, by acquiring an additional 2.8 Kbp insert within the m009L gene that disrupted it into ORFs m009L-a and m009L-b. To distinguish ha-MYXV from classic MYXV strains, we developed a robust qPCR multiplex technique that combines the amplification of the m000.5L/R duplicated gene, conserved in all myxoma virus strains including ha-MYXV, with the amplification of two other genes targeted by the real-time PCR systems designed during this study, specific either for classic MYXV or ha-MYXV strains. The first system targets the boundaries between ORFs m009L-a and m009L-b, only contiguous in classic strains, while the second amplifies a fragment within gene m060L, only present in recombinant MYXV strains. All amplification reactions were validated and normalized by a fourth PCR system directed to a housekeeping gene (18S rRNA) conserved in eukaryotic organisms, including hares and rabbits. The multiplex PCR (mPCR) technique described here was optimized for Taqman® and Evagreen® systems allowing the detection of as few as nine copies of viral DNA in the sample with an efficiency > 93%. This real-time multiplex is the first fast method available for the differential diagnosis between classic and recombinant MYXV strains, also allowing the detection of co-infections. The system proves to be an essential and effective tool for monitoring the geographical spread of ha-MYXV in the hare and wild rabbit populations, supporting the management of both species in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio A. Abade dos Santos
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.P.); (M.D.D.)
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain; (F.P.); (K.P.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-21-440-3500
| | - Carina L. Carvalho
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Francisco Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain; (F.P.); (K.P.D.)
| | - Kevin P. Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain; (F.P.); (K.P.D.)
| | - Maria C. Peleteiro
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.P.); (M.D.D.)
| | - Margarida D. Duarte
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.P.); (M.D.D.)
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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10
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Abstract
Twenty-three of 42 European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), belonging to the same rabbit colony, died in March 2020 (55% mortality) in Chiba prefecture, Japan. The disease course was extremely acute without indicators of death or hemorrhage. Necropsy revealed liver swelling, discoloration, cloudiness and fragility, and pulmonary edema. Histologically, severe hepatocellular necrosis (mainly peripheral) and intra-glomerular capillary hyalin thrombi were observed. On molecular-biological examination, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of RNA from tissues detected a rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, confirmed as a RHDV-2 VP60 fragment, which shared 99.42% nucleotide identity with the homologous fragment of RHDV-2 German isolate by nucleotide sequence analysis. This report shows the outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease caused by RHDV-2, an emerging infectious disease, in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Fukui
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoino-oka, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimoda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan
| | - Sho Kadekaru
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoino-oka, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
| | - Chizuka Henmi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoino-oka, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
| | - Yumi Une
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoino-oka, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
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11
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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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12
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Bello-Rodríguez V, Mateo RG, Pellissier L, Cubas J, Cooke B, González-Mancebo JM. Forecast increase in invasive rabbit spread into ecosystems of an oceanic island (Tenerife) under climate change. Ecol Appl 2021; 31:e02206. [PMID: 32627262 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a pest and a conservation problem on many islands, where its heavy grazing pressure threatens many endemic plants with extinction. Previous studies in its native and introduced range have highlighted the high spatial variability of rabbit abundance at local and landscape scales, depending on many factors such as the existence of different habitats. Modeling of the species can be useful to better understand spatial patterns and to prioritize actions, especially in those regions in which rabbits have become invasive. Here, we investigate the distribution of the European rabbit in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), where the species was introduced during the 15th century and has subsequently changed vegetation composition. Added to the direct effects of rabbits on vegetation, climate change could also have implications for rabbit populations, especially in the alpine ecosystem. To evaluate that, we estimated rabbit abundance in 216 plots randomly distributed on Tenerife island (61 in the alpine ecosystem), modeled the potential current spatial abundance of the species and considered how it might vary under different climate change scenarios. We associated rabbit abundance to a wide selection of abiotic, biotic, and human variables expected to influence rabbit abundance on the island. We found a positive correlation between rabbit abundance and temperature and a negative correlation in the case of precipitation. Hence, according to the models' projections, climate change is expected to enhance rabbit populations in the future. Current higher densities were related to land disturbance and open areas, and a remarkable increase is expected to occur in the alpine ecosystem. Overall, we consider that this study provides valuable information for land managers in the Canary archipelago as it reveals how global warming could indirectly exacerbate the conservation problems of the endemic flora in oceanic islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Bello-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Plant Conservation and Biogeography Group, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rubén G Mateo
- Departamento de Biología (Botánica), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Landscape Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Jonay Cubas
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Plant Conservation and Biogeography Group, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Brian Cooke
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Juana María González-Mancebo
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Plant Conservation and Biogeography Group, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
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13
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Abade dos Santos FA, Magro C, Carvalho CL, Ruivo P, Duarte MD, Peleteiro MC. A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:ani11010040. [PMID: 33379183 PMCID: PMC7823764 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We report an unusual clinical case in a pet rabbit vaccinated against rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1), that developed a prolonged hepatic disease, and was diagnosed RHDV2 (GI.2) positive post-mortem. This finding is a warning to all veterinarians that rabbit haemorrhagic disease should also be considered for differential diagnosis despite the history of RHDV vaccination and the need to update vaccination programs against the current RHDV2 circulating strains. Abstract Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious infectious disease of European wild and domestic rabbits. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1) emerged in 1986 in Europe, rapidly spreading all over the world. Several genotypes of RHDV have been recognised over time, but in 2010, a new virus (RHDV2/RHDVb, GI.2) emerged and progressively replaced the previous RHDV strains, due to the lack of cross-immunity conferred between RHDV and RHDV2. RHDV2 has a high mutation rate, similarly to the other calivirus and recombines with strains of RHDV and non-pathogenic calicivirus (GI.4), ensuring the continuous emergence of new field strains. Although this poses a threat to the already endangered European rabbit species, the available vaccines against RHDV2 and the compliance of biosafety measures seem to be controlling the infection in the rabbit industry Pet rabbits, especially when kept indoor, are considered at lower risk of infections, although RHDV2 and myxoma virus (MYXV) constitute a permanent threat due to transmission via insects. Vaccination against these viruses is therefore recommended every 6 months (myxomatosis) or annually (rabbit haemorrhagic disease). The combined immunization for myxomatosis and RHDV through a commercially available bivalent vaccine with RHDV antigen has been extensively used (Nobivac® Myxo-RHD, MSD, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). This vaccine however does not confer proper protection against the RHDV2, thus the need for a rabbit clinical vaccination protocol update. Here we report a clinical case of hepatitis and alteration of coagulation in a pet rabbit that had been vaccinated with the commercially available bivalent vaccine against RHDV and tested positive to RHDV2 after death. The animal developed a prolonged and atypical disease, compatible with RHD. The virus was identified to be an RHDV2 recombinant strain, with the structural backbone of RHDV2 (GI.2) and the non-structural genes of non-pathogenic-A1 strains (RCV-A1, GI.4). Although confirmation of the etiological agent was only made after death, the clinical signs and analytic data were very suggestive of RHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio A. Abade dos Santos
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.D.D.); (M.C.P.)
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Carolina Magro
- VetOeiras, Hospital Médico-Veterinário, Estrada de Oeiras n18-20, 2780-114 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Carina L. Carvalho
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Pedro Ruivo
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (IMM), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1070-312 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Margarida D. Duarte
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.D.D.); (M.C.P.)
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Maria C. Peleteiro
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.D.D.); (M.C.P.)
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14
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Abade Dos Santos FA, Carvalho CL, Monteiro M, Carvalho P, Mendonça P, Peleteiro MDC, Duarte MD. Recombinant myxoma virus infection associated with high mortality in rabbit farming (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:2616-2621. [PMID: 33119958 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Myxomatosis is an emergent disease in the Iberian hare, having been considered a rabbit disease for decades. Genome sequencing of the strains obtained from Iberian hares with myxomatosis showed these to be distinct from the classical ones that circulated in rabbits since the virus introduction in Europe, in 1952. The main genomic difference in this natural recombinant hare myxoma virus (ha-MYXV) is the presence of an additional 2.8 kb region disrupting the M009L gene and adding a set of genes homologous to the myxoma virus (MYXV) genes M060R, M061R, M064R, M065R and M066R originated in Poxviruses. After the emergence of this recombinant virus (ha-MYXV) in hares, in the summer of 2019, the ha-MYXV was not detected in rabbit surveys, suggesting an apparent species segregation with the MYXV classic strains persistently circulating in rabbits. Recently, a group of six unvaccinated European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus) from a backyard rabbitry in South Portugal developed signs of myxomatosis (anorexia, dyspnoea, oedema of eyelids, head, ears, external genitals and anus, and skin myxomas in the base of the ears). Five of them died within 24-48 hr of symptom onset. Molecular analysis revealed that only the recombinant MYXV was present. This is the first documented report of a recombinant hare myxoma virus in farm rabbits associated with high mortality, which increases the concern for the future of both the Iberian hare and wild rabbits and questions the safety of the rabbit industry. This highlights the urgent need to evaluate the efficacy of available vaccines against this new MYXV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio A Abade Dos Santos
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lisbon, CIISA, Lisboa, Portugal.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Carina L Carvalho
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Madalena Monteiro
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paulo Carvalho
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paula Mendonça
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Margarida D Duarte
- INIAV, I.P. National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Oeiras, Portugal.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lisbon, CIISA, Lisboa, Portugal
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15
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Abade Dos Santos FA, Carvalho CL, Pinto A, Rai R, Monteiro M, Carvalho P, Mendonça P, Peleteiro MC, Parra F, Duarte MD. Detection of recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in wild rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus). Viruses 2020; 12:E1127. [PMID: 33028004 DOI: 10.3390/v12101127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In late 2018, an epidemic myxomatosis outbreak emerged on the Iberian Peninsula leading to high mortality in Iberian hare populations. A recombinant Myxoma virus (strains MYXV-Tol and ha-MYXV) was rapidly identified, harbouring a 2.8 kbp insertion containing evolved duplicates of M060L, M061L, M064L, and M065L genes from myxoma virus (MYXV) or other Poxviruses. Since 2017, 1616 rabbits and 125 hares were tested by a qPCR directed to M000.5L/R gene, conserved in MYXV and MYXV-Tol/ha-MYXV strains. A subset of the positive samples (20%) from both species was tested for the insert with MYXV being detected in rabbits and the recombinant MYXV in hares. Recently, three wild rabbits were found dead South of mainland Portugal, showing skin oedema and pulmonary lesions that tested positive for the 2.8 kbp insert. Sequencing analysis showed 100% similarity with the insert sequences described in Iberian hares from Spain. Viral particles were observed in the lungs and eyelids of rabbits by electron microscopy, and isolation in RK13 cells attested virus infectivity. Despite that the analysis of complete genomes may predict the recombinant MYXV strains’ ability to infect rabbit, routine analyses showed species segregation for the circulation of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in wild rabbit and in Iberian hares, respectively. This study demonstrates, however, that recombinant MYXV can effectively infect and cause myxomatosis in wild rabbits and domestic rabbits, raising serious concerns for the future of the Iberian wild leporids while emphasises the need for the continuous monitoring of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in both species.
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16
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Rödel HG, Oppelt C, Starkloff A, Prager N, Long E, Rüdiger AT, Seltmann MW, Monclús R, Hudson R, Poteaux C. Within-litter covariance of allele-specific MHC heterozygosity, coccidian endoparasite load and growth is modulated by sibling differences in starting mass. Oecologia 2020; 194:345-357. [PMID: 32980896 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although littermates in altricial mammals usually experience highly similar environmental conditions during early life, considerable differences in growth and health can emerge among them. In a study on subadults of a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population with low MHC polymorphism, we tested whether litter-sibling differences in endoparasitic coccidia load and body mass at the end of the vegetation period were associated with within-litter differences in starting body mass (measured around 2 weeks prior to weaning) and in immune-genetic (MHC class II DRB) constitution. We hypothesized that siblings with a lighter starting mass might be more susceptible to endoparasite infections and thus, negative effects of a more unfavourable MHC constitution might be particularly pronounced in such individuals. Within-litter comparisons revealed that animals with a lighter starting mass reached a relatively lower body mass in autumn. Furthermore, there were indications for an allele-specific heterozygote advantage, as animals with heterozygous combinations of the allele Orcu-DRB*4 had relatively lower hepatic coccidia loads than their littermates with certain homozygous allele combinations. Consistent with our hypothesis, significantly higher hepatic coccidia loads and tendentially lower autumn body masses in homozygous compared to heterozygous individuals for the allele Orcu-DRB*4 were evident in initially lighter but not in heavier siblings, suggesting synergistic effects between an unfavourable MHC constitution and a light starting mass. Taken together, these effects might lead to notable differences in fitness among litter siblings, as a low body mass and a high endoparasite burden are key factors limiting young rabbits' survival during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko G Rödel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France. .,Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
| | - Claus Oppelt
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anett Starkloff
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nelly Prager
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Emilie Long
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Anna-Theresa Rüdiger
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin W Seltmann
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Raquel Monclús
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Chantal Poteaux
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
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17
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Caraguel C, Bassett S, González-Barrio D, Elsworth P, Chaber AL. Comparison of three serological tests for the detection of Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies in European wild rabbits. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:315. [PMID: 32859195 PMCID: PMC7456029 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02526-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coxiella burnetii causes Q fever, a zoonotic bacterial disease with a multi-host cycle and reservoirs in wild and domestic animal species. Q fever has a significant impact on the Australian public health and economy but its ecology and contributing reservoir species remain poorly understood. In Europe, rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were identified as a major reservoir of C. burnetii and it is possible that they play a similar role in Australia. In absence of commercial kit available for rabbit, the Thermo Fisher - PrioCHECK™ Ruminant Q fever Ab Plate Kit was adapted to successfully screen rabbits population in Europe. However, this assay is not accessible in Australia and we assessed the equivalency of two commercially available kits in Australia – IDEXX - CHEKIT Q Fever Antibody ELISA kit and IDVet - ID Screen® Q Fever Indirect Multi-species with the Thermo Fisher kit (reference kit). Results A total of 94 rabbit sera were screened by all three ELISA kits using the same confirmed positive and negative controls. While the IDEXX kit failed to agree the other two assays (concordance correlation coefficient, rb < 0.77), IDVet kit showed satisfactory equivalency with Thermo Fisher (rb = 0.927). Conclusion IDvet kit provides the best alternative for Thermo Fisher in the detection of C. burnetii specific antibodies in rabbits in Australia. Further trials are required to confirm these preliminary results due to the low seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii observed in the study sera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Caraguel
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia
| | - Sarah Bassett
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia
| | - David González-Barrio
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter Elsworth
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anne-Lise Chaber
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia.
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18
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Gil-Jiménez E, Mateo R, de Lucas M, Ferrer M. Feathers and hair as tools for non-destructive pollution exposure assessment in a mining site of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Environ Pollut 2020; 263:114523. [PMID: 32298936 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mining is responsible of releasing trace elements to the environment with potential negative effects on wildlife. Traditionally, wildlife exposure assessment has been developed by analyzing mainly environmental compartments or internal tissues. Nowadays, the use of non-destructive matrices such as hair or feathers has increased. Nevertheless, its use in free-living terrestrial mammals or in birds other than raptors or passerines is less frequent. The main objective of our study was to determine the potential for hair and feathers in a rabbit and bird species to be used as non-invasive proxy tissues for assessing internal metal concentrations at polluted sites from mining. We tested whether hair of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and feathers of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) can be used as non-destructive biological monitoring tools of both essential (Cu, Zn) and non-essential (Pb, Cd, As) trace elements in a currently active copper mining site. We found significant different concentrations, particularly in non-essential elements, between reference area and mining site. Non-essential elements Pb and Cd showed higher correlations between tissues and hair/feathers, while few significant patterns were observed for essential elements such as Cu and Zn. Although feathers showed lower levels of correlation with internal tissues than hair, both could be useful as non-destructive biological monitoring tools. Further tissues, and more importantly, hair and feathers allowed discrimination between polluted and reference sites to indicate bioavailability and pollution status. In addition, hair and feathers can be used in monitoring pollution of an active mining site, being specially interesting for biomonitoring a certain period of time in the event of a particular episode of pollution, in addition to the chronic exposure. As occurred with hair in rabbits, feathers seem to be a good compartment to detect differences between a potential polluted area, such the surrounding of an active mine site, and a non-polluted area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC - CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Manuela de Lucas
- Applied Ecology Group, Department of Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Americo Vespucio, 26, 41092, Seville, Spain.
| | - Miguel Ferrer
- Applied Ecology Group, Department of Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Americo Vespucio, 26, 41092, Seville, Spain.
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19
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Taylor CL, Lydecker HW, Lo N, Hochuli DF, Banks PB. Invasive rabbits host immature Ixodes ticks at the urban-forest interface. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101439. [PMID: 32295737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduced wildlife may be important alternative hosts for generalist ticks that cause health issues for humans and companion animals in urban areas, but to date are rarely considered as part of the tick-host community compared to native wildlife. In Australia, European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, are a widespread and abundant invasive species common to a range of human-modified ecosystems. To understand the potential role of rabbits in the life cycle of Australian ticks, we investigated the seasonal abundance of all tick life stages (larva, nymph, and adult) on rabbits collected from pest control programs in two urban forest remnants in Sydney, Australia. We also recorded whether larvae, nymphs, and adults were attached to the head, body, or limbs of rabbits to reveal patterns of tick attachment. Of the 2426 Ixodes ticks collected from 42 rabbits, larvae were by far the most abundant life stage (2360), peaking in abundance in autumn, while small numbers of nymphs (62) and adults (4) were present in winter and summer respectively. Larvae were found all over the body, whereas adults and nymphs were predominantly attached to the head, suggesting that the mature life stages use the host landscape differently, or that adults or nymphs may be groomed off the body. The most abundant tick species, as determined by morphology and DNA sequencing, was Ixodes holocyclus, a generalist tick responsible for significant human and companion animal health concerns in Australia. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the role of introduced wildlife in tick dynamics particularly in novel ecosystems where non-native hosts may be more abundant than native hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L Taylor
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
| | - Henry W Lydecker
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Nathan Lo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Dieter F Hochuli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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Cubas J, Irl SDH, Villafuerte R, Bello-Rodríguez V, Rodríguez-Luengo JL, Del Arco M, Martín-Esquivel JL, González-Mancebo JM. Endemic plant species are more palatable to introduced herbivores than non-endemics. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190136. [PMID: 30940053 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Islands harbour a spectacular diversity and unique species composition. This uniqueness is mainly a result of endemic species that have evolved in situ in the absence of mammal herbivores. However, island endemism is under severe threat by introduced herbivores. We test the assumption that endemic species are particularly vulnerable to generalist introduced herbivores (European rabbit) using an unprecedented dataset covering an entire island with enormous topographic, climatic and biological diversity (Tenerife, Canary Islands). With increasing endemism, plant species are more heavily browsed by rabbits than non-endemic species with up to 67% of endemics being negatively impacted by browsing, indicating a dramatic lack of adaptation to mammal herbivory in endemics. Ecosystems with high per cent endemism are most heavily browsed, suggesting ecosystem-specific vulnerability to introduced herbivores, even within islands. Protection of global biodiversity caused by disproportionally high endemism on oceanic islands via ecosystem-specific herbivore control and eradication measures is of utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonay Cubas
- 1 Plant Conservation and Biogeography Research Group, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna , Avda. Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , Spain
| | - Severin D H Irl
- 2 Biogeography and Biodiversity Lab, Institute of Physical Geography, Goethe-University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Rafael Villafuerte
- 3 Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA-CSIC), Campo Santo de los Mártires , 14004 Córdoba , Spain
| | - Víctor Bello-Rodríguez
- 1 Plant Conservation and Biogeography Research Group, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna , Avda. Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , Spain
| | - Juan Luis Rodríguez-Luengo
- 4 Servicio de Biodiversidad, Gobierno de Canarias , Edificio de Usos Múltiples I, Avda. de Anaga, 35, 38170 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , Spain
| | - Marcelino Del Arco
- 1 Plant Conservation and Biogeography Research Group, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna , Avda. Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , Spain
| | - José Luís Martín-Esquivel
- 5 Parque Nacional del Teide , C/Sixto Perera González 25, 38300 La Orotava, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , España
| | - Juana María González-Mancebo
- 1 Plant Conservation and Biogeography Research Group, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna , Avda. Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias , Spain
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21
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Roy‐Dufresne E, Saltré F, Cooke BD, Mellin C, Mutze G, Cox T, Fordham DA. Modeling the distribution of a wide-ranging invasive species using the sampling efforts of expert and citizen scientists. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11053-11063. [PMID: 31641454 PMCID: PMC6802020 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In its invasive range in Australia, the European rabbit threatens the persistence of native flora and fauna and damages agricultural production. Understanding its distribution and ecological niche is critical for developing management plans to reduce populations and avoid further biodiversity and economic losses.We developed an ensemble of species distribution models (SDMs) to determine the geographic range limits and habitat suitability of the rabbit in Australia. We examined the advantage of incorporating data collected by citizens (separately and jointly with expert data) and explored issues of spatial biases in occurrence data by implementing different approaches to generate pseudo-absences. We evaluated the skill of our model using three approaches: cross-validation, out-of-region validation, and evaluation of the covariate response curves according to expert knowledge of rabbit ecology.Combining citizen and expert occurrence data improved model skill based on cross-validation, spatially reproduced important aspects of rabbit ecology, and reduced the need to extrapolate results beyond the studied areas.Our ensemble model projects that rabbits are distributed across approximately two thirds of Australia. Annual maximum temperatures >25°C and annual minimum temperatures >10°C define, respectively, the southern and northern most range limits of its distribution. In the arid and central regions, close access to permanent water (≤~ 0.4 km) and reduced clay soil composition (~20%-50%) were the major factors influencing the probability of occurrence of rabbits. Synthesis and applications. Our results show that citizen science data can play an important role in managing invasive species by providing missing information on occurrences in regions not surveyed by experts because of logistics or financial constraints. The additional sampling effort provided by citizens can improve the capacity of SDMs to capture important elements of a species ecological niche, improving the capacity of statistical models to accurately predict the geographic range of invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Roy‐Dufresne
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Frédérik Saltré
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Brian D. Cooke
- Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Camille Mellin
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQldAustralia
| | - Greg Mutze
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions South AustraliaBiosecurity SAAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Tarnya Cox
- Vertebrate Pest Research UnitNSW Department of Primary IndustriesOrangeNSWAustralia
| | - Damien A. Fordham
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
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22
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Ross CE, Munro NT, Barton PS, Evans MJ, Gillen J, Macdonald BCT, McIntyre S, Cunningham SA, Manning AD. Effects of digging by a native and introduced ecosystem engineer on soil physical and chemical properties in temperate grassy woodland. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7506. [PMID: 31497393 PMCID: PMC6710926 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate grasslands and woodlands are the focus of extensive restoration efforts worldwide. Reintroduction of locally extinct soil-foraging and burrowing animals has been suggested as a means to restore soil function in these ecosystems. Yet little is known about the physical and chemical effects of digging on soil over time and how these effects differ between species of digging animal, vegetation types or ecosystems. We compared foraging pits of a native reintroduced marsupial, the eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) and that of the exotic European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We simulated pits of these animals and measured pit dimensions and soil chemical properties over a period of 2 years. We showed that bettong and rabbit pits differed in their morphology and longevity, and that pits had a strong moderating effect on soil surface temperatures. Over 75% of the simulated pits were still visible after 2 years, and bettong pits infilled faster than rabbit pits. Bettong pits reduced diurnal temperature range by up to 25 °C compared to the soil surface. We did not find any effects of digging on soil chemistry that were consistent across vegetation types, between bettong and rabbit pits, and with time since digging, which is contrary to studies conducted in arid biomes. Our findings show that animal foraging pits in temperate ecosystems cause physical alteration of the soil surface and microclimatic conditions rather than nutrient changes often observed in arid areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Ross
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Nicola T Munro
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Maldwyn J Evans
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - John Gillen
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Sue McIntyre
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia.,CSIRO, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Saul A Cunningham
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Adrian D Manning
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
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23
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Roy-Dufresne E, Lurgi M, Brown SC, Wells K, Cooke B, Mutze G, Peacock D, Cassey P, Berman D, Brook BW, Campbell S, Cox T, Daly J, Dunk I, Elsworth P, Fletcher D, Forsyth DM, Hocking G, Kovaliski J, Leane M, Low B, Kennedy M, Matthews J, McPhee S, Mellin C, Mooney T, Moseby K, Read J, Richardson BJ, Schneider K, Schwarz E, Sinclair R, Strive T, Triulcio F, West P, Saltré F, Fordham DA. The Australian National Rabbit Database: 50 yr of population monitoring of an invasive species. Ecology 2019; 100:e02750. [PMID: 31034589 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
With ongoing introductions into Australia since the 1700s, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has become one of the most widely distributed and abundant vertebrate pests, adversely impacting Australia's biodiversity and agroeconomy. To understand the population and range dynamics of the species and its impacts better, occurrence and abundance data have been collected by researchers and citizens from sites covering a broad spectrum of climatic and environmental conditions in Australia. The lack of a common and accessible repository for these data has, however, limited their use in determining important spatiotemporal drivers of the structure and dynamics of the geographical range of rabbits in Australia. To meet this need, we created the Australian National Rabbit Database, which combines more than 50 yr of historical and contemporary survey data collected from throughout the range of the species in Australia. The survey data, obtained from a suite of complementary monitoring methods, were combined with high-resolution weather, climate, and environmental information, and an assessment of data quality. The database provides records of rabbit occurrence (689,265 records) and abundance (51,241 records, >120 distinct sites) suitable for identifying the spatiotemporal drivers of the rabbit's distribution and for determining spatial patterns of variation in its key life-history traits, including maximum rates of population growth. Because all data are georeferenced and date stamped, they can be coupled with information from other databases and spatial layers to explore the potential effects of rabbit occurrence and abundance on Australia's native wildlife and agricultural production. The Australian National Rabbit Database is an important tool for understanding and managing the European rabbit in its invasive range and its effects on native biodiversity and agricultural production. It also provides a valuable resource for addressing questions related to the biology, success, and impacts of invasive species more generally. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of this Data Paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Roy-Dufresne
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Miguel Lurgi
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,Centre for Biodiversity Theory and Modelling, Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station, CNRS-Paul Sabatier University, 09200, Moulis, France
| | - Stuart C Brown
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Konstans Wells
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Brian Cooke
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2617, Australia
| | - Greg Mutze
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - David Peacock
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, South Australia, 5064, Australia.,School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Phill Cassey
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Dave Berman
- University of Southern Queensland, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Barry W Brook
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Susan Campbell
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Washington, 6330, Australia
| | - Tarnya Cox
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales, 2800, Australia
| | - Joanne Daly
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Iain Dunk
- Department of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Peter Elsworth
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Don Fletcher
- Department of Environment and Planning Directorate, Australian Capital Territory, 2602, Australia
| | - David M Forsyth
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales, 2800, Australia.,Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Greg Hocking
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania, 7001, Australia.,Agricultural Technical Services P/L, South Australia, 5576, Australia
| | - John Kovaliski
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Michael Leane
- Riverina Local Land Service, New South Wales, 2722, Australia
| | - Bill Low
- Low Ecological Services, Northern Territory, 0871, Australia
| | - Malcolm Kennedy
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Washington, 6151, Australia
| | - John Matthews
- Agricultural Services and Biosecurity Operations Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Training and Resources, Victoria, 3300, Australia
| | - Steve McPhee
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Camille Mellin
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Trish Mooney
- Department of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Katherine Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - John Read
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | | | | | - Eric Schwarz
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Ronald Sinclair
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Frank Triulcio
- Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Peter West
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales, 2800, Australia
| | - Frederik Saltré
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University,, GPO Box 2100, South Australia, 5001, Australia
| | - Damien A Fordham
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
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24
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Rouco C, Aguayo-Adán JA, Santoro S, Abrantes J, Delibes-Mateos M. Worldwide rapid spread of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.2/RHDV2/b). Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1762-1764. [PMID: 30924292 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We describe the extremely rapid worldwide spread of the Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2/RHDV2/b (henceforth GI.2), the causative infectious agent of the so-called 'novel' rabbit haemorrhagic disease of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We tracked down all novel confirmed detections of GI.2 between May 2010 and November 2018 by carrying out a two-step in-depth review. We suggest that such spread would not have been possible without anthropogenic involvement. Our results also point out the importance of reviewing and adapting the protocols of virus detection and management in order to control, mitigate and contain properly, not only GI.2, but also new viruses that may emerge in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | | | - Simone Santoro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO-InBIO/UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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25
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Hernandez AD, Boag B, Neilson R, Forrester NL. Variable changes in nematode infection prevalence and intensity after Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus emerged in wild rabbits in Scotland and New Zealand. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:187-195. [PMID: 29892555 PMCID: PMC5993101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The myxoma virus (a microparasite) reduced wild rabbit numbers worldwide when introduced in the 1950s, and is known to interact with co-infecting helminths (macroparasites) causing both increases and decreases in macroparasite population size. In the 1990s Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) infected rabbits and also significantly reduced rabbit numbers in several countries. However, not much is known about RHDV interactions with macroparasites. In this study, we compare prevalence and intensity of infection for three gastrointestinal nematode species (Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Graphidium strigosum and Passalurus ambiguus) before and after RHDV spread across host populations in Scotland and New Zealand. During one common season, autumn, prevalence of T. retortaeformis was higher after RHDV spread in both locations, whereas it was lower for G. strigosum and P. ambiguus after RHDV arrived in New Zealand, but higher in Scotland. Meanwhile, intensity of infection for all species decreased after RHDV arrived in New Zealand, but increased in Scotland. The impact of RHDV on worm infections was generally similar across seasons in Scotland, and also similarities in seasonality between locations suggested effects on infection patterns in one season are likely similar year-round. The variable response by macroparasites to the arrival of a microparasite into Scottish and New Zealand rabbits may be due to differences in the environment they inhabit, in existing parasite community structure, and to some extent, in the relative magnitude of indirect effects. Specifically, our data suggest that bottom-up processes after the introduction of a more virulent strain of RHDV to New Zealand may affect macroparasite co-infections by reducing the availability of their shared common resource, the rabbits. Clearly, interactions between co-infecting micro- and macroparasites vary in host populations with different ecologies, and significantly impact parasite community structure in wildlife. Nematode communities in Scotland and New Zealand were compared pre and post Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus introduction. Similar species occur in both rabbit populations, but prevalence and intensity changed in opposing directions after RHDV. RHDV had a major impact on rabbit populations, and our data show differing impacts on macroparasites in the two countries. Variability in rabbit environment, parasite community structure, and indirect interaction processes may explain differences. Results can help understand interactions between co-infecting parasites and their epidemiology in wild and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Boag
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, Scotland, DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Roy Neilson
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, Scotland, DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Naomi L Forrester
- School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Straffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
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26
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Mutze G, De Preu N, Mooney T, Koerner D, McKenzie D, Sinclair R, Kovaliskli J, Peacock D. Substantial numerical decline in South Australian rabbit populations following the detection of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2. Vet Rec 2018. [PMID: 29519856 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also commonly known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2, was first detected at two long-term monitoring sites for European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, in South Australia, in mid-2016. Numbers of rabbits in the following 12-18 months were reduced to approximately 20 per cent of average numbers in the preceding 10 years. The impact recorded at the two South Australian sites, if widespread in Australia and persistent for several years, is likely to be of enormous economic and environmental benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Mutze
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicki De Preu
- Ardeotis Biological Consultants, Watervale, South Australia, Australia
| | - Trish Mooney
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dylan Koerner
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia
| | - Darren McKenzie
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ron Sinclair
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John Kovaliskli
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - David Peacock
- Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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27
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Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a widely used model in fundamental, medical and veterinary neurosciences. Besides investigations in adults, rabbit pups are relevant to study perinatal neurodevelopment and early behaviour. To date, the rabbit is also the only species in which a pheromone - the mammary pheromone (MP) - emitted by lactating females and active on neonatal adaptation has been described. The MP is crucial since it contributes directly to nipple localisation and oral seizing in neonates, i.e. to their sucking success. It may also be one of the non-photic cues arising from the mother, which stimulates synchronisation of the circadian system during pre-visual developmental stages. Finally, the MP promotes neonatal odour associative and appetitive conditioning in a remarkably rapid and efficient way. For these different reasons, the rabbit offers a currently unique opportunity to determine pheromonal-induced brain processing supporting adaptation early in life. Therefore, it is of interest to create a reference work of the newborn rabbit pup brain, which may constitute a tool for future multi-disciplinary and multi-approach research in this model, and allow comparisons related to the neuroethological basis of social and feeding behaviour among newborns of various species. Here, in line with existing experimental studies, and based on original observations, we propose a functional anatomical description of brain sections in 4-day-old rabbits with a particular focus on seven brain regions which appear important for neonatal perception of sensory signals emitted by the mother, circadian adaptation to the short and single daily nursing of the mother in the nest, and expression of specific motor actions involved in nipple localisation and milk intake. These brain regions involve olfactory circuits, limbic-related areas important in reward, motivation, learning and memory formation, homeostatic areas engaged in food anticipation, and regions implicated in circadian rhythm and arousal, as well as in motricity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanette Y Schneider
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (Research Center for Taste and Feeding Behavior), CNRS UMR, 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Frédérique Datiche
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (Research Center for Taste and Feeding Behavior), CNRS UMR, 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Gérard Coureaud
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (Lyon Neuroscience Research Center) INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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28
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Gama A, Pires I, Canado M, Coutinho T, Lopes AP, Latrofa MS, Cardoso L, Dantas-Torres F, Otranto D. First report of Thelazia callipaeda infection in wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Portugal. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:236. [PMID: 27160400 PMCID: PMC4862226 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thelazia callipaeda is a zoonotic nematode that affects the eyes of domestic and wild animals, including dogs, cats and red foxes. This parasitic eye worm is transmitted by Phortica variegata, which is a zoophilic fruit fly spread in Europe. Two wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) found dead in north-eastern Portugal were submitted to necropsy. Results Both animals presented gross lesions compatible with haemorrhagic viral disease. Eye examination revealed the presence of six worms (three in each animal, on both eyes). Out of the six nematodes, five females and one male were morphologically and molecularly identified as T. callipaeda. Conclusions This is the first report of T. callipaeda in wild rabbits from Portugal, which reveals a new host for this parasite in southern Europe and emphasizes the importance of including thelaziosis in the differential diagnosis of ocular alterations in both animals and humans from areas where the eye worm is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Gama
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pires
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | | | - Teresa Coutinho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Parasitology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Parasitology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | | | - Luís Cardoso
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal. .,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Parasitology, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.,Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
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29
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Mignatti A, Boag B, Cattadori IM. Host immunity shapes the impact of climate changes on the dynamics of parasite infections. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:2970-5. [PMID: 26884194 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501193113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change is predicted to alter the distribution and dynamics of soil-transmitted helminth infections, and yet host immunity can also influence the impact of warming on host-parasite interactions and mitigate the long-term effects. We used time-series data from two helminth species of a natural herbivore and investigated the contribution of climate change and immunity on the long-term and seasonal dynamics of infection. We provide evidence that climate warming increases the availability of infective stages of both helminth species and the proportional increase in the intensity of infection for the helminth not regulated by immunity. In contrast, there is no significant long-term positive trend in the intensity for the immune-controlled helminth, as immunity reduces the net outcome of climate on parasite dynamics. Even so, hosts experienced higher infections of this helminth at an earlier age during critical months in the warmer years. Immunity can alleviate the expected long-term effect of climate on parasite infections but can also shift the seasonal peak of infection toward the younger individuals.
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Pinheiro A, Neves F, Lemos de Matos A, Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Mage R, Esteves PJ. An overview of the lagomorph immune system and its genetic diversity. Immunogenetics 2015; 68:83-107. [PMID: 26399242 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the lagomorph immune system remains largely based upon studies of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a major model for studies of immunology. Two important and devastating viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, are affecting European rabbit populations. In this context, we discuss the genetic diversity of the European rabbit immune system and extend to available information about other lagomorphs. Regarding innate immunity, we review the most recent advances in identifying interleukins, chemokines and chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, antiviral proteins (RIG-I and Trim5), and the genes encoding fucosyltransferases that are utilized by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus as a portal for invading host respiratory and gut epithelial cells. Evolutionary studies showed that several genes of innate immunity are evolving by strong natural selection. Studies of the leporid CCR5 gene revealed a very dramatic change unique in mammals at the second extracellular loop of CCR5 resulting from a gene conversion event with the paralogous CCR2. For the adaptive immune system, we review genetic diversity at the loci encoding antibody variable and constant regions, the major histocompatibility complex (RLA) and T cells. Studies of IGHV and IGKC genes expressed in leporids are two of the few examples of trans-species polymorphism observed outside of the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, we review some endogenous viruses of lagomorph genomes, the importance of the European rabbit as a model for human disease studies, and the anticipated role of next-generation sequencing in extending knowledge of lagomorph immune systems and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pinheiro
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fabiana Neves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Joana Abrantes
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rose Mage
- NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
- CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal.
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Kovaliski J, Sinclair R, Mutze G, Peacock D, Strive T, Abrantes J, Esteves PJ, Holmes EC. Molecular epidemiology of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus in Australia: when one became many. Mol Ecol 2013; 23:408-20. [PMID: 24251353 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) was introduced into Australia in 1995 as a biological control agent against the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We evaluated its evolution over a 16-year period (1995-2011) by examining 50 isolates collected throughout Australia, as well as the original inoculum strains. Phylogenetic analysis of capsid protein VP60 sequences of the Australian isolates, compared with those sampled globally, revealed that they form a monophyletic group with the inoculum strains (CAPM V-351 and RHDV351INOC). Strikingly, despite more than 3000 rereleases of RHDV351INOC since 1995, only a single viral lineage has sustained its transmission in the long-term, indicative of a major competitive advantage. In addition, we find evidence for widespread viral gene flow, in which multiple lineages entered individual geographic locations, resulting in a marked turnover of viral lineages with time, as well as a continual increase in viral genetic diversity. The rate of RHDV evolution recorded in Australia -4.0 (3.3-4.7) × 10(-3) nucleotide substitutions per site per year - was higher than previously observed in RHDV, and evidence for adaptive evolution was obtained at two VP60 residues. Finally, more intensive study of a single rabbit population (Turretfield) in South Australia provided no evidence for viral persistence between outbreaks, with genetic diversity instead generated by continual strain importation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kovaliski
- NRM Biosecurity, Biosecurity South Australia, PO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.,Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Ron Sinclair
- NRM Biosecurity, Biosecurity South Australia, PO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.,Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Greg Mutze
- NRM Biosecurity, Biosecurity South Australia, PO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.,Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - David Peacock
- NRM Biosecurity, Biosecurity South Australia, PO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.,Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.,CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Black Mountain Laboratories, Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/UP Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/Universidade do Porto, InBio, Laboratório Associado, Campus Agrário de Vairão, R. Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,INSERM, U892, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- INSERM, U892, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,CITS, Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias da Saúde, IPSN, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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