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Coelho J, Pacheco H, Rafael M, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Alves PC, Santos N. Dynamics of Humoral Immunity to Myxoma and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Viruses in Wild European Rabbits Assessed by Longitudinal Semiquantitative Serology. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0005023. [PMID: 37314328 PMCID: PMC10434053 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00050-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are important drivers of the population decline of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species. Both viruses elicit strong immune responses, but the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity are imperfectly known. This study aimed to assess the determinants of the long-term dynamics of antibodies to each virus based on a longitudinal capture-mark-recapture of wild European rabbits and semiquantitative serological data of MYXV and RHDV GI.2-specific IgG. The study included 611 indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) normalized absorbance ratios for each MYXV and RHDV GI.2 from 505 rabbits from 2018 to 2022. Normalized absorbance ratios were analyzed using log-linear mixed models, showing a significant positive relationship with the time since the first capture of individual rabbits, with monthly increases of 4.1% for antibodies against MYXV and 2.0% against RHDV GI.2. Individual serological histories showed fluctuations over time, suggesting that reinfections boosted the immune response and likely resulted in lifelong immunity. Normalized absorbance ratios significantly increased with the seroprevalence in the population, probably because of recent outbreaks, and with body weight, highlighting the role of MYXV and RHDV GI.2 in determining survival to adulthood. Juvenile rabbits seropositive for both viruses were found, and the dynamics of RHDV GI.2 normalized absorbance ratios suggest the presence of maternal immunity up to 2 months of age. Semiquantitative longitudinal serological data provide epidemiological information, otherwise lost when considering only qualitative data, and support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to RHDV GI.2 and MYXV upon natural infection. IMPORTANCE This study addresses the long-term dynamics of humoral immunity to two major viral pathogens of the European rabbit, an endangered keystone species of major ecological relevance. Such studies are particularly challenging in free-ranging species, and a combination of longitudinal capture-mark-recapture and semiquantitative serology was used to address this question. Over 600 normalized absorbance ratios of iELISA, obtained from 505 individual rabbits in 7 populations over 5 years, were analyzed using linear mixed models. The results support a lifelong acquired humoral immunity to myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus upon natural infection and suggest the presence of maternal immunity to the latter in wild juvenile rabbits. These results contribute to understanding the epidemiology of two viral diseases threatening this keystone species and assist in developing conservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Coelho
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Henrique Pacheco
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Marta Rafael
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
| | - Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- SABIO-IREC, Research Group in Health and Biotechnology, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
- GISAZ-ENZOEM, Animal Health and Zoonoses Research Group, Competitive Research Unit on Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Paulo Célio Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM), CIBIO, Mértola, Portugal
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Díaz‐Ruiz F, Vaquerizas PH, Márquez AL, Delibes‐Mateos M, Piorno V, Castro F, Ramírez E, Farfán MÁ, Olivero J, Real R, Villafuerte R. Unravelling the historical biogeography of the European rabbit subspecies in the Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Díaz‐Ruiz
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Team, Dpto. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus de Teatinos 29071 Málaga Spain
| | - Patricia H. Vaquerizas
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Campo Santo de los Mártires 7 14004 Córdoba Spain
| | - Ana Luz Márquez
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Team, Dpto. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus de Teatinos 29071 Málaga Spain
| | - Miguel Delibes‐Mateos
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Campo Santo de los Mártires 7 14004 Córdoba Spain
| | - Vicente Piorno
- Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia. Consellería de Medio Ambiente Territorio e Vivenda. Xunta de Galicia Rúa Oliva 3 36202 Vigo Pontevedra Spain
| | - Francisca Castro
- Departamento de Didácticas Específicas, Avda. San Alberto Magno, Universidad de Córdoba, “Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO‐IESA” Unidad Asociada al CSIC 14004 Córdoba Spain
| | - Esther Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo n° 12 13071 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Farfán
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Team, Dpto. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus de Teatinos 29071 Málaga Spain
| | - Jesús Olivero
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Team, Dpto. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus de Teatinos 29071 Málaga Spain
- Instituto IBYDA Centro de Experimentación Grice‐Hutchinson Loma de San Julián 2, Barriada de San Julián 29004 Málaga Spain
| | - Raimundo Real
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Team, Dpto. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus de Teatinos 29071 Málaga Spain
- Instituto IBYDA Centro de Experimentación Grice‐Hutchinson Loma de San Julián 2, Barriada de San Julián 29004 Málaga Spain
| | - Rafael Villafuerte
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Campo Santo de los Mártires 7 14004 Córdoba Spain
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Rocha M, Serronha A, Rodrigues M, Alves PC, Monterroso P. Comfort over safety: thermoregulation overshadows predation risk effects in the activity of a keystone prey. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Rocha
- Escola de Ciências Universidade do Minho Braga Portugal
| | - A. Serronha
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - M. Rodrigues
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
| | - P. C. Alves
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | - P. Monterroso
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
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Keeping an eye on the use of eye-lens weight as a universal indicator of age for European wild rabbits. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8711. [PMID: 33888785 PMCID: PMC8062486 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88087-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate methods for age determination are critical to the knowledge of wildlife populations' age structure and, therefore, to their successful management. The reliability of age estimation may have profound economic and ecological consequences on the management of the European wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, in its native and introduced range, where it is a keystone species and a major pest, respectively. As in other mammal species, European rabbits' age is often estimated using the Gompertz relationship between age and lens' weight. The growth rate formula has been developed based on data collected from European rabbits introduced in Australia, where a single subspecies (O. cuniculus cuniculus, Occ) is present. However, this curve has never been validated in the species native range, the Iberian Peninsula, where two subspecies (Occ, and O. c. algirus, Oca) coexist naturally. In this study, we tested the relationship between age and lens' weight using 173 Occ and 112 Oca wild rabbits that were surveyed in two experimental facilities in Spain. Our findings show that, in the native range, the published growth curve formula fits well Occ but not Oca data. Therefore, we recommend using the formula reported in this study to estimate the age of Oca (Lens dry weight = 240 × 10(-64.9/(Age+32))). This study supports Oca rabbits' distinctiveness revealed by previous studies, which suggests that management interventions should be applied to protect this subspecies whose distribution range is very narrow and whose populations seem to be declining. More broadly, our findings point to the importance of testing the suitability of growth curves defined for other species with different genetic forms as occurs in the European wild rabbit case.
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