Spillover event of recombinant Lagovirus europaeus /GI.2 into the Iberian hare ( Lepus granatensis ) in Spain

Abstract

Viruses that affect lagomorphs have decades of reported history of spillover events.One of these viruses is the causative agent of the so-called rabbit or 'lagomorph' haemorrhagic disease (e.g. Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and L. europaeus/GI.2). In particular, L. europaeus/GI.2 has shown a great capacity to recombine with existing lagoviruses. In fact, it has replaced the former GI.1 genotype in the wild, and recently, an increase on spillover events has been detected among several lagomorph species including European and North American species of hares. In this study, we report for the first time the infection of a wild Iberian hare with GI.2 (RHDV2/b), potential shedding and associated histopathological alterations. We identify the recombinant GI.4P-GI.2 as causative of the infection and discuss plausible causes regarding the origin of the spillover event and its potential consequences for the Iberian hare wild populations, which is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula as well as an important game and prey species for many predators, including endangered species.

Comparative susceptibility of eastern cottontails and New Zealand white rabbits to classical rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and RHDV2

“…Overall, RHDV2 appears to have a broader host range, as it has been reported to affect Cape hares ( Lepus capensis subsp. mediterraneus ), European brown hares ( Lepus europaeus ), Italian hares ( Lepus corsicanus ), mountain hares ( Lepus timidus ) and Iberian hares ( Lepus granatensis ) (Le Gall‐Reculé et al., 2017; Neimanis et al., 2018; Puggioni et al., 2013; Velarde et al., 2021; Velarde et al., 2017). The host range appears to be determined by the specific expression of glycan motifs in the upper respiratory and digestive tract.…”

“…Overall, RHDV2 appears to have a broader host range, as it has been reported to affect Cape hares (Lepus capensis subsp. mediterraneus), European brown hares (Lepus europaeus), Italian hares (Lepus corsicanus), mountain hares (Lepus timidus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) (Le Puggioni et al, 2013;Velarde et al, 2021;Velarde et al, 2017).…”

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) in Ireland Focusing on Wild Irish Hares (Lepus timidus hibernicus): An Overview of the First Outbreaks and Contextual Review

“…Pathologically, the infection is characterised by necrotising hepatitis, with gross morphological impacts on liver and spleen, haemorrhage in other tissues, and occasionally jaundice (icterus). The distinguishing diagnostic feature is massive hepatic necrosis [ 13 ], which has been consistently found in reports on the pathology of RHDV2 in hares [ 11 , 14 , 31 ]. Similarly, in domestic rabbits, RHDV2 infection was associated with hepatocellular necrosis on microscopic examination in 100% (n = 185) of cases [ 28 ].…”

“…hibernicus ), Cape ( L. capensis subsp. mediterraneus ), Iberian ( L. granatensis ) and Italian ( L. corsicanus ) hares, black-tailed jackrabbit ( L. californicus ), and antelope jackrabbit ( L. alleni ) [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. RHDV2 has been reported to infect several Sylvilagus (cottontail) species also, including eastern ( S. floridanus ) , desert ( S. audubonii ), and mountain ( S. nuttallii ) cottontails [ 13 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Factors affecting populations of the endemic Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) after the first myxomatosis outbreaks in Central Spain

“…Interestingly enough, this is the second time it is known that hares have been affected by an emerging disease in Spain, as in 1997, a first outbreak of tularemia was detected in Castilla y León, a zoonotic disease which was also detected in hunters and farmers (Reviriego et al 2000). In addition, there is evidence that hares have been also affected by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) since the 1990s (Lopes et al 2014), with confirmation of lagovirus crossspecies infections (Velarde et al 2021).…”