Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV): a review

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.

mtDNA diversity in a rabbit population from Sicily (Italy)

“…In Sicily, as well as in the rest of Europe, the reduction in the rabbit population was probably due to myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (reviewed by Abrantes et al, 2012) recorded in 1986. In this context, and mainly for hunting purposes, regional authorities have released about 10,000-15,000 captive-raised rabbits of uncertain origin every year.…”

Wave of chaos in a spatial eco-epidemiological system: Generating realistic patterns of patchiness in rabbit–lynx dynamics

“…c 1 Prey per unit area Represents the half saturation constant that measures the extent to which the environment provides protection to susceptible and infected rabbit population. b 1 Dimensionless Vulnerability of infected rabbit relative to susceptible rabbit ω 2 Prey per predator per day Maximum predation rate of the infected rabbit population ω 3 Per day Conversion rate of the infected rabbit population to predator population a Per day Total death rate of the infected rabbit population from causes other than predation δ Per day Total death rate of Iberian lynx population To proceed, we next introduce spatial variations to the model system (2.2). We assume that both prey and predator populations perform active movement in x and y directions which has been ignored in previous studies and is biologically relevant.…”

“…The Iberian lynx is currently at the edge of extinction because RHDV has wiped out the rabbits on which it depends. A new variant of RHDV has been detected since 2012 in most rabbit farms and in several wild population in Spain and Portugal [2,13] suggesting that it has rapid spread throughout Iberian peninsula. Escaping through this extinction vortex is not possible using passive conservation measures and waiting for self recovery of populations.…”

Research paper Indices of non-specific immunity: an element of natural immunity in rabbits infected with RHD (rabbit haemorrhagic disease) virus

“…The interest in the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus has not decreased since the end of the last century, when in 1984 the virus was identified in China [1][2][3][4]. Since then, the virus causing viral rabbit plague among both wild and farm animals has spread worldwide, posing a severe threat to the animals that have a number of applications in various countries -from reference laboratory animals to animals hunted for [1].…”

“…Since then, the virus causing viral rabbit plague among both wild and farm animals has spread worldwide, posing a severe threat to the animals that have a number of applications in various countries -from reference laboratory animals to animals hunted for [1]. The studies on biology of the RHD virus are performed worldwide, although they are hampered significantly by the impossibility of its cultivation in vitro [1][2][3][4].…”