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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Background: Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an acute fatal disease of domestic and wild European rabbits caused by a RNA virus (genus Lagovirus, family Caliciviridae). Prior to 1984, healthy rabbits in European regions had RHDV-specific antibodies and their infection with benign rabbit caliciviruses conferred them a low degree of cross-protective immunity against RHD, determining less severe clinical courses. Vaccination allowed to control the disease in the rabbit industry, but RHD still threatens non-vaccinated wild populations. A new variant of this disease is being described since 2010 in Iberian Peninsula. It affects mainly young rabbits that exhibit haemorrhages in heart, trachea, thymus, lungs, liver, kidneys and gut, as well as DIC, jaundice, splenomegaly and catarrhal enteritis.
Objectives: To describe a case of high mortality rate on a rabbitry, mostly in young rabbits, with typical lesions of RHD.
Methods: Samples from domestic vaccinated and non vaccinated rabbits which died suddenly were taken and fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for 48 hours and embedded in paraffin. 3µm sections were stained for routine histopathological diagnosis (H&E) and examined by light microscopy.
Results: Main macroscopic lesions observed: opisthotonos, oedema and pulmonary congestion, severe jaundice, splenomegaly, gastric punctiform ulcers, bilateral renal congestion and thymic petechiae,
Conclusions: Macroscopic lesions in infected young’s, consistent with RHD infection usually observed only in adult rabbits, and the presence of lesions mostly associated to the new variant of RHD (DIC, jaundice, splenomegaly, catarrhal enteritis), led us to consider the presence of the new variant of RHD in Portugal, although further studies are needed.
Description
Keywords
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) domestic European rabbits wild European rabbits RNA virus genus Lagovirus family Caliciviridae new variant
Citation
Vala H, Coelho C, Nóbrega C, Mesquita JR, Oliveira J (2013). Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) – a new variant? Revista Portuguesa de Ciências Veterinárias. 108 (585-586): 85-86.