1
|
Tokarz-Deptuła B, Kulus J, Baraniecki Ł, Stosik M, Deptuła W. Characterisation of Lagovirus europaeus GI-RHDVs (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Viruses) in Terms of Their Pathogenicity and Immunogenicity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5342. [PMID: 38791380 PMCID: PMC11120834 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses (RHDV) belong to the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus europaeus, genogroup GI, comprising four genotypes GI.1-GI.4, of which the genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 are pathogenic RHD viruses, while the genotypes GI.3 and GI.4 are non-pathogenic RCV (Rabbit calicivirus) viruses. Among the pathogenic genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 of RHD viruses, an antigenic variant of RHDV, named RHDVa-now GI.1a-RHDVa, was distinguished in 1996; and in 2010, a variant of RHDV-named RHDVb, later RHDV2 and now GI.2-RHDV2/b-was described; and recombinants of these viruses were registered. Pathogenic viruses of the genotype GI.1 were the cause of a disease described in 1984 in China in domestic (Oryctolagus (O.) cuniculus domesticus) and wild (O. cuniculus) rabbits, characterised by a very rapid course and a mortality rate of 90-100%, which spread in countries all over the world and which has been defined since 1989 as rabbit haemorrhagic disease. It is now accepted that GI.1-RHDV, including GI.1a-RHDVa, cause the predetermined primary haemorrhagic disease in domestic and wild rabbits, while GI.2-RHDV2/b cause it not only in rabbits, including domestic rabbits' young up to 4 weeks and rabbits immunised with rabbit haemorrhagic disease vaccine, but also in five various species of wild rabbits and seven different species of hares, as well as wild ruminants: mountain muskoxen and European badger. Among these viruses, haemagglutination-positive, doubtful and harmful viruses have been recorded and described and have been shown to form phylogenogroups, immunotypes, haematotypes and pathotypes, which, together with traits that alter and expand their infectious spectrum (rabbit, hare, wild ruminant, badger and various rabbit and hare species), are the determinants of their pathogenicity (infectivity) and immunogenicity and thus shape their virulence. These relationships are the aim of our consideration in this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jakub Kulus
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (J.K.); (W.D.)
| | - Łukasz Baraniecki
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Michał Stosik
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, 65-516 Zielona Gora, Poland;
| | - Wiesław Deptuła
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (J.K.); (W.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu C, Lin M, Hu H, Liu X, Bian Y, Huang X, Li X, Yu W, Luo F, Deng S. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 protein expressed in recombinant swinepox virus self-assembles into virus-like particles with strong immunogenicity in rabbits. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:960374. [PMID: 35992711 PMCID: PMC9387593 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.960374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is an economically significant infectious disease of rabbits, and its infection causes severe losses in the meat and fur industry. RHD Virus (RHDV) is difficult to proliferate in cell lines in vitro, which has greatly impeded the progress of investigating its replication mechanism and production of inactivated virus vaccines. RHDV VP60 protein is a major antigen for developing RHD subunit vaccines. Herein, we constructed a TK-deactivated recombinant Swinepox virus (rSWPV) expressing VP60 protein and VP60 protein coupled with His-tag respectively, and the expression of foreign proteins was confirmed using immunofluorescence assay and western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the recombinant VP60, with or without His-tag, self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs). Its efficacy was evaluated by comparison with available commercial vaccines in rabbits. ELISA and HI titer assays showed that high levels of neutralizing antibodies were induced at the first week after immunization with the recombinant strain and were maintained during the ongoing monitoring for the following 13 weeks. Challenge experiments showed that a single immunization with 106 PFU of the recombinant strain protected rabbits from lethal RHDV infection, and no histopathological changes or antigenic staining was found in the vaccine and rSWPV groups. These results suggest that rSWPV expressing RHDV VP60 could be an efficient candidate vaccine against RHDV in rabbits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changjin Liu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Min Lin
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Huanyi Hu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaolan Liu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanchao Bian
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Wenyang Yu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Feng Luo
- Jiangxi Jinyibo Biotechnology Company, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shunzhou Deng
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- *Correspondence: Shunzhou Deng,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Taggart PL, O'Connor TW, Cooke B, Read AJ, Kirkland PD, Sawyers E, West P, Patel K. Good intentions with adverse outcomes when conservation and pest management guidelines are ignored: A case study in rabbit biocontrol. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Taggart
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit Department of Primary Industries NSW Queanbeyan New South Wales Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Bruce Australian Capital Territory Australia
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide Roseworthy South Australia Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Tiffany W. O'Connor
- Department of Primary Industries NSW Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute Menangle New South Wales Australia
| | - Brian Cooke
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra Bruce Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Rabbit‐Free Australia Collinswood South Australia Australia
| | - Andrew J. Read
- Department of Primary Industries NSW Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute Menangle New South Wales Australia
| | - Peter D. Kirkland
- Department of Primary Industries NSW Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute Menangle New South Wales Australia
| | - Emma Sawyers
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit Department of Primary Industries NSW Orange New South Wales Australia
| | - Peter West
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit Department of Primary Industries NSW Orange New South Wales Australia
| | - Kandarp Patel
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide Roseworthy South Australia Australia
- Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions Urrbrae South Australia Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Droillard C, Lemaitre E, Amelot M, Blanchard Y, Keita A, Eterradossi N, Le Gall-Reculé G. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1d strain: genome sequencing, in vivo virus replication kinetics, and viral dose effect. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:257. [PMID: 34321003 PMCID: PMC8320185 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02962-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1d variant (GI.1d/RHDV) was identified in 1990 in France, and until the emergence of the new genotype GI.2, it was the main variant circulating in the country. The early stages of RHDV infection have been described in a few studies of rabbits experimentally infected with earlier strains, but no information was given on the minimum infective dose. We report the genomic and phenotypic characterisation of a GI.1d/RHDV strain collected in 2000 in France (GI.1d/00-21). RESULTS We performed in vivo assays in rabbits to study virus replication kinetics in several tissues at the early stage of infection, and to estimate the minimum infective dose. Four tested doses, negligible (10- 1 viral genome copies), low (104), high (107) and very high (1011) were quantified using a method combining density gradient centrifugation of the viral particles and an RT-qPCR technique developed to quantify genomic RNA (gRNA). The GI.1d/00-21 genome showed the same genomic organisation as other lagoviruses; however, a substitution in the 5' untranslated region and a change in the potential p23/2C-like helicase cleavage site were observed. We showed that the liver of one of the two rabbits inoculated via the oral route was infected at 16 h post-infection and all tissues at 39 h post-infection. GI.1d/00-21 induced classical RHD signs (depression) and lesions (haemorrhage and splenomegaly). Although infective dose estimation should be interpreted with caution, the minimum infective dose that infected an inoculated rabbit was lower or equal to 104 gRNA copies, whereas between 104 and 107 gRNA copies were required to also induce mortality. CONCLUSIONS These results provide a better understanding of GI.1d/RHDV infection in rabbits. The genome analysis showed a newly observed mutation in the 5' untranslated region of a lagovirus, whose role remains unknown. The phenotypic analysis showed that the pathogenicity of GI.1d/00-21 and the replication kinetics in infected organs were close to those reported for the original GI.1 strains, and could not alone explain the observed selective advantage of the GI.1d strains. Determining the minimum dose of viral particles required to cause mortality in rabbits is an important input for in vivo studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clément Droillard
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Virology Immunology and Parasitology Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Evelyne Lemaitre
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Virology Immunology and Parasitology Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Michel Amelot
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Department for Breeding and Experimentation in Poultry and Rabbits, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Yannick Blanchard
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Viral Genetics and Biosafety Unit, French Agency for Food Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Alassane Keita
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Department for Breeding and Experimentation in Poultry and Rabbits, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Nicolas Eterradossi
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Virology Immunology and Parasitology Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé
- Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Virology Immunology and Parasitology Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), BP 53, F-22440, Ploufragan, France.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abrantes J, Lopes AM. A Review on the Methods Used for the Detection and Diagnosis of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV). Microorganisms 2021; 9:972. [PMID: 33946292 PMCID: PMC8146303 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the early 1980s, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been threatened by the rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). The disease is caused by a lagovirus of the family Caliciviridae, the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The need for detection, identification and further characterization of RHDV led to the development of several diagnostic tests. Owing to the lack of an appropriate cell culture system for in vitro propagation of the virus, much of the methods involved in these tests contributed to our current knowledge on RHD and RHDV and to the development of vaccines to contain the disease. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the RHDV diagnostic tests used since the first RHD outbreak and that include molecular, histological and serological techniques, ranging from simpler tests initially used, such as the hemagglutination test, to the more recent and sophisticated high-throughput sequencing, along with an overview of their potential and their limitations.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Müller C, Hrynkiewicz R, Bębnowska D, Maldonado J, Baratelli M, Köllner B, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. Immunity against Lagovirus europaeus and the Impact of the Immunological Studies on Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030255. [PMID: 33805607 PMCID: PMC8002203 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early 1980s, a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic fever in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) emerged, causing a very high rate of mortality in these animals. Since the initial occurrence of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), several hundred million rabbits have died after infection. The emergence of genetically-different virus variants (RHDV GI.1 and GI.2) indicated the very high variability of RHDV. Moreover, with these variants, the host range broadened to hare species (Lepus). The circulation of RHDV genotypes displays different virulences and a limited induction of cross-protective immunity. Interestingly, juvenile rabbits (<9 weeks of age) with an immature immune system display a general resistance to RHDV GI.1, and a limited resistance to RHDV GI.2 strains, whereas less than 3% of adult rabbits survive an infection by either RHDV GI.1. or GI.2. Several not-yet fully understood phenomena characterize the RHD. A very low infection dose followed by an extremely rapid viral replication could be simplified to the induction of a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), a severe loss of lymphocytes—especially T-cells—and death within 36 to 72 h post infection. On the other hand, in animals surviving the infection or after vaccination, very high titers of RHDV-neutralizing antibodies were induced. Several studies have been conducted in order to deepen the knowledge about the virus’ genetics, epidemiology, RHDV-induced pathology, and the anti-RHDV immune responses of rabbits in order to understand the phenomenon of the juvenile resistance to this virus. Moreover, several approaches have been used to produce efficient vaccines in order to prevent an infection with RHDV. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about anti-RHDV resistance and immunity, RHDV vaccination, and the further need to establish rationally-based RHDV vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Müller
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Rafał Hrynkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Dominika Bębnowska
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
| | | | | | - Bernd Köllner
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (P.N.-R.)
| | - Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; (R.H.); (D.B.)
- Correspondence: (B.K.); (P.N.-R.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hukowska-Szematowicz B, Maciejak-Jastrzębska A, Blatkiewicz M, Maciak K, Góra M, Janiszewska J, Burzyńska B. Changes in MicroRNA Expression during Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) Infection. Viruses 2020; 12:v12090965. [PMID: 32878241 PMCID: PMC7552042 DOI: 10.3390/v12090965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Current knowledge on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) infection and the pathogenesis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is still limited. RHDV replicates in the liver, causing hepatic necrosis and liver failure. MiRNAs are a class of short RNA molecules, and their expression profiles vary over the course of diseases, both in the tissue environment and in the bloodstream. This paper evaluates the expression of miRNAs in the liver tissue (ocu-miR-122-5p, ocu-miR-155-5p, and ocu-miR-16b-5p) and serum (ocu-miR-122-5p) of rabbits experimentally infected with RHDV. The expression levels of ocu-miR-122-5p, ocu-miR-155-5p, and ocu-miR-16b-5p in liver tissue were determined using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and the expression level of circulating ocu-miR-122-5p was established using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The expression levels of ocu-miR-155-5p and ocu-miR-16b-5p were significantly higher in the infected rabbits compared to the healthy rabbits (a fold-change of 5.8 and 2.5, respectively). The expression of ocu-miR-122-5p was not significantly different in the liver tissue from the infected rabbits compared to the healthy rabbits (p = 0.990), while the absolute expression level of the circulating ocu-miR-122-5p was significantly higher in the infected rabbits than in the healthy rabbits (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a functional analysis showed that ocu-miR-155-5p, ocu-miR-16b-5p, and ocu-miR-122-5p can regulate the expression of genes involved in processes correlated with acute liver failure (ALF) in rabbits. Search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) analysis showed that the potential target genes of the three selected miRNAs may interact with each other in different pathways. The results indicate the roles of these miRNAs in RHDV infection and over the course of RHD and may reflect hepatic inflammation and impairment/dysfunction in RHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Center, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-914441592
| | - Agata Maciejak-Jastrzębska
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
| | | | - Karolina Maciak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.M.); (M.G.); (B.B.)
| | - Monika Góra
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.M.); (M.G.); (B.B.)
| | - Joanna Janiszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 60-479 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Beata Burzyńska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.M.); (M.G.); (B.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Harcourt-Brown N, Silkstone M, Whitbread TJ, Harcourt-Brown FM. RHDV2 epidemic in UK pet rabbits. Part 1: clinical features, gross post mortem and histopathological findings. J Small Anim Pract 2020; 61:419-427. [PMID: 32383506 PMCID: PMC7496995 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To report clinical features, gross post mortem and histopathological findings from an investigation into sudden or unexpected death in rabbits that was undertaken during an outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Materials and Methods Using a standard protocol, veterinarians were invited to submit case histories and results of their post mortem examination of pet rabbits that died unexpectedly. Histopathological examination of heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidney samples was collated with macroscopic appearance and clinical details. Results Hepatocellular necrosis, characteristic of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, was observed in 185 of 300 (62%) submissions, often accompanied by glomerular thrombosis and changes in other organs. Evidence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease was not apparent on histopathology in 113 of 300 (38%) rabbits. Gross post mortem examination by veterinary practitioners did not always reflect reported histopathological changes. No macroscopic abnormalities were seen in 78/185 (42%) of rabbit haemorrhagic disease cases. Rapid death and death of other rabbits in the household were common features of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Ante mortem clinical signs included anorexia, collapse, lethargy, seizures, icterus, bleeding from the mouth, dyspnoea, hypothermia, pyrexia, bradycardia or poor blood clotting. Clinical Importance Rabbit haemorrhagic disease can be suspected from a history of sudden death, especially if multiple rabbits are affected. There is not always macroscopic evidence of the disease but histopathology is useful to support or refute a diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and provide information about other causes of death.
Collapse
|
9
|
El-Jakee JK, Moussa IM, Omran MS, Ahmed BM, Elgamal MA, Hemeg HA, Mubarak AS, Al-Maary KS, Kabli SA, Marouf SA, Haji Alhaaji J. A novel bivalent Pasteurellosis-RHD vaccine candidate adjuvanted with Montanide ISA70 protects rabbits from lethal challenge. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020; 27:996-1001. [PMID: 32127779 PMCID: PMC7042632 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a bivalent vaccine against Pasteurella multocida and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was formulated with Montanide™ ISA70 oil adjuvant (Seppic, Paris, France). Its efficacy was evaluated and compared to similar monovalent preparations and commercially available monovalent vaccines. White new Zeeland rabbit groups (n = 10) received 2 successive doses of the tested vaccines and were challenged 2 weeks after 2nd dose with Pasteurella multocida and RHDV or either pathogens according to their vaccination schedule. Challenged not-vaccinated group of rabbits (n = 10) was included as a control. The bivalent and monovalent ISA70 preparations were found stable, safe, sterile, pure and of low viscosity. Group 3 (GP3) which received bivalent vaccine showed the highest antibody geometric mean titers against Pasteurella multocida and RHDV evaluated by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) respectively. Following virulent challenge; Gp3 rabbits were 90% protected from challenge over other groups that showed 80% protection. Detection of either pathogen in the livers of dead and euthanized rabbits had failed except for non-vaccinated controls. The bivalent vaccine candidate was fully protective. Immunization against both pathogens can be achieved by single vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakeen K El-Jakee
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt
| | - Ihab M Moussa
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt
| | - Mai S Omran
- Department of Autogenous Vaccine, EGYVET, VACCSERA, Dokki 12611, Giza, Egypt
| | - Basem M Ahmed
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Elgamal
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt
| | - Hassan A Hemeg
- Department of Medical Technology/Microbiology, College of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman S Mubarak
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S Al-Maary
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Kabli
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif A Marouf
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt
| | - Jwaher Haji Alhaaji
- Department of Health Science, College of Applied Studies and Community Service, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Müller C, Ulrich R, Schinköthe J, Müller M, Köllner B. Characterization of protective humoral and cellular immune responses against RHDV2 induced by a new vaccine based on recombinant baculovirus. Vaccine 2019; 37:4195-4203. [PMID: 31182325 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a lethal disease in rabbits caused by RHD virus (RHDV). Protection is only possible through vaccination. A new virus variant (RHDV2) which emerged in 2010 in France differed from the classical RHDV1 variant in certain aspects and vaccines against RHDV1 induced limited cross protection only. In a previous study, we designed a recombinant baculovirus based RHDV2-VP1 vaccine, which provided a protective immunity in rabbits against RHDV2. In the present study this newly created vaccine is characterized with regard to onset and duration of protection, and possible cross protection against classical RHDV1. Furthermore, humoral and cellular immune mechanisms in vaccinated and infected rabbits were analyzed. In all experiments, the recombinant vaccine was compared to a conventional liver-based RHDV2 vaccine. The RHDV2-VP1 vaccine induced a protective immune response already seven days after single vaccination and fully protected for at least 14 months. A booster vaccination 21 days after the first had a negative influence on long-term protection. The cross protection provided by the RHDV2-VP1 vaccine against classical RHDV1 was limited since only 50% of vaccinated rabbits survived the infection. Conclusively, the new, baculovirus-based RHDV2-VP1 vaccine has the potential to protect rabbits against the infection with RHDV2, blocks completely the disease progression and prevents the spread of RHDV2 at the population level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Müller
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Reiner Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jan Schinköthe
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marcus Müller
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; IDT Biologika Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Bernd Köllner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Neave MJ, Hall RN, Huang N, McColl KA, Kerr P, Hoehn M, Taylor J, Strive T. Robust Innate Immunity of Young Rabbits Mediates Resistance to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Caused by Lagovirus Europaeus GI.1 But Not GI.2. Viruses 2018; 10:E512. [PMID: 30235853 PMCID: PMC6163550 DOI: 10.3390/v10090512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rabbit caliciviruses Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 both cause acute necrotizing hepatitis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Whilst GI.2 is highly virulent in both young and adult rabbits, rabbits younger than eight weeks of age are highly resistant to disease caused by GI.1, although they are still permissive to infection and viral replication. To investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of this age related resistance to GI.1, we compared liver transcriptomes of young rabbits infected with GI.1 to those of adult rabbits infected with GI.1 and young rabbits infected with GI.2. Our data suggest that kittens have constitutively heightened innate immune responses compared to adult rabbits, particularly associated with increased expression of major histocompatibility class II molecules and activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and cholangiocytes. This enables them to respond more rapidly to GI.1 infection than adult rabbits and thus limit virus-induced pathology. In contrast, these responses were not fully developed during GI.2 infection. We speculate that the observed downregulation of multiple genes associated with innate immunity in kittens during GI.2 infection may be due to virally-mediated immunomodulation, permitting fatal disease to develop. Our study provides insight into the fundamental host⁻pathogen interactions responsible for the differences in age-related susceptibility, which likely plays a critical role in defining the success of GI.2 in outcompeting GI.1 in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Neave
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Robyn N Hall
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Nina Huang
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Kenneth A McColl
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
| | - Peter Kerr
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Marion Hoehn
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | | | - Tanja Strive
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Neimanis A, Larsson Pettersson U, Huang N, Gavier-Widén D, Strive T. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Vet Res 2018; 49:46. [PMID: 29866169 PMCID: PMC5987473 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-018-0540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also known as RHDV2 or RHDVb, is an emerging virus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In contrast to L. europaeus GI.1 (or RHDV/RHDVa) viruses that are only pathogenic for adults, GI.2 causes clinical disease in both adults and kittens. However, detailed descriptions of the pathology of this virus that may provide insight into its pathogenicity and emergence are lacking. Using an Australian GI.2 field strain isolated in 2015, we provide the first detailed description of pathology, viral antigen distribution and tissue load of GI.2 in adult and 5-week old New Zealand white rabbits using histology, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Liver was the target organ, but in contrast to GI.1 viruses, lesions and inflammatory responses did not differ between adults and kittens. Lymphocytic inflammation, proposed to be protective in kittens infected with GI.1, was notably absent. We also present the first descriptions of bone marrow changes in RHD, including decreased myeloid-to-erythroid ratio. Consistent with other pathogenic lagoviruses, intracellular viral antigen was demonstrated in hepatocytes and cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system. In terminal stages of disease, viral loads were highest in liver, serum and spleen. Despite the small sample size, our data suggest that unlike early European GI.2 strains, the pathogenicity of the Australian GI.2 virus is similar to GI.1 viruses. Additionally, GI.2 was fatal for all (n = 5) inoculated kittens in this study. This may significantly alter RHD epidemiology in the field, and may impact biocontrol programs for invasive rabbits in Australia where GI.1 viruses are intentionally released.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksija Neimanis
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Larsson Pettersson
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nina Huang
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health & Biosecurity, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australia
| | - Dolores Gavier-Widén
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health & Biosecurity, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dalton KP, Balseiro A, Juste RA, Podadera A, Nicieza I, Del Llano D, González R, Martin Alonso JM, Prieto JM, Parra F, Casais R. Clinical course and pathogenicity of variant rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in experimentally infected adult and kit rabbits: Significance towards control and spread. Vet Microbiol 2018; 220:24-32. [PMID: 29885797 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RHDVb has become the dominant RHDV on the Iberian Peninsula. A better understanding of its pathogenicity is required to aid control measures. Thus, the clinical course, humoral immune response, viraemia and kinetics of RHDV-N11 (a Spanish RHDVb isolate) infection in different tissues at both viral RNA and protein levels were studied in experimentally infected young and adult rabbits. The case fatality rate differed between the two age groups, with 21% of kits succumbing while no deaths were observed in adults. Fever and viremia were strongly associated with death, which occurred 48 h post infection (PI) too fast for an effective humoral immune response to be mounted. A significant effect on the number of viral RNA copies with regard to the variables age, tissue and time PI (p < 0.0001 in all cases) was detected. Histological lesions in infected rabbits were consistently more frequent and severe in liver and spleen and additionally intestine in kits, these tissues containing the highest levels of viral RNA and protein. Although no adults showed lesions or virus antigen in intestine, both kits and adults maintained steady viral RNA levels from days 1 to 7 PI in this organ. Analysis revealed the fecal route as the main dissemination route of RHDV-N11. Subclinically infected rabbits had detectable viral RNA in their faeces for up to seven days and thus may play an important role spreading the virus. This study allows a better understanding of the transmission of this virus and improvement of the control strategies for this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K P Dalton
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - A Balseiro
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - R A Juste
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - A Podadera
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - I Nicieza
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - D Del Llano
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - R González
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - J M Martin Alonso
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - J M Prieto
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | - F Parra
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - R Casais
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Pacho S, Dahdouh E, Merino J, Suárez M. Assessment of a Novel Vaccine Against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in Young Rabbits. Viral Immunol 2016; 29:583-585. [PMID: 27834618 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2016.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDVb) is the new variant of the classical RHDV, a virulent pathogen responsible for an acute disease in young rabbits. The virus invades internal organs, especially the liver, spleen, kidneys, and gut; prevents coagulation; and causes liver necrosis. This eventually leads to quick death of the animal because of hemorrhage. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a new vaccine against RHDVb in rabbits at a young age, after experimental infection using four different viral isolates. Our findings show that the vaccine had a protective effect with survival rates reaching 80-100% against the different isolates. These results suggest that this vaccine, when applied to young animals, is an effective tool to protect against the disease caused by RHDVb in rabbitries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonsoles Pacho
- 1 Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid, Spain
| | - Elias Dahdouh
- 1 Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Merino
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad de León , León, Spain
| | - Monica Suárez
- 1 Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Infection models of human norovirus: challenges and recent progress. Arch Virol 2016; 161:779-88. [PMID: 26780772 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-016-2748-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Human norovirus (hNoV) infections cause acute gastroenteritis, accounting for millions of disease cases and more than 200,000 deaths annually. However, the lack of in vitro infection models and robust small-animal models has posed barriers to the development of virus-specific therapies and preventive vaccines. Promising recent progress in the development of a norovirus infection model is reviewed in this article, as well as attempts and efforts made since the discovery of hNoV more than 40 years ago. Because suitable experimental animal models for human norovirus are lacking, attractive alternatives are also discussed.
Collapse
|
16
|
Matthaei M, Kerr PJ, Read AJ, Hick P, Haboury S, Wright JD, Strive T. Comparative quantitative monitoring of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses in rabbit kittens. Virol J 2014; 11:109. [PMID: 24913134 PMCID: PMC4060863 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-11-109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Only one strain (the Czech CAPM-v351) of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has been released in Australia and New Zealand to control pest populations of the European rabbit O. cuniculus. Antigenic variants of RHDV known as RHDVa strains are reportedly replacing RHDV strains in other parts of the world, and Australia is currently investigating the usefulness of RHDVa to complement rabbit biocontrol efforts in Australia and New Zealand. RHDV efficiently kills adult rabbits but not rabbit kittens, which are more resistant to RHD the younger they are and which may carry the virus without signs of disease for prolonged periods. These different infection patterns in young rabbits may significantly influence RHDV epidemiology in the field and hence attempts to control rabbit numbers. Methods We quantified RHDV replication and shedding in 4–5 week old rabbits using quantitative real time PCR to assess their potential to shape RHDV epidemiology by shedding and transmitting virus. We further compared RHDV-v351 with an antigenic variant strain of RHDVa in kittens that is currently being considered as a potential RHDV strain for future release to improve rabbit biocontrol in Australia. Results Kittens were susceptible to infection with virus doses as low as 10 ID50. Virus growth, shedding and transmission after RHDVa infection was found to be comparable or non-significantly lower compared to RHDV. Virus replication and shedding was observed in all kittens infected, but was low in comparison to adult rabbits. Both viruses were shed and transmitted to bystander rabbits. While blood titres indicated that 4–5 week old kittens mostly clear the infection even in the absence of maternal antibodies, virus titres in liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph node were still high on day 5 post infection. Conclusions Rabbit kittens are susceptible to infection with very low doses of RHDV, and can transmit virus before they seroconvert. They may therefore play an important role in RHDV field epidemiology, in particular for virus transmission within social groups during virus outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tanja Strive
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - Ecosystem Sciences, ACT 2601 Black Mountain, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Marques RM, Teixeira L, Aguas AP, Ribeiro JC, Costa-e-Silva A, Ferreira PG. Immunosuppression abrogates resistance of young rabbits to Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD). Vet Res 2014; 45:14. [PMID: 24490832 PMCID: PMC3926702 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-45-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is caused by a calicivirus (RHDV) that kills 90% of infected adult European rabbits within 3 days. Remarkably, young rabbits are resistant to RHD. We induced immunosuppression in young rabbits by treatment with methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and challenged the animals with RHDV by intramuscular injection. All of these young rabbits died within 3 days of infection due to fulminant hepatitis, presenting a large number of RHDV-positive dead or apoptotic hepatocytes, and a significant seric increase in cytokines, features that are similar to those of naïve adult rabbits infected by RHDV. We conclude that MPA-induced immunosuppression abrogates the resistance of young rabbits to RHD, indicating that there are differences in the innate immune system between young and adult rabbits that contribute to their distinct resistance/susceptibility to RHDV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel M Marques
- Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Science) and UMIB (Unit for Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n,° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Spread of new variant RHDV in domestic rabbits on the Iberian Peninsula. Vet Microbiol 2014; 169:67-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
19
|
Wang X, Xu F, Liu J, Gao B, Liu Y, Zhai Y, Ma J, Zhang K, Baker TS, Schulten K, Zheng D, Pang H, Sun F. Atomic model of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus by cryo-electron microscopy and crystallography. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003132. [PMID: 23341770 PMCID: PMC3547835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, first described in China in 1984, causes hemorrhagic necrosis of the liver. Its etiological agent, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), belongs to the Lagovirus genus in the family Caliciviridae. The detailed molecular structure of any lagovirus capsid has yet to be determined. Here, we report a cryo-electron microscopic (cryoEM) reconstruction of wild-type RHDV at 6.5 Å resolution and the crystal structures of the shell (S) and protruding (P) domains of its major capsid protein, VP60, each at 2.0 Å resolution. From these data we built a complete atomic model of the RHDV capsid. VP60 has a conserved S domain and a specific P2 sub-domain that differs from those found in other caliciviruses. As seen in the shell portion of the RHDV cryoEM map, which was resolved to ∼5.5 Å, the N-terminal arm domain of VP60 folds back onto its cognate S domain. Sequence alignments of VP60 from six groups of RHDV isolates revealed seven regions of high variation that could be mapped onto the surface of the P2 sub-domain and suggested three putative pockets might be responsible for binding to histo-blood group antigens. A flexible loop in one of these regions was shown to interact with rabbit tissue cells and contains an important epitope for anti-RHDV antibody production. Our study provides a reliable, pseudo-atomic model of a Lagovirus and suggests a new candidate for an efficient vaccine that can be used to protect rabbits from RHDV infection. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), first described in China in 1984, causes hemorrhagic necrosis of the liver within three days after infection and with a mortality rate that exceeds 90%. RHD has spread to large parts of the world and threatens the rabbit industry and related ecology. Its etiological agent, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), belongs to the Lagovirus genus in the family Caliciviridae. Currently, the absence of a high-resolution model of any lagovirus impedes our understanding of its molecular interactions with hosts and successful design of an efficient anti-RHDV vaccine. Here, we use hybrid structural approaches to construct a pseudo-atomic model of RHDV that reveals significant differences in the P2 sub-domain of the major capsid protein compared to that seen in other caliciviruses. We identified seven regions of high sequence variation in this sub-domain that dictate the binding specificities of histo-blood group antigens. In one of these regions, we identified an antigenic peptide that interacts with rabbit tissue cells and elicits a significant immune response in rabbits and, hence, protects them from RHDV infection. Our pseudo-atomic model provides a structural framework for developing new anti-RHDV vaccines and will also help guide use of the RHDV capsid as a vehicle to display human tumor antigens as part of anti-tumor therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fengting Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiasen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Harbin, China
| | - Bingquan Gao
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanxin Liu
- Beckman Institute and Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Yujia Zhai
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Jun Ma
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Timothy S. Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Klaus Schulten
- Beckman Institute and Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Dong Zheng
- Analytical and Testing Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (DZ); (HP); (FS)
| | - Hai Pang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (DZ); (HP); (FS)
| | - Fei Sun
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (DZ); (HP); (FS)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Marques R, Costa-E-Silva A, Águas A, Teixeira L, Ferreira P. Early inflammatory response of young rabbits attending natural resistance to calicivirus (RHDV) infection. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012; 150:181-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
21
|
Teixeira L, Marques RM, Aguas AP, Ferreira PG. Regulatory T cells are decreased in acute RHDV lethal infection of adult rabbits. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012; 148:343-7. [PMID: 22627193 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is the etiologic agent of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), an acute lethal infection that kills 90% of adult rabbits due to severe acute liver inflammation. Interestingly, young rabbits are naturally resistant to RHDV infection. Here, we have compared naturally occurring CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) between young and adult rabbits after infection by RHDV. The number and frequency of Tregs was decreased in the spleen of adult rabbits 24h after the RHDV infection; this was in contrast with the unchanged number and frequency of splenic Tregs found in young rabbits after the same infection. Also, serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were enhanced in the infected adult rabbits whereas no alteration was observed in infected young rabbits. However, this increase is accompanied by a burst of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but seems not able to prevent the death of the animals with severe acute liver inflammation in few days after infection. Since Tregs downregulate inflammation, we conclude that their decrease may contribute to the natural susceptibility of adult rabbits to RHDV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luzia Teixeira
- Departamento de Anatomia, ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Le Pendu J, Esteves PJ. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV): a review. Vet Res 2012; 43:12. [PMID: 22325049 PMCID: PMC3331820 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a calicivirus of the genus Lagovirus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in adult European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). First described in China in 1984, the virus rapidly spread worldwide and is nowadays considered as endemic in several countries. In Australia and New Zealand where rabbits are pests, RHDV was purposely introduced for rabbit biocontrol. Factors that may have precipitated RHD emergence remain unclear, but non-pathogenic strains seem to pre-date the appearance of the pathogenic strains suggesting a key role for the comprehension of the virus origins. All pathogenic strains are classified within one single serotype, but two subtypes are recognised, RHDV and RHDVa. RHD causes high mortality in both domestic and wild adult animals, with individuals succumbing between 48-72 h post-infection. No other species has been reported to be fatally susceptible to RHD. The disease is characterised by acute necrotising hepatitis, but haemorrhages may also be found in other organs, in particular the lungs, heart, and kidneys due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. Resistance to the disease might be explained in part by genetically determined absence or weak expression of attachment factors, but humoral immunity is also important. Disease control in rabbitries relies mainly on vaccination and biosecurity measures. Such measures are difficult to be implemented in wild populations. More recent research has indicated that RHDV might be used as a molecular tool for therapeutic applications. Although the study of RHDV and RHD has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate cell culture system for the virus, several aspects of the replication, epizootology, epidemiology and evolution have been disclosed. This review provides a broad coverage and description of the current knowledge on the disease and the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
- INSERM, U892, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos/Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal
- CITS, Centro de Investigacao em Tecnologias de Saude, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
|
24
|
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a syndrome of diverse aetiology, including hepatic encephalopathy, renal, cardiac and pulmonary failures, which result in a rapid loss of hepatic function. The mechanisms of liver injury contributing to ALF can be summarized into two categories: direct damage and immune-mediated liver injury. This review summarizes current concepts of immune-mediated liver injury from both clinical studies and animal models. We highlight immune responses of ALF from the liver injury perspective, which combines a variety of molecular and cellular mechanisms, particularly, the contribution of cytokines and the innate immune system. Hepatic and circulating inflammatory cytokines play a significant role in the pathophysiology of ALF including hepatocyte necrosis, extrahepatic complications and hepatocyte regeneration. Overproduction of cytokines, if unchecked, is hazardous to the host and may cause severe outcomes. Measuring pro-inflammatory cytokines in ALF may be of value for predictors of outcome. Innate and adaptive immune systems both involved in ALF contribute to immune-mediated liver injury. The innate immune response is activated much more rapidly compared with adaptive immunity, particularly in acute liver injury where the host has little time to trigger an effective adaptive immune response. From this point of view, the innate immune system may make a more profound contribution than the adaptive immune system. Furthermore, immune responses crosstalk with other physiological or pathophysiological factors, for example, coagulation factors which in turn determine the outcome of ALF and these are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeguang Wu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Strive T, Wright J, Kovaliski J, Botti G, Capucci L. The non-pathogenic Australian lagovirus RCV-A1 causes a prolonged infection and elicits partial cross-protection to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. Virology 2010; 398:125-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2009] [Revised: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 11/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
26
|
Bergin IL, Wise AG, Bolin SR, Mullaney TP, Kiupel M, Maes RK. Novel calicivirus identified in rabbits, Michigan, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2010; 15:1955-62. [PMID: 19961675 PMCID: PMC3044539 DOI: 10.3201/eid1512.090839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This virus is distinct from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. We report a disease outbreak in a Michigan rabbitry of a rabbit calicivirus distinct from the foreign animal disease agent, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The novel virus has been designated Michigan rabbit calicivirus (MRCV). Caliciviruses of the Lagovirus genus other than RHDV have not been described in US rabbit populations. The case-fatality rate was 32.5% (65/200). Clinical signs included hemorrhage and sudden death, with hepatic necrosis. Analysis of viral RNA sequence from >95% of the viral genome showed an average similarity of 79% with RHDV. Similarity of the predicted MRCV capsid amino acid sequence ranged from 89.8% to 91.3%, much lower than the 98% amino acid similarity between RHDV strains. Experimentally infected rabbits lacked clinical disease, but MRCV was detected in tissues by PCR. We propose that MRCV primarily causes subclinical infection but may induce overt RHD-like disease under certain field conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Bergin
- University of Michigan, Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tuñón MJ, Alvarez M, Culebras JM, González-Gallego J. An overview of animal models for investigating the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies in acute hepatic failure. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15:3086-98. [PMID: 19575487 PMCID: PMC2705730 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.3086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2009] [Revised: 05/23/2009] [Accepted: 05/30/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute hepatic failure (AHF) is a severe liver injury accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy which causes multiorgan failure with an extremely high mortality rate, even if intensive care is provided. Management of severe AHF continues to be one of the most challenging problems in clinical medicine. Liver transplantation has been shown to be the most effective therapy, but the procedure is limited by shortage of donor organs. Although a number of clinical trials testing different liver assist devices are under way, these systems alone have no significant effect on patient survival and are only regarded as a useful approach to bridge patients with AHF to liver transplantation. As a result, reproducible experimental animal models resembling the clinical conditions are still needed. The three main approaches used to create an animal model for AHF are: surgical procedures, toxic liver injury and infective procedures. Most common models are based on surgical techniques (total/partial hepatectomy, complete/transient devascularization) or the use of hepatotoxic drugs (acetaminophen, galactosamine, thioacetamide, and others), and very few satisfactory viral models are available. We have recently developed a viral model of AHF by means of the inoculation of rabbits with the virus of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. This model displays biochemical and histological characteristics, and clinical features that resemble those in human AHF. In the present article an overview is given of the most widely used animal models of AHF, and their main advantages and disadvantages are reviewed.
Collapse
|
28
|
San-Miguel B, Alvarez M, Culebras JM, González-Gallego J, Tuñón MJ. N-acetyl-cysteine protects liver from apoptotic death in an animal model of fulminant hepatic failure. Apoptosis 2007; 11:1945-57. [PMID: 17021698 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-006-0090-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This work was undertaken to investigate whether treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) prevents oxidative stress and inhibits the apoptotic pathways in an animal model of fulminant hepatic failure. METHODS Rabbits were experimentally infected with 2x10(4) hemagglutination units of a rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus isolate. RESULTS The spontaneous mortality rate of infected animals was 67% at 36 h post infection (pi) and 90% at 48 h pi. This percentage decreased significantly in animals receiving an i.p. injection of NAC (150 mg/kg body way/daily), for 7 days prior to infection. From 36 h pi marked increases were detected in blood levels of transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin and the oxidised/reduced glutathione ratio. All these effects were significantly prevented by NAC treatment. The Bax to Bcl-2 relative expression, the expression of FasL, cytochrome c and PARP-1, and the activity of caspase 3 were significantly increased at 36 and 48 h pi in infected animals. These changes were markedly reduced in animals treated with NAC, with the exception of FasL. CONCLUSION Our results suggest a potential hepatoprotective role of NAC in fulminant hepatic failure, mediated partially through the modulation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B San-Miguel
- Department of Physiology, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ferreira PG, Costa-e-Silva A, Oliveira MJR, Monteiro E, Cunha EM, Aguas AP. Severe leukopenia and liver biochemistry changes in adult rabbits after calicivirus infection. Res Vet Sci 2006; 80:218-25. [PMID: 16002110 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2005.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2004] [Revised: 04/15/2005] [Accepted: 05/13/2005] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Calicivirus infection is the major cause of the severe decrease in the stocks of wild and farm rabbits that has occurred worldwide during the last two decades. Adult rabbits (10-weeks-old) were experimentally infected with a calicivirus inoculum that killed all animals by causing rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) within 24-62 h of infection. The rabbits were used to evaluate blood cell numbers and serum biochemistry every 6h, starting 12h after the inoculation of the caliciviruses. No significant changes in blood parameters were observed in most of the rabbits up to 18 h of infection. Severe leukopenia was seen 6h before death of the infected rabbits; both heterophils and lymphocytes contributed to the decrease in circulating white blood cells. Platelets were also severely decreased in number. Marked enhancement in liver enzymes was seen 6-12 h before death of the infected rabbits. There was also evidence both for cholestasis, as expressed by the elevated levels of direct (conjugated) bilirubin, and for hypoglycemia, an alteration that it is likely to contribute for the seizures that rabbits show during the late stages of RHD. Liver ultrastructure of rabbits that died from RHD revealed extensive hepatocyte vacuolization, severe changes in mitochondrial structure, and depletion of glycogen granules. We conclude that: (i) severe leukopenia characterizes the final hours of calicivirus-induced RHD; (ii) hypoglycemia and cholestasis precede death of rabbits from RHD; (iii) the kinetics of liver enzymes allows an accurate prediction of the time of death of rabbits from calicivirus-induced RHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P G Ferreira
- Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Sciences), University of Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 2, Porto 4099-003, Portugal.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ferreira PG, Costa-E-Silva A, Monteiro E, Oliveira MJR, Aguas AP. Liver enzymes and ultrastructure in rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). Vet Res Commun 2006; 30:393-401. [PMID: 16502107 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-006-3297-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2004] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is caused by a calicivirus infection that kills most adult rabbits 24-72 h after viral inoculation. Two liver enzymes (AST, aspartate aminotransferase, and ALT, alanine aminotransferase) were monitored in blood samples of calicivirus-infected rabbits during the short course of RHD. Values of AST were used to differentiate three stages of hepatocellular degeneration in RHD: mild (up to 20-fold increase in AST), moderate (150-200-fold elevation of AST) and severe (more than 1000-fold elevation in AST). Liver samples of rabbits from these three biochemical stages of hepatocellular degeneration of RHD were studied by transmission electron microscopy to define the fine structure of the hepatocytes. In the mild hepatocellular degeneration there was proliferation (microvesiculation) of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of mitochondria into spheroid bodies with loss of cristae. In moderate hepatocellular degeneration, vacuolization of cytoplasm and mitochondrial damage continued to be present, and there was also formation of autophagic vesicles. In the severe hepatocellular degeneration of RHD, the altered mitochondria also showed loss of density of their matrix; rupture of cytoplasmic vacuoles led to the formation of large vesicles. Marked depletion of liver glycogen was also found in this late stage of RHD. These data offer a correlation between biochemical and cytological features of the liver during the hepatocellular degeneration of RHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P G Ferreira
- Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Sciences), UMIB (Unit for Multidisciplinary for Biomedical Research), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
The availability of adequate experimental models of acute liver failure (ALF) is of prime importance to provide a better understanding of this condition and allow the development and testing of new therapeutic approaches for patients with ALF. However, the numerous etiologies and complications of ALF contribute to the complexity of this condition and render the development of an ideal experimental model of ALF more difficult than expected. Instead, a number of different models that may be used for the study of specific aspects of ALF have been developed. The most common approaches used to induce ALFin experimental animals are surgical procedures, toxic liver injury,or a combination of both. Despite the high prevalence of viral hepatitis worldwide, very few satisfactory viral models of ALF are available. Established and newly developed models of ALF are reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Bélanger
- Neuroscience Research Unit, C.H.U.M. (Hôpital Saint-Luc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Philbey AW, Kirkland PD, Saunders GR. Assessment of antibodies to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in fox serum as an indicator of infection in sympatric rabbit populations. Aust Vet J 2005; 83:97-100. [PMID: 15971829 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2005.tb12207.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the value of foxes as indicators of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in sympatric populations of rabbits. DESIGN Serum samples from 341 foxes in central western New South Wales were tested for exposure to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus using antibody cELISAs. Selected samples were tested for viral antigens by ELISA, viral nucleic acids by reverse transcriptase PCR and viral infectivity by rabbit inoculation. RESULTS Antibodies against rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus were first detected in foxes 4 months after rabbit haemorrhagic disease was observed in rabbits in the same area. There was evidence of exposure of foxes to the virus in two subsequent years. A proportion of antibody positive, inconclusive and negative serum samples from foxes gave false positive results in an antigen ELISA for rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. These serum samples were negative for viral nucleic acid by reverse transcriptase PCR and for infectious virus by rabbit inoculation. Liver samples from foxes were negative for viral antigens. CONCLUSIONS Antibodies against rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in fox serum can serve as an index of the occurrence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in rabbit populations. Some fox serum samples exhibit false positive reactivity in an antigen ELISA for rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A W Philbey
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, United Kingdom.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ferreira PG, Costa-E-Silva A, Oliveira MJR, Monteiro E, Aguas AP. Leukocyte-hepatocyte interaction in calicivirus infection: differences between rabbits that are resistant or susceptible to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2005; 103:217-21. [PMID: 15621308 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2003] [Revised: 09/06/2004] [Accepted: 09/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Calicivirus infection is lethal for adult rabbits, whereas young rabbits (less than 8-weeks-old) are resistant to the same infectious agent. The virus replicates in the liver and causes a fulminant hepatitis in adult rabbits leading to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD); this is in contrast with the mild and transient hepatitis observed in infected young rabbits. We have used electron microscopy to compare liver leukocyte infiltrates between young (resistant) and adult (susceptible) rabbits, 36-48 h after inoculation of the animals with caliciviruses. In adult rabbits, liver infiltrates were made up mostly of heterophils, and they were located near hepatocytes showing severe cellular damage. In contrast, liver leukocyte infiltrates of RHD-resistant young rabbits were dominated by lymphocytes that depicted membrane contacts with the cell surface of undamaged hepatocytes. We conclude that: (i) the cellular inflammatory response of the liver to calicivirus infection is different in rabbits that are susceptible (adult) or resistant (young) to RHD; (ii) leukocyte infiltration of the adult liver by heterophils is probably directed at the removal of dead hepatocytes, whereas the liver lymphocytic infiltration of young rabbits suggests the expression of viral antigens on the surface of liver cells of the RHD-resistant animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P G Ferreira
- Department of Anatomy, Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Science (ICBAS), Unit for Multidisciplinary for Biomedical Research (UMIB), Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Pesavento PA, MacLachlan NJ, Dillard-Telm L, Grant CK, Hurley KF. Pathologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings in naturally occurring virulent systemic feline calicivirus infection in cats. Vet Pathol 2004; 41:257-63. [PMID: 15133174 DOI: 10.1354/vp.41-3-257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Infection with feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common cause of upper respiratory and oral disease in cats. FCV infection is rarely fatal, however, virulent, systemic strains of FCV (VS-FCV) that cause alopecia, cutaneous ulcers, subcutaneous edema, and high mortality in affected cats have recently been described. Seven cats with natural VS-FCV infection all had subcutaneous edema and ulceration of the oral cavity, with variable ulceration of the pinnae, pawpads, nares, and skin. Other lesions that were present in some affected cats included bronchointerstitial pneumonia, and pancreatic, hepatic, and splenic necrosis. Viral antigen was present within endothelial and epithelial cells in affected tissues as determined by immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to FCV. Mature intranuclear and intracytoplasmic virions in necrotic epithelial cells were identified by transmission electron microscopy. VS-FCV infection causes epithelial cell cytolysis and systemic vascular compromise in susceptible cats, leading to cutaneous ulceration, severe edema, and high mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P A Pesavento
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, PO Box 1770, Davis, CA 95616-1770, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ferreira PG, Costa-e-Silva A, Monteiro E, Oliveira MJR, Aguas AP. Transient decrease in blood heterophils and sustained liver damage caused by calicivirus infection of young rabbits that are naturally resistant to rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Res Vet Sci 2004; 76:83-94. [PMID: 14659734 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2003.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Young rabbits are naturally resistant to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) caused by the same calicivirus that kills, within 3 days, nearly all adult animals. We have investigated changes in blood leukocytes, and in the morphology and biochemistry of the liver (the organ where caliciviruses replicate) of young rabbits undergoing benign infection by the RHD virus. Four-week-old rabbits were infected with a calicivirus inoculum having a titre of 2(12) haemagglutination units either sacrificed 18, 24, 48 and 72 h later, or kept for follow-up studies up to 21 days after inoculation. The infection caused an acute and transient decrease in blood heterophils, and sustained enhancement in hepatic transaminases. Inflammatory infiltrates of the liver were seen in all animals after 24 h of infection; they had a predominant midlobular location. Hepatocytes could present different degrees of cell damage, including cell death; these lesions were limited to the liver cells located around the inflammatory infiltrates. Liver transaminases peaked 24-48 h after calicivirus infection; this was the same timing when liver infiltration and hepatocyte damage were more evident. No alterations of other parameters of liver biochemistry were observed. We conclude that calicivirus infection of young rabbits causes a subclinical disorder characterised by an acute and transient decrease in circulating heterophils, and focal liver damage that is expressed by intralobular infiltration by heterophils, initially, and, later on, by mononuclear cells. Our finding of persistence of increased values of liver transaminases suggests chronicity of the infection in young rabbits. We propose that, although resistant to RHD, young rabbits infected by calicivirus may be long-term carriers of the infectious agent and, thus, become a major source of transmission of the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P G Ferreira
- Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Science), UMIB (Unit for Multidisciplinary for Biomedical Research), University of Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 2, Porto 4099-003, Portugal, European Union.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Tunon MJ, Sanchez-Campos S, Garcia-Ferreras J, Alvarez M, Jorquera F, Gonzalez-Gallego J. Rabbit hemorrhagic viral disease: characterization of a new animal model of fulminant liver failure. THE JOURNAL OF LABORATORY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 2003; 141:272-8. [PMID: 12677173 DOI: 10.1067/mlc.2003.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study we sought to characterize a novel model of fulminant liver failure (FLF) by means of experimental infection of rabbits with the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Thirty-seven 9-week-old rabbits were injected intramuscularly with 2 x 10(4) hemagglutination units of an RHDV isolate. Eighty-five percent of rabbits died 36 to 54 hours after infection. From 36 hours after infection we noted marked increases in transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, and total bilirubin. The rabbits exhibited hypoglycemia and coagulation abnormalities, with a significant decrease in factor V, factor VII, and prothrombin. Plasma aromatic amino acids and taurine showed progressive increases, and the Fischer index was significantly reduced. Expression of hepatocyte growth factor messenger RNA was inhibited from 36 hours after infection. Prostration and side recumbency were present at later stages, and neurologic symptoms rapidly progressed to coma. Onset of brain death was associated with a significant increase in intracranial pressure and blood ammonia. RHDV infection reproduces clinical, biochemical, and histologic features of the FLF syndrome and satisfies criteria for a suitable animal model. Rabbit hemorrhagic viral disease could provide a useful tool for the study of FLF and the evaluation of new liver-support technologies in human subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Tunon
- Department of Physiology, University of León, Hospital of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Kimura T, Mitsui I, Okada Y, Furuya T, Ochiai K, Umemura T, Itakura C. Distribution of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus RNA in experimentally infected rabbits. J Comp Pathol 2001; 124:134-41. [PMID: 11222010 DOI: 10.1053/jcpa.2000.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Adult rabbits were inoculated with liver homogenate from a rabbit that died in a Japanese outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). All experimentally infected rabbits died with typical clinical, gross and histological findings of RHD. Distribution of RHD virus in tissues of the infected rabbits was studied by non-isotopic in-situ hybridization. Both viral plus- and minus-strand RNAs were detected within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and splenic and alveolar macrophages, mainly in morphologically intact cells. Strand-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction also demonstrated viral minus-strand RNA as well as plus-strand RNA in the liver, lung and spleen of infected rabbits. These results suggest that viral replication occurs not only in hepatocytes but also in macrophages. The infected macrophages may contribute to viral dissemination in RHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Kimura
- Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|