Early inflammatory response of young rabbits attending natural resistance to calicivirus (RHDV) infection

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Marques, RM (Author) Other; Costa E Silva, A (Author) Other; AP Águas (Author) ICBAS; Teixeira, L (Author) ICBAS; ferreira, pg (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

Vol. 150

Pages: 181-188

ISSN: 0165-2427

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-2BY

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.09.038

Abstract (EN): Young rabbits (i.e. up to 4 weeks of age) are naturally resistant to infection by rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), the same calicivirus that kills more than 90% of adult rabbits in 3 days or less. To characterize this fascinating model of age-related natural resistance to Aral infection, we have studied the kinetics (from 6 h up to 7 days) of cytokines and of leukocyte subpopulations in the liver (the target organ for calicivirus replication) and spleen (host systemic response) of RHDV infected young rabbits. Infection was associated with early (6 h) elevation of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8). We found that all three major leukocyte subpopulations (macrophages, B and T lymphocytes) were increased in the liver 48 h after the RHDV inoculation. At 7 days of infection, B and T lymphocytes were still elevated in the liver of the rabbits. In the spleen, both macrophages and B lymphocytes (but not T cells) were also enhanced. At 7 days, anti-RHDV specific a antibodies were present in sera of all young rabbits infected by the virus. We conclude that natural resistance of young rabbits to RHDV infection is associated with a rapid and effective inflammatory response by the liver, with few hepatocytes being infected, and also with a sustained elevation in local and systemic B and T cells.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8