Introduced Lagomorphs as a Threat to “Native” Lagomorphs: The Case of the Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Northern Italy

Rosin, Anna Vidus; Gilio, Nicola; Meriggi, Alberto

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-72446-9_11

Cited by 18 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Nevertheless, and surprisingly, documented introductions continued until the early 1970s, when Sylvilagus floridanus was introduced in Europe, even after the catastrophic effects of Oryctolagus cuniculus were well-documented worldwide (Long 2003). These misplaced efforts to diversify game species only led to competition among species and the possible risk of disease dispersion, which has the potential to decimate entire populations (Tizzani et al 2002, Rosin et al 2008.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Flux , Rosin et al. , Reid ). They also compete with many other herbivores in invaded regions where native leporids are not present.…”

Section: Effects On Other Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not surprisingly, exotic leporid species tend to compete directly with their native counterparts from the area (e.g. Flux 2008, Rosin et al 2008, Reid 2011. They also compete with many other herbivores in invaded regions where native leporids are not present.…”

Section: Effects On Other Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The roles of leporid species that have been translocated: a review of their ecosystem effects as native and exotic species

Barbar

Lambertucci

2018

Mammal Review

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Historically, humans have translocated some species of Leporidae (order Lagomorpha) around the world as an introduced food source and as game species. This family is now cosmopolitan and occupies areas where it did not previously exist. With the exception of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, evidence of the effects of these introduced species is scattered and in many cases anecdotal, though they share many biological traits with Oryctolagus cuniculus, one of the most harmful invasive species worldwide. We review available studies on the 12 leporid species that have been introduced by humans to areas beyond their native ranges. Our aim is to describe and compare the species’ ecological roles in their native geographic ranges and in their exotic ranges. We review the species’ effects on the ecosystem at different levels of the trophic chain. We also evaluate the consequences of introductions for animal and human health, and their economic consequences, and we consider control measures. In their native ranges, the 12 leporids are known to provide resources for other species, act as seed dispersers and ecosystem engineers, function as primary prey items for several predator species, and have many other functions. The effects of the leporids in their exotic geographic ranges are also conspicuous, and in many cases strongly negative, due to competition with native fauna and the facilitation of the presence of other invaders. Nonetheless, they constitute a food resource for native and exotic predators. As game species for humans, their hunting may indirectly impact the ecosystems by increasing the amount of lead in the environment. Moreover, they may be carriers of zoonotic diseases. Conservation biologists should carefully consider the contrasting effects of the introduced leporids species in the ecosystem before developing any management strategy including these species.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Flux , Rosin et al. , Reid ). They also compete with many other herbivores in invaded regions where native leporids are not present.…”

Section: Effects On Other Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The roles of leporid species that have been translocated: a review of their ecosystem effects as native and exotic species

Barbar

Lambertucci

2018

Mammal Review

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“…Sylvilagus is a genus native to the Americas, one species of which, the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), has been introduced into Europe. In Italy, eastern cottontails were successfully introduced in the Po valley in the 1960s and may have caused a decline in hare populations due to competition with the native lagomorph (37). Massive introductions of S. floridanus took place in France in the 1970s and 1980s, but the species failed to establish (38).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Host-Specific Glycans Are Correlated with Susceptibility to Infection by Lagoviruses, but Not with Their Virulence

Lopes

Breiman

Lora

et al. 2018

J Virol

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The rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and the European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) are two lagoviruses from the family that cause fatal diseases in two leporid genera, and , respectively. In the last few years, several examples of host jumps of lagoviruses among leporids were recorded. In addition, a new pathogenic genotype of RHDV emerged and many non-pathogenic strains of lagoviruses have been described. The molecular mechanisms behind host shifts and the emergence of virulence are unknown. Since RHDV uses glycans of the histo-blood group antigen type as attachment factors to initiate infection, we studied if glycan specificities of the new pathogenic RHDV genotype, non-pathogenic lagoviruses and EBHSV potentially play a role in determining host range and virulence of lagoviruses. We observed binding to A, B or H antigens of the histo-blood group family for all strains known to primarily infect European rabbits (), that have recently been classified as GI strains. Yet, we could not explain the emergence of virulence since similar glycan specificities were found between several pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. By contrast, EBHSV, recently classified as GII.1, bound to terminal β-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues of O-glycans. Expression of these attachment factors in the upper respiratory and digestive tracts in three lagomorph species ( and ) showed species-specific patterns regarding the susceptibility to infection by these viruses, indicating that species-specific glycan expression is likely a major contributor to lagoviruses host specificity and range. Lagoviruses constitute a genus of the family, comprising highly pathogenic viruses, RHDV and EBHSV, which infect rabbits and hares, respectively. Recently, non-pathogenic strains were discovered and new pathogenic strains have emerged. In addition, host jumps between lagomorphs are observed. The mechanisms responsible for the emergence of pathogenicity and host-species range are unknown. Previous studies showed that RHDV strains attach to glycans expressed in the upper respiratory and digestive tracts of rabbits, the likely doors of virus entry. Here we studied the glycan-binding properties of novel pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains looking for a link between glycan-binding and virulence or between glycan specificity and host range. We found that glycan binding did not correlate with virulence. However, expression of glycan motifs in the upper respiratory and digestive tracts of lagomorphs revealed species-specific patterns associated with the host range of the virus strains, suggesting that glycan diversity contributes to lagoviruses' host range.

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Introduction to the Lagomorpha

Chapman

Flux

2008

Lagomorph Biology

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Introduced Lagomorphs as a Threat to “Native” Lagomorphs: The Case of the Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Northern Italy

Cited by 18 publications

References 18 publications

The roles of leporid species that have been translocated: a review of their ecosystem effects as native and exotic species

The roles of leporid species that have been translocated: a review of their ecosystem effects as native and exotic species

Host-Specific Glycans Are Correlated with Susceptibility to Infection by Lagoviruses, but Not with Their Virulence

Introduction to the Lagomorpha

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