Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Detected in Pico, Azores, Portugal, Revealed a Unique Endemic Strain with More Than 17 Years of Independent Evolution

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Pedro J Esteves (Author) Other; Ana M Lopes (Author) Other; Maria J Magalhaes (Author) Other; Ana Pinheiro (Author) Other; David Goncalves (Author) FCUP; Joana Abrantes (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Viruses-Basel

Vol. 6

Pages: 2698-2707

ISSN: 1999-4915

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Evolutionary biology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-MKH

DOI: 10.3390/v6072698

Abstract (EN): Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is caused by a calicivirus, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), which is responsible for high mortality in domestic and wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). RHDV strains were sequenced from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) collected in the Azorean island of Pico, Portugal. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Pico RHDV strains diverge from all of the others described so far, but cluster with the genogroups 1-5 (G1-G5). The genetic distance between the Pico RHDV sequences and each G1, G2 and G3-G5 genogroup (similar to 0.08) is compatible with an RHDV introduction at least 17 years ago. Our results show that in Pico, RHDV is the outcome of an independent evolution from the original RHDV strain that appeared in its European rabbit population. These are the first sequences of RHDV obtained in the subspecies O. c. algirus, outside of its original region, the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, we discuss the risk of rabbit translocations from the Azores to the Iberian Peninsula, where the rabbit wild populations are suffering high mortalities.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10