Immunosuppression abrogates resistance of young rabbits to Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD)

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

Authors

Marques, RM (Author) Other; Teixeira, L (Author) ICBAS; Aguas, AP (Author) Other; Ribeiro, JC (Author) Other; Costa e Silva, A (Author) Other; Ferreira, PG (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Veterinary Research

Vol. 45

Final page: 14

ISSN: 0928-4249

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-6HC

DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-45-14

Abstract (EN): Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is caused by a calicivirus (RHDV) that kills 90% of infected adult European rabbits within 3 days. Remarkably, young rabbits are resistant to RHD. We induced immunosuppression in young rabbits by treatment with methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and challenged the animals with RHDV by intramuscular injection. All of these young rabbits died within 3 days of infection due to fulminant hepatitis, presenting a large number of RHDV-positive dead or apoptotic hepatocytes, and a significant seric increase in cytokines, features that are similar to those of naive adult rabbits infected by RHDV. We conclude that MPA-induced immunosuppression abrogates the resistance of young rabbits to RHD, indicating that there are differences in the innate immune system between young and adult rabbits that contribute to their distinct resistance/susceptibility to RHDV infection.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6