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Publication
A potential atypical case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in a dwarf rabbit
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
ABSTRACT - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious infectious disease of European
wild and domestic rabbits. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1) emerged in 1986 in
Europe, rapidly spreading all over the world. Several genotypes of RHDV have been recognised
over time, but in 2010, a new virus (RHDV2/RHDVb, GI.2) emerged and progressively replaced the
previous RHDV strains, due to the lack of cross-immunity conferred between RHDV and RHDV2.
RHDV2 has a high mutation rate, similarly to the other calivirus and recombines with strains of
RHDV and non-pathogenic calicivirus (GI.4), ensuring the continuous emergence of new field strains.
Although this poses a threat to the already endangered European rabbit species, the available vaccines
against RHDV2 and the compliance of biosafety measures seem to be controlling the infection in the
rabbit industry Pet rabbits, especially when kept indoor, are considered at lower risk of infections,
although RHDV2 and myxoma virus (MYXV) constitute a permanent threat due to transmission via
insects. Vaccination against these viruses is therefore recommended every 6 months (myxomatosis)
or annually (rabbit haemorrhagic disease). The combined immunization for myxomatosis and RHDV
through a commercially available bivalent vaccine with RHDV antigen has been extensively used
(Nobivac® Myxo-RHD, MSD, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). This vaccine however does not confer proper
protection against the RHDV2, thus the need for a rabbit clinical vaccination protocol update. Here we
report a clinical case of hepatitis and alteration of coagulation in a pet rabbit that had been vaccinated
with the commercially available bivalent vaccine against RHDV and tested positive to RHDV2 after
death. The animal developed a prolonged and atypical disease, compatible with RHD. The virus was
identified to be an RHDV2 recombinant strain, with the structural backbone of RHDV2 (GI.2) and the
non-structural genes of non-pathogenic-A1 strains (RCV-A1, GI.4). Although confirmation of the
etiological agent was only made after death, the clinical signs and analytic data were very suggestive
of RHD.
Description
Keywords
European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus pet rabbit rabbit haemorrhagic disease atypical clinical course subacute
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Abade dos Santos, F.A.; Magro, C.; Carvalho, C.L.; Ruivo, P.; Duarte, M.D.; Peleteiro, M.C. 2021. A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit. Animals 11:40.Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ ani11010040
Publisher
MDPI