Comparative analysis of host resistance to Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi in two different rabbit breeds

Abstract

BackgroundScabies, caused by infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is one of the most severe ectoparasitic diseases in rabbits. Scabies seriously affects the commercial rabbit breeding, causing severe economic losses. Host resistance to S. scabiei is an important factor in further development of the rabbit industry. In the present study, we compared the host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi of a new breed of domestic rabbit propagated by the Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy (QiXing rabbit, QX) compared with that of a traditional rabbit breed in the domestic rabbit industry (IRA rabbit, IRA).MethodsBoth QX and IRA rabbits were experimentally infested with live S. scabiei var. cuniculi mites for 48 h. Then, during the course of four-week experimental infestation period, the body weight of rabbits was recorded every two weeks for calculating body-weight variations in comparison to the non-infested control rabbits. Skin lesions in the foot area were assessed on weekly basis and serum samples were tested weekly for the estimation of changes in the total antibody levels (IgG, IgE and IgM). Moreover, DNA extracted from the blood samples was amplified for analysis of the genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ Alpha (MHC-DQA) gene.ResultsCompared to the IRA rabbits, the QX rabbits showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) relative body weight gain compared to the non-infested control rabbits and significantly lower (P < 0.05) scores for foot skin lesions and higher levels of IgG, IgE and IgM at weeks 1 to 4, week 2 and week 1 post-infestation, respectively. Furthermore, a polymorphism site at position 103 bp of exon two of MHC-DQA gene and a different gene frequency were found between two rabbit breeds, suggesting the genetic basis for the differential host resistance to the S. scabiei var. cuniculi between two rabbit breeds.ConclusionsThe QX rabbits showed higher host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi compared to the IRA rabbits at the clinical, immunological and genetic levels. These results provide a reference for the breeding of rabbits with adequately improved and sustained host resistance to scabies in the domestic rabbit industry.

Non-specific effects of inactivated Mycobacterium bovis oral and parenteral treatment in a rabbit scabies model

“…Using the trimmed mean approach higher significant differences in weight loss were observed for all groups in the post-hoc grouping analysis reaching up to between three and sixfold those of the PlaNil. These results (smaller weight losses with respect to PlaNil) [ 37 ] can be interpreted as a clear effect of HIMB and even placebo (oil adjuvant by the subcutaneous route) treatment on this overall clinical disease variable [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Actually, as can be seen in Figure 4 , individual results within each group might widely vary and, one OR-HIMB vaccinated animal had to be euthanized because of its bad clinical status. This suggests that even though a TRAIM beneficial overall effect is reached, the treatment has some risks at individual level due to immune response variability and other factors such a heavy challenge as the one applied in this experiment, where it was repeated with more than twice the dose 3 weeks after the first one for fear of poor challenge administration [ 39 ]. It can be speculated that a more natural, less intensive challenge would have either prevented mite colonization, or reduced subsequent severity.…”

An Antibody Persistent and Protective Two rSsCLP-Based Subunit Cocktail Vaccine against Sarcoptes scabiei in a Rabbit Model

“…Obvious clinical symptoms can be observed after rabbits infested by S. scabiei for 4 weeks [24,32]. However, it is different from scabies in human [33] or pigs [34] which takes longer to produce obvious symptoms.…”

Trait Analysis in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) Using SNP Markers from Genotyping-by-Sequencing Data

“…QX is a new breed of rabbit, which is of medium size, fast growth, high yield and strong disease resistance [ 10 ]. ZK has the advantages of larger body size, faster growth and greater daily gain [ 11 ].…”