Serosurveillance of Myxomatosis by Competitive ELISA

Abstract

Myxomatosis is a disease produced by a poxvirus (Myxoma virus), which often progresse to a lethal disseminated disease in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or to a benign cutaneous fibroma in American rabbits (Silvilagus spp). Fallowing the release-introduction of Myxoma virus (MYXV) in France (1952, Chateau Maillebois), myxomatosis evolved in European rabbits as a disease with high mortality, over the time it was noted in rabbits the increase of genetic resistance and the attenuation of virulence of the MYXV wild strains. Today, the presence and circulation of MYXV is more and more difficult to identify based only by clinical surveillance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the active surveillance of myxomatosis by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The study was carried out on 40 serum samples from previously vaccinated rabbits, 79 samples from unvaccinated rabbits and 39 samples from rabbits with unknown history of vaccination. All serum samples were collected from rabbits that lived in areas with history of myxomatosis. The presence of specific MYXV antibodies was cheked with an in-house cELISA developed at IZSLER Brescia (Italy). Positive results exhibited 92.5% serum samples of previously vaccinated rabbits and in 10.13% serum samples of unvaccinated rabbits. Un-conclusive results (retesting) were obtained in 5.06% serum samples of unvaccinated rabbits and in 2.56% serum samples of rabbits with unknown history. The positive results in unvaccinated rabbits suggest the circulation of MYXV in the area. The introduction of the myxomatosis active surveillance in Romania can be considered.