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The aim of our study was to monitor the dynamics of the serological response to different application routes of live attenuated myxomatosis vaccine. The study included 42 Californian breed rabbits, aged 3 mo, of both sexes. They were separated into 7 groups: 6 experimental and 1 control. All experimental groups were vaccinated on day 0 with a single dose of myxomatosis vaccine (min 10^3.3 tissue culture infective dose 50 [TCID₅₀], max 10^5.8 TCID₅₀). Three of the groups were injected with monovalent attenuated myxomatosis vaccine using different types of application: intradermal (i.d.), intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.). The other 3 groups were injected with bivalent attenuated vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease; again the routes of administration were i.d., i.m. and s.c.. There were no clinical signs or serious side effects after vaccination. The serological response was evaluated on days 7, 15 and 30 with a monoclonal antibody based-competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). More rapid and potent humoral response was detected in groups with i.d. inoculation in comparison to i.m. and s.c. routes. Vaccination with monovalent vaccine against myxomatosis induced higher antibody titre in comparison to bivalent vaccine. Our study showed that the vaccine application route and the type of vaccine used influence the speed and intensity of antibody response.

The rabbit myxomatosis is caused by a Leporipoxvirus from the Poxviridae family. Extremely virulent strains kill the animals and no immunological reactions can be proved. Surviving individuals gain adaptive immunity that protects them from reinfection. In time virus is naturally attenuated and the resistance in the population is increased. There is not enough research about T-and B-lymphocyte immune reactions to the virus. This article deals with the scientific experience in the field of antibodies and their different protective effect. The authors have tried to analyze the data about the suppressive effects of the virus. Some of the virus proteins have also immunomodulatory activity. The molecular aspects of virulence and the oncolytic effects of myxoma virus are described. The future of myxoma virus research is directed towards its use as a part of anticancer therapy and the selection of rabbit breeds with higher antivirus resistance.

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