Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits
Infectious viral pathogens significantly impact wild Leporidae populations, particularly Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus, which was listed as 'Endangered' in 2019. Myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease are major contributors to severe epizootics with limited long-lasting immunity. This...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary and Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000018 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850251548861399040 |
|---|---|
| author | Ana Duarte Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Teresa Fagulha Inês Caetano Paulo Carvalho João Carvalho António Emidio Santos Ramón Pérez de Ayala Margarida D. Duarte |
| author_facet | Ana Duarte Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Teresa Fagulha Inês Caetano Paulo Carvalho João Carvalho António Emidio Santos Ramón Pérez de Ayala Margarida D. Duarte |
| author_sort | Ana Duarte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infectious viral pathogens significantly impact wild Leporidae populations, particularly Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus, which was listed as 'Endangered' in 2019. Myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease are major contributors to severe epizootics with limited long-lasting immunity. This study expanded beyond these well-documented viruses to include a broader spectrum of viruses in 36 wild rabbit carcasses (O. c. algirus) collected from the field in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024, and 32 wild rabbits hunted in 2017/2018. Using molecular techniques, we detected myxoma virus (MYXV) (58.3%), rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/GI.2) (52.8%), herpesviruses (22.2%) and rotaviruses (48.1%) in the rabbits found dead. Co-infection with MYXV and RHDV2 was found in 27.8% of cases, much higher than previously reported. All hunted rabbits tested negative for MYXV and rotavirus, one was positive for RHDV2 (3.13%) and six for herpesvirus (18.75%). No coronaviruses, adenoviruses or paramyxoviruses were detected. Herpesviruses in apparently healthy hunted rabbits suggests a low clinical impact but the potential for severe outcomes in the presence of other pathogens. This study represents the most comprehensive virological survey of O. c. algirus in Iberia and is the first to document triple and quadruple viral co-infections in rabbits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f92fa936c8b54ed594d3bb6cdbaa7e95 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2451-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary and Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-f92fa936c8b54ed594d3bb6cdbaa7e952025-08-20T01:57:52ZengElsevierVeterinary and Animal Science2451-943X2025-03-012710042410.1016/j.vas.2025.100424Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbitsAna Duarte0Fábio A. Abade dos Santos1Teresa Fagulha2Inês Caetano3Paulo Carvalho4João Carvalho5António Emidio Santos6Ramón Pérez de Ayala7Margarida D. Duarte8Nacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Virology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Avenida da Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477, Lisboa, PortugalNacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Virology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Avenida da Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal; CECAV- Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária- Faculdade de Medicina, Veterinária de Lisboa, Centro Universitário de Lisboa, Universidade Lusófona, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024, Lisboa, Portugal; Corresponding author.Nacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Virology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, PortugalNacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Virology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, PortugalNacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Pathology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, PortugalAssociação Nacional de Proprietários Rurais Gestão Cinegética e Biodiversidade (ANPC), Rua Mestre Lima De Freitas, Nr. 1 5° 1549-012, Lisboa, PortugalDireção Nacional de Gestão do Programa de Fogos Rurais. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Avenida da República, 16 a 16B, 1050-191, Lisboa, PortugalWWF Spain, Gran Vía de San Francisco, 8, Centro, 28005, Madrid, Espanha, SpainNacional Institute of Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Virology Laboratory, Quinta Do Marquês, Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Avenida da Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477, Lisboa, PortugalInfectious viral pathogens significantly impact wild Leporidae populations, particularly Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus, which was listed as 'Endangered' in 2019. Myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease are major contributors to severe epizootics with limited long-lasting immunity. This study expanded beyond these well-documented viruses to include a broader spectrum of viruses in 36 wild rabbit carcasses (O. c. algirus) collected from the field in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024, and 32 wild rabbits hunted in 2017/2018. Using molecular techniques, we detected myxoma virus (MYXV) (58.3%), rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/GI.2) (52.8%), herpesviruses (22.2%) and rotaviruses (48.1%) in the rabbits found dead. Co-infection with MYXV and RHDV2 was found in 27.8% of cases, much higher than previously reported. All hunted rabbits tested negative for MYXV and rotavirus, one was positive for RHDV2 (3.13%) and six for herpesvirus (18.75%). No coronaviruses, adenoviruses or paramyxoviruses were detected. Herpesviruses in apparently healthy hunted rabbits suggests a low clinical impact but the potential for severe outcomes in the presence of other pathogens. This study represents the most comprehensive virological survey of O. c. algirus in Iberia and is the first to document triple and quadruple viral co-infections in rabbits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000018Oryctolagus cuniculus algirusAnimal healthVirologic surveillanceHerpesvirusesRotavirusesMyxoma virus |
| spellingShingle | Ana Duarte Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Teresa Fagulha Inês Caetano Paulo Carvalho João Carvalho António Emidio Santos Ramón Pérez de Ayala Margarida D. Duarte Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits Veterinary and Animal Science Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus Animal health Virologic surveillance Herpesviruses Rotaviruses Myxoma virus |
| title | Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits |
| title_full | Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits |
| title_short | Mixed viral infections (Rotavirus, Herpesvirus and others) in European wild rabbits |
| title_sort | mixed viral infections rotavirus herpesvirus and others in european wild rabbits |
| topic | Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus Animal health Virologic surveillance Herpesviruses Rotaviruses Myxoma virus |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000018 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anaduarte mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT fabioaabadedossantos mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT teresafagulha mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT inescaetano mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT paulocarvalho mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT joaocarvalho mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT antonioemidiosantos mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT ramonperezdeayala mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits AT margaridadduarte mixedviralinfectionsrotavirusherpesvirusandothersineuropeanwildrabbits |