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Hall RN, Trought K, Strive T, Duckworth JA, Jenckel M. First Detection and Circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. Viruses 2024; 16:519. [PMID: 38675862 PMCID: PMC11053765 DOI: 10.3390/v16040519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhage disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly pathogenic lagovirus that causes lethal disease in rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). Since its first detection in Europe in 2010, RHDV2 has spread worldwide and has been detected in over 35 countries so far. Here, we provide the first detailed report of the detection and subsequent circulation of RHDV2 in New Zealand. RHDV2 was first detected in New Zealand in 2018, with positive samples retrospectively identified in December 2017. Subsequent time-resolved phylogenetic analysis suggested a single introduction into the North Island between March and November 2016. Genetic analysis identified a GI.3P-GI.2 variant supporting a non-Australian origin for the incursion; however, more accurate identification of the source of the incursion remains challenging due to the wide global distribution of the GI.3P-GI.2 variant. Furthermore, our analysis suggests the spread of the virus between the North and South Islands of New Zealand at least twice, dated to mid-2017 and around 2018. Further phylogenetic analysis also revealed a strong phylogeographic pattern. So far, no recombination events with endemic benign New Zealand rabbit caliciviruses have been identified. This study highlights the need for further research and surveillance to monitor the distribution and diversity of lagoviruses in New Zealand and to detect incursions of novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
- Ausvet Pty Ltd., Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia;
| | - Katherine Trought
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Janine A. Duckworth
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (K.T.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Maria Jenckel
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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Hall RN, King T, O’Connor T, Read AJ, Arrow J, Trought K, Duckworth J, Piper M, Strive T. Age and Infectious Dose Significantly Affect Disease Progression after RHDV2 Infection in Naïve Domestic Rabbits. Viruses 2021; 13:1184. [PMID: 34205750 PMCID: PMC8234499 DOI: 10.3390/v13061184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2 or GI.2, referring to any virus with lagovirus GI.2 structural genes) is a recently emerged calicivirus that causes generalised hepatic necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation leading to death in susceptible lagomorphs (rabbits and hares). Previous studies investigating the virulence of RHDV2 have reported conflicting results, with case fatality rates ranging from 0% to 100% even within a single study. Lagoviruses are of particular importance in Australia and New Zealand where they are used as biocontrol agents to manage wild rabbit populations, which threaten over 300 native species and result in economic impacts in excess of $200 million AUD annually to Australian agricultural industries. It is critically important that any pest control method is both highly effective (i.e., virulent, in the context of viral biocontrols) and has minimal animal welfare impacts. To determine whether RHDV2 might be a suitable candidate biocontrol agent, we investigated the virulence and disease progression of a naturally occurring Australian recombinant RHDV2 in both 5-week-old and 11-week-old New Zealand White laboratory rabbits after either high or low dose oral infection. Objective measures of disease progression were recorded through continuous body temperature monitoring collars, continuous activity monitors, and twice daily observations. We observed a 100% case fatality rate in both infected kittens and adult rabbits after either high dose or low dose infection. Clinical signs of disease, such as pyrexia, weight loss, and reduced activity, were evident in the late stages of infection. Clinical disease, i.e., welfare impacts, were limited to the period after the onset of pyrexia, lasting on average 12 h and increasing in severity as disease progressed. These findings confirm the high virulence of this RHDV2 variant in naïve rabbits. While age and infectious dose significantly affected disease progression, the case fatality rate was consistently 100% under all conditions tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N. Hall
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Tegan King
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Tiffany O’Connor
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia; tiffany.o' (T.O.); (A.J.R.)
| | - Andrew J. Read
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia; tiffany.o' (T.O.); (A.J.R.)
| | - Jane Arrow
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Katherine Trought
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Janine Duckworth
- Wildlife Ecology and Management, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7608, New Zealand; (J.A.); (K.T.); (J.D.)
| | - Melissa Piper
- Agriculture & Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia;
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; (T.K.); (T.S.)
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
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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] [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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Recombination at the emergence of the pathogenic rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14502. [PMID: 32879332 PMCID: PMC7468141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71303-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease is a viral disease that emerged in the 1980s and causes high mortality and morbidity in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In 2010, a new genotype of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus emerged and replaced the former circulating Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 strains. Several recombination events have been reported for the new genotype Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2, with pathogenic (variants GI.1a and GI.1b) and benign (genotype GI.4) strains that served as donors for the non-structural part while GI.2 composed the structural part; another recombination event has also been described at the p16/p23 junction involving GI.4 strains. In this study, we analysed new complete coding sequences of four benign GI.3 strains and four GI.2 strains. Phylogenetic and recombination detection analyses revealed that the first GI.2 strains, considered as non-recombinant, resulted from a recombination event between GI.3 and GI.2, with GI.3 as the major donor for the non-structural part and GI.2 for the structural part. Our results indicate that recombination contributed to the emergence, persistence and dissemination of GI.2 as a pathogenic form and that all described GI.2 strains so far are the product of recombination. This highlights the need to study full-genomic sequences of lagoviruses to understand their emergence and evolution.
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Erfan AM, Shalaby AG. Genotyping of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus detected in diseased rabbits in Egyptian Provinces by VP60 sequencing. Vet World 2020; 13:1098-1107. [PMID: 32801560 PMCID: PMC7396351 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.1098-1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an economically important disorder of rabbits, where infection results in severe losses to the meat and fur industries. Our goal was to characterize the RHD virus (RHDV) strains currently circulating in different regions of Egypt. Materials and Methods Fifty rabbits suspected of harboring RHDV from 15 Egyptian governorates were evaluated. Diseased rabbits were identified by clinical signs and postmortem lesions. RHDV was confirmed through hemagglutination assay (HA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Partial sequencing of the VP60 gene was performed for genotyping. Results From 50 rabbits, we identified 16 cases of RHDV (32%) by HA and PCR, including seven males and nine females. We identified two distinct genotypes through sequencing of an amplified fragment of the virus VP60 gene. One group is composed of those circulating primarily in upper Egypt, which is closely related to the classical G3-G5 virus strains, and the second group, circulating predominantly in lower Egypt, was more closely related to the RHDV2 variant. The overall nucleotide sequence identity ranged from 78.4% to 100%, and identity with the vaccine strains ranged from 78.8% to 91.1%. Conclusion Our results constitute important documentation of RHDV strains currently circulating in Egypt. The findings suggest that there may be a limit to the effectiveness of currently applied vaccine strains as this formulation may not cover all circulating strains. A wider investigation that includes both domestic and wild rabbits will be needed to identify appropriate control measures for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Erfan
- Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki. Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | - Azhar G Shalaby
- Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki. Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, 12618, Egypt
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Buehler M, Jesse ST, Kueck H, Lange B, Koenig P, Jo WK, Osterhaus A, Beineke A. Lagovirus europeus GI.2 (rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2) infection in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Germany. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:166. [PMID: 32460756 PMCID: PMC7254734 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02386-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. In 2010 a new genotype of lagovirus (GI.2), emerged in Europe, infecting wild and domestic population of rabbits and hares. CASE PRESENTATION We describe the infection with a GI.2 strain, "Bremerhaven-17", in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in a zoo facility in Germany. Postmortem examination revealed RHD-like lesions including necrotizing hepatitis. RT-qPCR and AG-ELISA confirmed presence of GI.2. Recombination and phylogenetic analysis grouped the identified strain with other GI.2 strains, sharing nucleotide identity of 91-99%. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Buehler
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sonja T Jesse
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heike Kueck
- Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Bastian Lange
- Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, H.-H.-Meier-Straße 7, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Patricia Koenig
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Wendy K Jo
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Albert Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Beineke
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Buenteweg, 17 30559, Hannover, Germany.
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Neimanis AS, Ahola H, Larsson Pettersson U, Lopes AM, Abrantes J, Zohari S, Esteves PJ, Gavier-Widén D. Overcoming species barriers: an outbreak of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 in an isolated population of mountain hares (Lepus timidus). BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:367. [PMID: 30477499 PMCID: PMC6258167 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1694-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prior to 2010, the lagoviruses that cause rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in hares (Lepus spp.) were generally genus-specific. However, in 2010, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), also known as Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, emerged and had the distinguishing ability to cause disease in both rabbits and certain hare species. The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is native to Sweden and is susceptible to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), also called Lagovirus europaeus GII.1. While most mountain hare populations are found on the mainland, isolated populations also exist on islands. Here we investigate a mortality event in mountain hares on the small island of Hallands Väderö where other leporid species, including rabbits, are absent. Results Post-mortem and microscopic examination of three mountain hare carcasses collected from early November 2016 to mid-March 2017 revealed acute hepatic necrosis consistent with pathogenic lagovirus infection. Using immunohistochemistry, lagoviral capsid antigen was visualized within lesions, both in hepatocytes and macrophages. Genotyping and immunotyping of the virus independently confirmed infection with L. europaeus GI.2, not GII.1. Phylogenetic analyses of the vp60 gene grouped mountain hare strains together with a rabbit strain from an outbreak of GI.2 in July 2016, collected approximately 50 km away on the mainland. Conclusions This is the first documented infection of GI.2 in mountain hares and further expands the host range of GI.2. Lesions and tissue distribution mimic those of GII.1 in mountain hares. The virus was most likely initially introduced from a concurrent, large-scale GI.2 outbreak in rabbits on the adjacent mainland, providing another example of how readily this virus can spread. The mortality event in mountain hares lasted for at least 4.5 months in the absence of rabbits, which would have required virus circulation among mountain hares, environmental persistence and/or multiple introductions. This marks the fourth Lepus species that can succumb to GI.2 infection, suggesting that susceptibility to GI.2 may be common in Lepus species. Measures to minimize the spread of GI.2 to vulnerable Lepus populations therefore are prudent. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1694-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksija S Neimanis
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Harri Ahola
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Larsson Pettersson
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Anatomy and Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Siamak Zohari
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal
| | - Dolores Gavier-Widén
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Lopes AM, Rouco C, Esteves PJ, Abrantes J. GI.1b/GI.1b/GI.2 recombinant rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2) in Morocco, Africa. Arch Virol 2018; 164:279-283. [PMID: 30284631 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-4052-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is highly lethal to the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). It was first reported in 1984 in China, but in 2010, a new variant of the virus was detected (GI.2) in France. Several recombination events with pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains have been described. Here, we report the first sequences of RHDV in Africa, isolated from Moroccan rabbits, and these resemble GI.1b/GI.1b/GI.2 recombinants found in the Iberian Peninsula. Monitoring and characterization of strains from future outbreaks are advised to guarantee the success of current programs on small-rabbit production for poverty alleviation in African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO/InBio-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS)/Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO/InBio-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/InBio-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.
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