DOCSLIB.ORG

A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit animals Brief Report A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit Fábio A. Abade dos Santos 1,2,3,* , Carolina Magro 4, Carina L. Carvalho 2, Pedro Ruivo 5, Margarida D. Duarte 1,2 and Maria C. Peleteiro 1 1 Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; [email protected] (M.D.D.); [email protected] (M.C.P.) 2 Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, I.P.), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; [email protected] 3 Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain 4 VetOeiras, Hospital Médico-Veterinário, Estrada de Oeiras n18-20, 2780-114 Oeiras, Portugal; [email protected] 5 Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (IMM), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1070-312 Lisbon, Portugal; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: We report an unusual clinical case in a pet rabbit vaccinated against rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1), that developed a prolonged hepatic disease, and was diagnosed RHDV2 (GI.2) positive post-mortem. This finding is a warning to all veterinarians that rabbit haemorrhagic disease should also be considered for differential diagnosis despite the history of RHDV vaccination and the need to update vaccination programs against the current RHDV2 circulating strains. Abstract: Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious infectious disease of European Citation: Abade dos Santos, F.A.; wild and domestic rabbits. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1) emerged in 1986 in Magro, C.; Carvalho, C.L.; Ruivo, P.; Europe, rapidly spreading all over the world. Several genotypes of RHDV have been recognised Duarte, M.D.; Peleteiro, M.C. A over time, but in 2010, a new virus (RHDV2/RHDVb, GI.2) emerged and progressively replaced the Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit previous RHDV strains, due to the lack of cross-immunity conferred between RHDV and RHDV2. Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf RHDV2 has a high mutation rate, similarly to the other calivirus and recombines with strains of Rabbit. Animals 2021, 11, 40. RHDV and non-pathogenic calicivirus (GI.4), ensuring the continuous emergence of new field strains. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ Although this poses a threat to the already endangered European rabbit species, the available vaccines ani11010040 against RHDV2 and the compliance of biosafety measures seem to be controlling the infection in the rabbit industry Pet rabbits, especially when kept indoor, are considered at lower risk of infections, Received: 26 October 2020 although RHDV2 and myxoma virus (MYXV) constitute a permanent threat due to transmission via Accepted: 21 December 2020 insects. Vaccination against these viruses is therefore recommended every 6 months (myxomatosis) Published: 28 December 2020 or annually (rabbit haemorrhagic disease). The combined immunization for myxomatosis and RHDV Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- through a commercially available bivalent vaccine with RHDV antigen has been extensively used ® tral with regard to jurisdictional claims (Nobivac Myxo-RHD, MSD, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). This vaccine however does not confer proper in published maps and institutional protection against the RHDV2, thus the need for a rabbit clinical vaccination protocol update. Here we affiliations. report a clinical case of hepatitis and alteration of coagulation in a pet rabbit that had been vaccinated with the commercially available bivalent vaccine against RHDV and tested positive to RHDV2 after death. The animal developed a prolonged and atypical disease, compatible with RHD. The virus was identified to be an RHDV2 recombinant strain, with the structural backbone of RHDV2 (GI.2) and the Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Li- non-structural genes of non-pathogenic-A1 strains (RCV-A1, GI.4). Although confirmation of the censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed etiological agent was only made after death, the clinical signs and analytic data were very suggestive under the terms and conditions of the of RHD. Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/ Keywords: European rabbit; Oryctolagus cuniculus; pet rabbit; rabbit haemorrhagic disease; licenses/by/4.0/). atypical clinical course; subacute Animals 2021, 11, 40. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11010040 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals Animals 2020, 10, x 2 of 12 Animals 2021, 11, 40 2 of 12 Keywords: European rabbit; Oryctolagus cuniculus; pet rabbit; rabbit haemorrhagic disease; atypical clinical course; subacute 1. Introduction Introduction Originating in the Iberian Peninsula [1], [1], the European rabbit was widely introduced firstfirst in Europe, and subsequently in all other continents except Antarctica. The European domestic rabbit hashas beenbeen usedused asas an an important important meat meat and and fur fur resource. resource. Artificial Artificial selection selection of ofsmall small breeds breeds of thisof this species species (Oryctolagus (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus), weighing), weighing less less than than 2 kg, 2 kg, also also generated gener- atedan increasingly an increasingly popular popular pet-rabbit pet-rabbit trade. trade. Pet rabbits Pet rabbits can becan affected be affected by the by same the same diseases dis- easesfound found in the in rabbit the rabbit industry industry or wild or wild rabbit ra populations.bbit populations. However, Howeve ther, indoorthe indoor lifestyle life- styledecreases decreases the risk the of risk contact of contact with commonwith common rabbit rabbit diseases diseases such as such myxomatosis as myxomatosis and rabbit and rabbithaemorrhagic haemorrhagic disease disease (RHD). (RHD). RHD is a highly contagious infectious diseas diseasee caused by a virus from the Caliciviridae family, genus Lagovirus, which targets hepatocytes and cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (e.g., Kuppfer cells and alveolar macropha macrophages)ges) [[2,3].2,3]. The disease was first first identifiedidentified inin 1984 in China and quickly spread to other continents,continents, evolving into different genotypes (GI.1a (RHDVa (RHDVa or or G6), G6), GI.1b GI.1b (G1), (G1), GI.c GI.c (G2) (G2) and and GI.1d GI.1d (G3–G5)) (G3–G5)) [4,5]. [4, 5Along]. Along with with myxoma- myxo- tosis,matosis, this this disease disease led ledto an to abrupt an abrupt decrease decrease in the in theEuropean European rabbit rabbit wild wild populations populations [6]. [6]. InIn 2010, a distinct virus (both genetic and antigenically) related to RHDV emerged in France [7]. [7]. This This new new virus, virus, referred referred to as RHDV2 or RHDVb, induced a disease very similar toto that that caused caused by by RHDV RHDV strains strains and and it it became became also also known known as as LagovirusLagovirus europaeus europaeus GI.2GI.2 [5]. [5 ]. More recently, natural recombinant RHDV2 strains were identifiedidentified containing the structural proteins of RHDV2 (VP60 and mi minornor protein-encoding genes), genes), but but the the non- non- structural proteins from either non-pathogenic calicivirus (NP-CV GI.4 and GI.3)). Fur- Fur- thermore, the the non-structural proteins proteins from from th thee RHDV strains (GI.1b) were also found in RHDV2 recombinants [8]. [8]. Figure 11 representsrepresents thethe genomicgenomic organizationorganization of of RHDV2 RHDV2 RNA. RNA. Figure 1. SimplifiedSimplified schematic representation ofof thethe genomicgenomic RNARNA ofof RHDV2.RHDV2. NucleotideNucleotide positionsposi- tionswere were calculated calculated from from sequence sequence KF442964.2. KF442964.2. The The genome genome includes includes two two ORFs. ORFs. ORF1ORF1 encodes a a polyprotein that that is is cleaved cleaved to to form form the the non-structur non-structuralal proteins proteins p16, p16, p23, p23, the thehelicase, helicase, p29, p29,VPg, VPg, a proteasea protease and and the the viral viral polymerase, polymerase, and and the the major major structural structural protein protein VP60. VP60. ORF ORF 2 2encodes encodes a aminor minor structural protein VP10. Different clinicalclinical presentationspresentations and and disease disease progression progression can can occur occur with with RHDV2 RHDV2[9– 12[9–] 12]and and those those variations variations can becan associated be associated with strain.with strain. The incubation The incubation period period of RHD of ranges RHD rangesbetween between 1 and 1 3 and days. 3 days. In peracute In peracute forms, forms, sudden sudden death death may may occur occur within within 1212 hours after infection. In In acute acute and and subacute subacute forms forms of of RHD, RHD, different different clinical clinical signs signs can can be be ob- ob- served, suchsuch asas anorexia, anorexia, mucosal mucosal congestion, congestion, neurologic neurologic signs, signs, cyanosis, cyanosis, dyspnoea, dyspnoea, foamy foamyhaemorrhagic haemorrhagic epistaxis, epistaxis, ocular haemorrhageocular haemorrhage and others and [ 13others]. In chronically [13]. In chronically infected rab-in- fectedbits, the rabbits, onset the of anorexia,onset of anorexia, lethargy lethargy and jaundice and jaundice usually usually precedes precedes death indeath about in about 1 to 3 1weeks to 3 weeks
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Calicivirus from Novel Recovirus Genogroup in Human Diarrhea
    DISPATCHES οf ≈6.4–8.4 kb, cause illness in animals and humans (8,9), Calicivirus from including gastroenteritis in humans. The family Caliciviri- dae consists of 5 genera, Norovirus, Sapovirus, Lagovirus, Novel Recovirus Vesivirus, and Nebovirus, and 3 proposed genera, Recovi- Genogroup in rus, Valovirus, and chicken calicivirus (8–10). The Study Human Diarrhea, Each year, >100,000 diarrhea patients are admitted to Bangladesh the Dhaka hospital of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). Fecal samples Saskia L. Smits, Mustafi zur Rahman, from 2% of these patients are collected and examined as part Claudia M.E. Schapendonk, Marije van Leeuwen, of systematic routine surveillance system for the presence Abu S.G. Faruque, Bart L. Haagmans, of enteric pathogens (11). All procedures were performed in Hubert P. Endtz, and Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. To identify unknown human viruses in the enteric tract, we examined 105 stool specimens from patients with diar- rhea in Bangladesh. A novel calicivirus was identifi ed in a sample from 1 patient and subsequently found in samples from 5 other patients. Phylogenetic analyses classifi ed this virus within the proposed genus Recovirus. iarrhea, characterized by frequent liquid or loose Dstools, commonly results from gastroenteritis caused by infection with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Patients with mild diarrhea do not require medical attention; the ill- ness is typically self-limited, and disease symptoms usually resolve quickly. However, diarrheal diseases can result in severe illness and death worldwide and are the second lead- ing cause of death around the world in children <5 years of age, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (1).
    [Show full text]
  • Downloads/Global-Burden-Report.Pdf (Accessed on 20 December 2017)
    viruses Review The Interactions between Host Glycobiology, Bacterial Microbiota, and Viruses in the Gut Vicente Monedero 1, Javier Buesa 2 and Jesús Rodríguez-Díaz 2,* ID 1 Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA, CSIC), Av Catedrático Agustín Escardino, 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain; [email protected] 2 Departament of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibañez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +34-96-386-4903; Fax: +34-96-386-4960 Received: 31 January 2018; Accepted: 22 February 2018; Published: 24 February 2018 Abstract: Rotavirus (RV) and norovirus (NoV) are the major etiological agents of viral acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Host genetic factors, the histo-blood group antigens (HBGA), are associated with RV and NoV susceptibility and recent findings additionally point to HBGA as a factor modulating the intestinal microbial composition. In vitro and in vivo experiments in animal models established that the microbiota enhances RV and NoV infection, uncovering a triangular interplay between RV and NoV, host glycobiology, and the intestinal microbiota that ultimately influences viral infectivity. Studies on the microbiota composition in individuals displaying different RV and NoV susceptibilities allowed the identification of potential bacterial biomarkers, although mechanistic data on the virus–host–microbiota relation are still needed. The identification of the bacterial and HBGA interactions that are exploited by RV and NoV would place the intestinal microbiota as a new target for alternative therapies aimed at preventing and treating viral gastroenteritis. Keywords: rotavirus; norovirus; secretor; fucosyltransferase-2 gene (FUT2); histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs); microbiota; host susceptibility 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: Evolution from Pre-Existing Nonpathogenic Strains Or Through a Species Jump?
    OPINION Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: Evolution from Pre-existing Nonpathogenic Strains or through a Species Jump? Pedro José Esteves1,2,3*, Joana Abrantes1, Stéphane Bertagnoli4,5, Patrizia Cavadini6, Dolores Gavier-Widén7, Jean-Sébastien Guitton8, Antonio Lavazza9, Evelyne Lemaitre10,11, Jérôme Letty8, Ana Margarida Lopes1,2, Aleksija S. Neimanis7, Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet12, Jacques Le Pendu12, Stéphane Marchandeau8, Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé10,11 a11111 1 InBIO—Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal, 2 Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, 3 CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Gandra, Portugal, 4 UMR 1225, INRA, Toulouse, France, 5 INP-ENVT, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France, 6 Proteomic Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy, 7 Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, 8 Department of Studies and Research, National Hunting and Wildlife Agency (ONCFS), Nantes, France, 9 Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy, 10 Avian and Rabbit Virology OPEN ACCESS Immunology Parasitology Unit, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental Citation: Esteves PJ, Abrantes J, Bertagnoli S, and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses), Ploufragan, France, 11 European University of Brittany, Rennes, Cavadini P, Gavier-Widén D, Guitton J-S, et al. France, 12 Inserm U892; CNRS, UMR 6299University of Nantes, Nantes France (2015) Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: * [email protected] Evolution from Pre-existing Nonpathogenic Strains or through a Species Jump? PLoS Pathog 11(11): e1005087.
    [Show full text]
  • Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Brochure
    Precautions for Hunters and Falconers: Movement of Live Rabbits: • If you observe sick or dead rabbits in an area, do not • Importing domestic rabbits into Arkansas, except when hunt, run dogs, or fly falconry birds in that area. moving directly to a USDA-licensed slaughter facility, Contact the state conservation agency for that state requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Rabbit immediately. In Arkansas, please send reports to This includes the movement of all pet, show, and [email protected]. production rabbits not intended for immediate slaughter. • Avoid traveling to hunt in areas where RHDV-2 • Many states are implementing movement restrictions outbreaks have been recently documented. For a map for rabbits. If you plan to travel with live rabbits, contact Hemorrhagic of known RHDV-2 affected areas, please visit the state agriculture authority in the state of destination www.agfc.com/riskid. and all states through which you plan to travel to ensure • Hunters who own domestic rabbits should wash or compliance with pertinent state regulations. change clothing, including footwear, after handling wild • Avoid transporting wild rabbits for release into Disease rabbits before coming into contact with domestic animals. training pens or for field trials, especially if sick or • Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling dead rabbits have been observed in the area. and cleaning game. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while • If you have transported a wild rabbit to a permitted handling animals. wildlife rehabilitator, disinfect or dispose of any cages, • Bag any remains and dispose of them in trash destined boxes, or other materials that may have come into for a landfill, if local ordinances prohibit the disposal contact with the animal.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 10 the WELFARE of LABORATORY RABBITS
    Chapter 10 THE WELFARE OF LABORATORY RABBITS Lena Lidfors¹, Therese Edström² and Lennart Lindberg³ ¹Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden; ²Astra Zeneca R & D, Mölndal; ³National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden 1. INTRODUCTION Rabbits were the fifth most commonly used mammalian laboratory animal after mice, rats, guinea pigs and pigs in Sweden during 2002 (CFN 2003). According to the latest statistics for the EU member states, 227 366 rabbits were used during 1999 (Commission of the European Communities 2003). Both domesticated rabbits and European wild rabbits may be used for experimental research, but there are several problems in keeping and breeding the European wild rabbit (Bell 1999). Today the most common breeds used are the New Zealand White (NZW), the Dutch and the Half Lop (Batchelor 1999). Most laboratories buy these breeds as health defined (previously called Specific Pathogen Free) from accredited breeders (Townsend 1969, Eveleigh et al. 1984). Rabbits are used for many different purposes with a large number being used for antibody production, but also for orthopaedics and biomaterials (Batchelor 1999). The rabbit is especially suitable for studies on reproduction (Batchelor 1999). Rabbits are also used for cardiac surgery, and studies of hypertension, infectious diseases, virology, embryology, toxicology, experimental teratology (Hartman 1974), arteriosclerosis (Clarkson et al. 1974) and serological genetics (Cohen and Tissot 1974). Laboratory rabbits are by tradition kept individually in small cages with restricted food availability. This has led to several physiological problems related to the fact that they move too little, as well as behavioural disorders. Over the past 10-15 years many laboratories have improved the housing for 211 E.
    [Show full text]
  • Scwds Briefs
    SCWDS BRIEFS A Quarterly Newsletter from the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study College of Veterinary Medicine The University of Georgia Phone (706) 542 - 1741 Athens, Georgia 30602 FAX (706) 542-5865 Volume 36 April 2020 Number 1 Working Together: The 40th Anniversary of limited HD reports probably relate to enzootic the National Hemorrhagic Disease Survey stability; on the northern edge, the low frequency of reports is likely driven by limited EHDV and BTV In the last issue of the SCWDS BRIEFS, hemorrhagic transmission due to either the absence of vectors or disease (HD) report data from Indiana, Ohio, environmental conditions that reduce vector numbers Kentucky, and West Virginia were highlighted to or their ability to transmit these viruses. Within these demonstrate how these long-term data can help states, east-west gradients in HD reporting also are detect and map the northern expansion of HD over evident. The factors that drive this within-state time. In addition to providing a means to detect variation are not well understood and possibly relate temporal changes in HD patterns, this long-term data to habitat gradients and complex set provides a window to better understand spatial vector/host/environmental interactions that are patterns and risks within areas where HD has unique to each individual state. historically occurred. In part two of this four-part series, we will explore HD patterns in another area – the Great Plains, where HD is commonly reported and large-scale outbreaks occasionally occur. These states were included in the survey in 1982, and thanks to their continued support, this data set now spans 38 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Internal Parasites of Rabbits
    Vet Times The website for the veterinary profession https://www.vettimes.co.uk Internal parasites of rabbits Author : Glen Cousquer Categories : RVNs Date : October 1, 2008 Glen Cousquer BVM&S, BSc, CertZooMed, MRCVS discusses the common endoparasites found in rabbits and how to treat them BRITISH pet owners will be familiar with the idea that their dogs and cats need regular worming. It is not just our carnivorous friends that require worming – horses also require regular worming and horse owners will even collect their horses' faeces in order to prevent worm build-up on pasture. But what of rabbits? This feature will discuss the common internal parasites of rabbits and the steps required to control them. Before launching into a discussion about internal parasites, it is worth reminding the reader of the reasons why a regular worming programme is strongly recommended in our companion dogs, cats and horses. Dogs and cats carry the roundworm Toxocara canis and shed eggs of this parasite in their faeces. Faecal contamination of playing fields, sandpits and other play areas can result in children coming into contact with, and ingesting, Toxocara eggs. The larvae that hatch from these eggs can migrate within human tissues and are responsible for two clinical syndromes: visceral larval migrans and ocular larval migrans. The implications of larval migration within a human can be very serious, especially where the eyes are involved. It is primarily for this reason, in order to minimise the health risks to humans, that the BVA recommends that dogs and cats are wormed every three to four months.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating a Better World for Rabbits
    WINTER 2007 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A M E R I C A N A N T I -V I V I S E C T I O N SOCIETY Spring Ahead: Creating a Better World for Rabbits VOLUME CXV, NUMBER 1 ISSN 0274-7774 Contents FEATURES Managing Editor 2 A DAmAgeD RAbbit is still A RAbbit: 15 is the Domestic RAbbit the Right Crystal Schaeffer AnD otheR ReAsons why AnimAls compAnion foR you? Copy Editor shoulDn’t be pAtenteD By Caroline Gilbert, Founder/Director, Julie Cooper-Fratrik Rabbit Sanctuary, Inc. By Nina Mak, MS, AAVS Research Analyst Rabbits can be wonderful members of the family. AAVS launched the second phase of its Ban Are they the right companions for you? Animal Patents campaign in March. Our aim now is to stop a patent on rabbits who are subjected to STAFF painful eye experiments in order to develop eye 16 whAt RAbbits Can teAch us About Tracie Letterman, Esq., drop solutions. characteR-builDing Executive Director By Laura Ducceschi, MA, Jeanne Borden, Director of Animalearn Administration Assistant 6 blinDeD foR beAuty: Humane education can be used to help instill RAbbits useD in ProDuct testing Chris Derer, Membership Coordinator reverence and respect for animal life. Laura Ducceschi, Education Director By Vicki Katrinak, AAVS Policy Analyst Heather Gaghan, Director of Rabbits are the most recognized symbol associated Development & Member Services with compassionate shopping. This recognition is 17 DiD you Know? RAbbit Facts Nicole Green, Assistant Director of somewhat dubious, however, since rabbits are so Rabbits are fascinating animals.
    [Show full text]
  • The Domestic Rabbit: Its Nutritional Requirements and Its Role in World Food Production
    THE DOMESTIC RABBIT: ITS NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ITS ROLE IN WORLD FOOD PRODUCTION P.R. Cheeke* SUMMARY The domestic rabbit has great potential as.a meat producing animal. Rabbits can produce more meat from forage-based diets than can any other type of livestock. Feed conversion ratios‘ of 3-4: 1 can be obtained with high roughage diets. Rabbits are adaptable to both small and large scale production, and may be especially useful in tropical developing countries. Profitability of commercial rabbit production is currently limited by labor intensive management techniques, severe di.sease problems, and inadequate knowledge of nutritional requirements and nutritional effects on the devel- opment of enteric diseases. If these problems can be overcome, and if grains become less available and more expensive for animal feed.ing, the rabbit may become a major livestock species. INTRODUCTION At present, rabbit production, is a minor agricultural enterprise throughout the world. It is developed to its highest degree in Western European countries such as France, Italy and Spain, which have a long tra-' dition of consuming rabbit meat,. Rabbits are raised in comparatively large numbers in China, which is the main exporter of rabbit meat, and in .Hungary, which has the worldPs largest rabbitries. Even in these countries, however, rabbit production is minor compared with that of cattle, swine and poultry. Rabbits have a number of attributes which may lead to their increas- ing in importance in the years ahead. They have the potential to become a major livestock species. The intention of this article is to outline and discuss these attributes, to discuss the problems which presently pre- vent this potential from being realized', and to review the current state of rabbit research.
    [Show full text]
  • The Genetic Structure of Domestic Rabbits Research Article
    The Genetic Structure of Domestic Rabbits Miguel Carneiro,*,1,2,3 Sandra Afonso,1 Armando Geraldes,4 Herve´ Garreau,5 Gerard Bolet,5 Samuel Boucher,6 Aure´lie Tircazes,5 Guillaume Queney,7 Michael W. Nachman,3 and Nuno Ferrand1,2 1CIBIO, Centro de Investigacxa˜o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gene´ticos, Campus Agra´rio de Vaira˜o, Vaira˜o 2Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Cieˆncias, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal 3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona 4Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 5Institut national de la recherche agronomique, UR 631 Station d’ame´lioration ge´ne´tique des animaux, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France 6Labovet Conseil, re´seau Cristal, Les Herbiers, France 7Antagene, Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, Limonest, Lyon, France *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]. Research article Associate editor: Naoko Takezaki Abstract Understanding the genetic structure of domestic species provides a window into the process of domestication and motivates the design of studies aimed at making links between genotype and phenotype. Rabbits exhibit exceptional phenotypic diversity, are of great commercial value, and serve as important animal models in biomedical research. Here, we provide the first comprehensive survey of nucleotide polymorphism and linkage disequilibrium (LD) within and among rabbit breeds. We resequenced 16 genomic regions in population samples of both wild and domestic rabbits and additional 35 fragments in 150 rabbits representing six commonly used breeds. Patterns of genetic variation suggest a single origin of domestication in wild populations from France, supporting historical records that place rabbit domestication in French monasteries.
    [Show full text]
  • What Are the Keys to the Adaptive Success of European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula?
    animals Review What Are the Keys to the Adaptive Success of European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula? Pablo Jesús Marín-García 1,2,* and Lola Llobat 2,* 1 Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain 2 Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain * Correspondence: [email protected] (P.J.M.-G.); [email protected] (L.L.) Simple Summary: Why might a species both be seriously threatened and pose an overpopulation problem in introduced locations? The aim of this review was to understand the keys to the adaptive success of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in order to establish its strengths and weaknesses for the management of this keystone species in Mediterranean ecosystems. This work highlights the need to create specific conservation programs for this species. Abstract: The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plays an important ecological role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, rabbit populations have drastically reduced, so the species is now considered endangered. However, in some places, this animal is considered a pest. This is the conservation paradox of the 21st century: the wild rabbit is both an invasive alien and an endangered native species. The authors of this review aimed to understand the keys to the adaptive success of European rabbits, addressing all aspects of their biology in order to provide the keys to the ecological management of this species.
    [Show full text]
  • Structure Unveils Relationships Between RNA Virus Polymerases
    viruses Article Structure Unveils Relationships between RNA Virus Polymerases Heli A. M. Mönttinen † , Janne J. Ravantti * and Minna M. Poranen * Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9), 00014 Helsinki, Finland; heli.monttinen@helsinki.fi * Correspondence: janne.ravantti@helsinki.fi (J.J.R.); minna.poranen@helsinki.fi (M.M.P.); Tel.: +358-2941-59110 (M.M.P.) † Present address: Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter 2, P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5), 00014 Helsinki, Finland. Abstract: RNA viruses are the fastest evolving known biological entities. Consequently, the sequence similarity between homologous viral proteins disappears quickly, limiting the usability of traditional sequence-based phylogenetic methods in the reconstruction of relationships and evolutionary history among RNA viruses. Protein structures, however, typically evolve more slowly than sequences, and structural similarity can still be evident, when no sequence similarity can be detected. Here, we used an automated structural comparison method, homologous structure finder, for comprehensive comparisons of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). We identified a common structural core of 231 residues for all the structurally characterized viral RdRps, covering segmented and non-segmented negative-sense, positive-sense, and double-stranded RNA viruses infecting both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. The grouping and branching of the viral RdRps in the structure- based phylogenetic tree follow their functional differentiation. The RdRps using protein primer, RNA primer, or self-priming mechanisms have evolved independently of each other, and the RdRps cluster into two large branches based on the used transcription mechanism.
    [Show full text]