Abstract
The recent emergence of a new myxoma virus capable of causing disease in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) has resulted in numerous outbreaks with high mortality leading to the reduction, or even the disappearance, of many local populations of this wild species in the Iberian Peninsula. Currently, the available vaccines that prevent myxomatosis in domestic rabbits caused by classic strains of myxoma virus have not been assessed for use in Iberian hares. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial rabbit vaccines in Iberian hares and wild rabbits against the natural recombinant myxoma virus (ha-MYXV), bearing in mind its application in specific scenarios where capture is possible, such as genetic reserves. The study used a limited number of animals (pilot study), 15 Iberian hares and 10 wild rabbits. Hares were vaccinated with Mixohipra-FSA vaccine (Hipra) and Mixohipra-H vaccine (Hipra) using two different doses, and rabbits were vaccinated with the Mixohipra-H vaccine or the Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS (MSD Animal Health) using the recommended doses for domestic rabbits. After the vaccination trials, the animals were challenged with a wild type strain of ha-MYXV. The results showed that no protection to ha-MYXV challenge was afforded when a commercial dose of Mixohipra-FSA or Mixohipra-H vaccine was used in hares. However, the application of a higher dose of Mixohipra-FSA vaccine may induce protection and could possibly be used to counteract the accelerated decrease of wild hare populations due to ha-MYXV emergence. The two commercial vaccines (Mixohipra-H and Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS) tested in wild rabbits were fully protective against ha-MYXV infection. This knowledge gives more insights into ha-MYXV management in hares and rabbits and emphasises the importance of developing a vaccine capable of protecting wild populations of Iberian hare and wild rabbit towards MYXV and ha-MYXV strains.
Highlights
IntroductionIn 2018, a natural recombinant myxoma virus (referred to as ha-MYXV or MYXVTol08/18) emerged in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis), affecting many populations in Spain [1,2] and Portugal [3,4,5].With an apparent mortality rate of 55.4% [6], the geographic spread of ha-MYXV outbreaks increased concerns about the resilience limit of the Iberian hare wild populations against the many insidious factors that have accelerated their decline over the last decades [5]
In 2018, a natural recombinant myxoma virus emerged in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis), affecting many populations in Spain [1,2] and Portugal [3,4,5].With an apparent mortality rate of 55.4% [6], the geographic spread of ha-MYXV outbreaks increased concerns about the resilience limit of the Iberian hare wild populations against the many insidious factors that have accelerated their decline over the last decades [5]
The recognition that ha-MYXV affects hares, and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), questions the efficacy of crossprotection conferred by classic field strains of MYXV that circulate in wild rabbits
Summary
In 2018, a natural recombinant myxoma virus (referred to as ha-MYXV or MYXVTol08/18) emerged in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis), affecting many populations in Spain [1,2] and Portugal [3,4,5].With an apparent mortality rate of 55.4% [6], the geographic spread of ha-MYXV outbreaks increased concerns about the resilience limit of the Iberian hare wild populations against the many insidious factors that have accelerated their decline over the last decades [5]. In 2018, a natural recombinant myxoma virus (referred to as ha-MYXV or MYXVTol08/18) emerged in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis), affecting many populations in Spain [1,2] and Portugal [3,4,5]. Despite the conservation status of the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) being considered of “Least Concern” by the IUCN in 2019, many local populations are currently threatened, as a result of severe loss of habitat imposed by human activities, and more recently, due to the emergence of infectious diseases such as ha-MYXV and LeHV-5 [2,3,4,5] and the cumulative effects with other diseases such as cysticercosis [5]. The effectiveness of the commercial vaccines developed to protect domestic rabbits against classic myxoma strains is still unknown with regard to infection with ha-MYXV
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