Lagovirus europeus GI.2 (rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2) infection in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Germany

• Main Authors: Buehler, Melanie, Jesse, Sonja T., Kueck, Heike, Lange, Bastian, Koenig, Patricia, Jo, Wendy K., Osterhaus, Albert, Beineke, Andreas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2020
• Subjects: Medicine; Microbiology; FOS Biological sciences; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Physiology; Pharmacology; 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Chemical sciences; Ecology; Cancer; Science Policy; 111714 Mental Health; FOS Health sciences; 110309 Infectious Diseases; Plant Biology; 60506 Virology; Computational Biology; Lepus timidus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4996043; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Lagovirus_europeus_GI_2_rabbit_hemorrhagic_disease_virus_2_infection_in_captive_mountain_hares_Lepus_timidus_in_Germany/4996043

Abstract Background Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, Lagovirus europeus GI.1) induces a contagious and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. In 2010 a new genotype of lagovirus (GI.2), emerged in Europe, infecting wild and domestic population of rabbits and hares. Case presentation We describe the infection with a GI.2 strain, “Bremerhaven-17”, in captive mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in a zoo facility in Germany. Postmortem examination revealed RHD-like lesions including necrotizing hepatitis. RT-qPCR and AG-ELISA confirmed presence of GI.2. Recombination and phylogenetic analysis grouped the identified strain with other GI.2 strains, sharing nucleotide identity of 91–99%. Conclusion Our findings confirm that mountain hares are susceptible to GI.2 infection, due to a past recombination event facilitating virus spillover from sympatric rabbits.