Novel bivalent vectored vaccine for control of myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease

Abstract

A novel, recombinant myxoma virus-rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) vaccine has been developed for the prevention of myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). A number of laboratory studies are described illustrating the safety and efficacy of the vaccine following subcutaneous administration in laboratory rabbits from four weeks of age onwards. In these studies, both vaccinated and unvaccinated control rabbits were challenged using pathogenic strains of RHD and myxoma viruses, and 100 per cent of the vaccinated rabbits were protected against both myxomatosis and RHD.

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

“…Most recently, a live recombinant vaccine for both myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease has been released in the United Kingdom (Spibey et al, 2012). Vaccines have been used in Europe with some success.…”

Cutaneous lesions in pet rabbits following subcutaneous administration of a novel bivalent vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease

“…The alternative explanation is that the lesions were secondary to vaccination and replication of the virus in the rabbits. The only adverse events reported in the safety study of the vaccine were local injection site reactions occurring 1 week after vaccination, whereas in our four cases the lesions were in locations remote from the vaccination site. This hypothesis is supported by the timing of occurrence of the lesions, because all occurred ~10 days after inoculation.…”

“…3 A novel chimeric bivalent, live vaccine for protection against MV and RHD has recently been developed for rabbits. 5 The vaccine is available in the European Union and has been well received by veterinarians. 3 The vaccine has several advantages; it is available as a single-dose vial that provides immunization against both diseases and, according to the manufacturer, protection persists for 1 year [Nobivac Myxo-RHD; MSD Animal Health, De Bilt, The Netherlands (patient information leaflet)].…”

Recent Advances in Vaccine Technologies

“…37,38 Other poxviruses that have been studied as veterinary vaccine vectors include capripox virus for rinderpest, racoonpox for rabies, parapox for pseudorabies, suipox for swine influenza, and myxomavirus for rabbit hemorrhagic disease. 35,39 Veterinary herpes viruses (eg, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, feline herpes virus, and pseudorabies virus) and adenoviruses (eg, canine, equine, avian, and chimpanzee adenovirus) are also being developed as vectors. One particularly notable example is the herpesvirus of turkeys, which has been particularly successfully applied as a vector within the poultry industry for bivalent vaccines against Marek disease and IBR, IBD, or NDV.…”