Evidence for insect transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

McColl, Kenneth A.; Merchant, J. C.; Hardy, J.; Cooke, Brian; Robinson, Anthony J.; Westbury, H. A.

doi:10.1017/s0950268802007756

Cited by 45 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Although the factors behind the lower incidence of infection in P4 are not fully clarified, it is likely that its geographic isolation may have protected rabbits more efficiently from infection. However, the higher levels of humidity near the riverside probably also favour mosquitoes, which are often implicated in disease transmission as mechanic vectors for RHDV [38], therefore puzzling this uneven occurrence of disease.…”

Section: Citationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A real time Taqman RT-PCR for the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2)

Duarte

Carvalho

Barros

et al. 2015

Journal of Virological Methods

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Section: Citationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A real time Taqman RT-PCR for the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2)

Duarte

Carvalho

Barros

et al. 2015

Journal of Virological Methods

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“…RCV-A1 (and other nonpathogenic lagoviruses) are likely spread exclusively via the fecal-oral route (10,35). Although RHDV utilizes the same transmission route, it has also acquired mechanical insect transmission (37,38), involving both bushfly (Musca vetustissima) and blow fly (Calliphoridae) species in Australia, thereby enabling longer-distance spread between rabbit populations that are not directly connected (24,(39)(40)(41). Critically, since rabbit carcasses (rather than diseased animals) are considered the likely source of mechanical insect , including the 2C-like helicase, the protease, RdRp, and VP60 (capsid protein).…”

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confidence: 99%

Benign Rabbit Caliciviruses Exhibit Evolutionary Dynamics Similar to Those of Their Virulent Relatives

Mahar

Nicholson

Eden

et al. 2016

J Virol

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Two closely related caliciviruses cocirculate in Australia: rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and rabbit calicivirus Australia 1 (RCV-A1). RCV-A1 causes benign enteric infections in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Australia and New Zealand, while its close relative RHDV causes a highly pathogenic infection of the liver in the same host. The comparison of these viruses provides important information on the nature and trajectory of virulence evolution, particularly as highly virulent strains of RHDV may have evolved from nonpathogenic ancestors such as RCV-A1. To determine the evolution of RCV-A1 we sequenced the full-length genomes of 44 RCV-A1 samples isolated from healthy rabbits and compared key evolutionary parameters to those of its virulent relative, RHDV. Despite their marked differences in pathogenicity and tissue tropism, RCV-A1 and RHDV have evolved in a very similar manner. Both viruses have evolved at broadly similar rates, suggesting that their dynamics are largely shaped by high background mutation rates, and both exhibit occasional recombination and an evolutionary environment dominated by purifying selection. In addition, our comparative analysis revealed that there have been multiple changes in both virulence and tissue tropism in the evolutionary history of these and related viruses. Finally, these new genomic data suggest that either RCV-A1 was introduced into Australia after the introduction of myxoma virus as a biocontrol agent in 1950 or there was drastic reduction of the rabbit population, and hence of RCV-A1 genetic diversity, perhaps coincident with the emergence of myxoma virus. IMPORTANCEThe comparison of closely related viruses that differ profoundly in propensity to cause disease in their hosts offers a powerful opportunity to reveal the causes of changes in virulence and to study how such changes alter the evolutionary dynamics of these pathogens. Here we describe such a novel comparison involving two closely related RNA viruses that cocirculate in Australia, the highly virulent rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and the nonpathogenic rabbit calicivirus Australia 1 (RCV-A1). Both viruses infect the European rabbit, but they differ in virulence, tissue tropism, and mechanisms of transmission. Surprisingly, and despite these fundamental differences, RCV-A1 and RHDV have evolved at very similar (high) rates and with strong purifying selection. Furthermore, candidate key mutations were identified that may play a role in virulence and/or tissue tropism and therefore warrant further investigation. R evealing the factors that determine the evolution of virulence in viruses and identifying how changes in virulence might impact viral evolutionary dynamics are key queries in the study of infectious disease evolution. Although there is a large body of work on revealing the relationship between virulence and transmissibility, most studies of virulence evolution involve the retrospective analysis of single viruses (1-4). However, the comparison of closely related...

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“…In total, four sample sites tested negative for RCV antibodies, and two samples sites tested negative for RHDV antibodies. RHDV is likely to be spread over greater distances due to the recognized role of insect transmission, whereas RCV-A1 is believed to spread between rabbits via direct contact or the fecal-oral route (18,31). The sample sites that tested negative for RCV tended to be geographically isolated sites with relatively low rabbit densities at the time of collection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benign Rabbit Calicivirus in New Zealand

Nicholson

Mahar

Strive

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The Czech v351 strain of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1) is used in Australia and New Zealand as a biological control agent for rabbits, which are important and damaging introduced vertebrate pests in these countries. However, nonpathogenic rabbit caliciviruses (RCVs) can provide partial immunological cross-protection against lethal RHDV infection and thus interfere with effective rabbit biocontrol. Antibodies that cross-reacted against RHDV antigens were found in wild rabbits before the release of RHDV1 in New Zealand in 1997, suggesting that nonpathogenic RCVs were already present in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of nonpathogenic RCV in New Zealand and describe its geographical distribution. RCV and RHDV antibody assays were used to screen serum samples from 350 wild rabbits from 14 locations in New Zealand. The serological survey indicated that both RCV and RHDV are widespread in New Zealand wild rabbits, with antibodies detected in 10 out of 14 and 12 out of 14 populations, respectively. Two closely related RCV strains were identified in the duodenal tissue from a New Zealand wild rabbit (RCV Gore-425A and RCV Gore-425B). Both variants are most closely related to Australian RCV strains, but with 88% nucleotide identity, they are genetically distinct. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the New Zealand RCV strains fall within the genetic diversity of the Australian RCV isolates, indicating a relatively recent movement of RCVs between Australia and New Zealand.

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Evidence for insect transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

Cited by 45 publications

References 12 publications

A real time Taqman RT-PCR for the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2)

A real time Taqman RT-PCR for the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2)

Benign Rabbit Caliciviruses Exhibit Evolutionary Dynamics Similar to Those of Their Virulent Relatives

Benign Rabbit Calicivirus in New Zealand

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