Lagovirus europeus GI.2 (rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2) infection in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Germany

Melanie Buehler,Sonja T Jesse,Heike Kueck,Albert Osterhaus,Andreas Beineke,Patricia Koenig,Bastian Lange,Wendy K Jo

doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02386-4

Abstract

BackgroundRabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. In 2010 a new genotype of lagovirus (GI.2), emerged in Europe, infecting wild and domestic population of rabbits and hares.Case presentationWe describe the infection with a GI.2 strain, “Bremerhaven-17”, in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in a zoo facility in Germany. Postmortem examination revealed RHD-like lesions including necrotizing hepatitis. RT-qPCR and AG-ELISA confirmed presence of GI.2. Recombination and phylogenetic analysis grouped the identified strain with other GI.2 strains, sharing nucleotide identity of 91–99%.ConclusionOur findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits.

Highlights

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits
Our findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits
Buehler et al BMC Veterinary Research (2020) 16:166 lobules, fatty degeneration and congestion, as well as hemorrhages are more frequently seen in European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) than in RHDV infections, but discriminating between the two entities solely on morphological criteria is difficult [11]

Summary

Introduction

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits. Different susceptibilities of wild hare populations to GI.2 infection have been observed, most likely due to epidemiological factors such as the density of sympatric rabbits, and genetic factors such as host glycan expression for viral attachment [3, 17].

Results

Conclusion