scholarly journals Genetic variability and phylogenetic analysis of Lagovirus europaeus strains GI.1 (RHDV) and GI.2 (RHDV2) based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) coding gene

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 (RHDV-rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) and GI.2 (RHDV2-rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2), family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus, are etiological factors of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). This small RNA virus is a great model for tracking the variability and evolution of RNA viruses, because it uses an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) to replicate its own genetic material. This polymerase determines the fidelity and the rates of replication and mutation of the virus, conditioning its adaptation to the environment and even to a new host, and thus influencing evolution of the virus. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships of 105 Lagovirus europaeus strains with different genotypes based on the RdRp gene. The strains came from around the world in the years of 1987–2017. The aforementioned group of 105 strains included 14 strains whose RdRp sequences were obtained and analysed in this study, and the rest were retrieved from GenBank: 74 strains classified as genotype GI.1 (RHDV), 14 as GI.2 (RHDV2), 2 strains of Lagovirus europaeus not assigned to any genotype, and a MRCV strain, the sequences of which were collected from GenBank. Among the 14 strains whose RdRp sequences were obtained in this study, the highest variability was presented in the Austrian 237 strain from 2004. The genetic distance between the Austrian 237 strain and the remaining thirteen analysed strains ranged from 0.117 to 0.123 (from 11.7% to 12.3% nucleotide substitutions). The lowest variability, however, was recorded for Hungarian, Czech and Austrian strains. On the phylogenetic tree, the 14 analysed strains were allocated into GI.1c (G2), GI.1d (G3-G5) and GI.1a (RHDVa). Analysis of the genetic variability of the 105 strains of Lagovirus europaeus indicated a growing genetic distance between the strains, both in time and location. Phylogenetic analysis showed a division of the strains into seven groups, dictated by the chronology, geographical location and evolutionary events in the history of the virus, such as mutations and recombinations.

Phylogenetic analysis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in France between 1993 and 2000, and the characterisation of RHDV antigenic variants

2003 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Le Gall-Recul� ◽  
F. Zwingelstein ◽  
S. Laurent ◽  
C. de Boiss�son ◽  
Y. Portejoie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

scholarly journals Full-genome sequencing of German rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus uncovers recombination between RHDV (GI.2) and EBHSV (GII.1)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin P Szillat ◽  
Dirk Höper ◽  
Martin Beer ◽  
Patricia König
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Full Genome ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Full Genome Sequencing ◽  
European Brown Hare ◽  
Whole Genome Analysis ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

Abstract Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV; genotypes GI.1 and GI.2) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV; genotype GII.1) are caliciviruses belonging to the genus Lagovirus. These viruses pose a serious threat to wild and domestic rabbit and hare populations around the world. In recent years, an expanding genetic diversity has been described within the genus, with recombination events occurring between the different genotypes. Here, we generated and analysed 56 full-genome sequences of RHDV and EBHSV from rabbit and hare livers, collected in Germany between the years 2013 and 2020. We could show that genotype Gl.2 (RHDV-2) almost entirely replaced Gl.1 (classical RHDV) in the German rabbit population. However, GI.1 is still present in Germany and has to be included into disease control and vaccination strategies. Three recombinant strains were identified from rabbit samples that contain the structural genes of genotype Gl.2 and the non-structural genes of genotype Gl.1b. Of special interest is the finding that sequences from two hare samples showed recombination events between structural genes of RHDV Gl.2 and non-structural genes of EBHSV GII.1, a recombination between different genogroups that has not been described before. These findings lead to the assumption that also a recombination of the non-structural genes of RHDV Gl.2 with the structural genes of EBHSV Gll.1 might be possible and therefore increase the potential genetic variability of lagoviruses immensely. Our findings underline the importance of whole genome analysis with next-generation sequencing technology as one of new tools now available for in-depth studies that allow in depth molecular epidemiology with continuous monitoring of the genetic variability of viruses that would otherwise likely stay undetected if only routine diagnostic assays are used.

scholarly journals The emergence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus: will a non-pathogenic strain protect the UK?

2001 ◽  
Vol 356 (1411) ◽  
pp. 1087-1095 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. White ◽  
R.A. Norman ◽  
R.C. Trout ◽  
E.A. Gould ◽  
P.J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Pathogenic Strain ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Seroprevalence Data ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Age Structured Model

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus emerged in China in 1984, and has killed hundreds of millions of wild rabbits in Australia and Europe. In the UK there appears to be an endemic non–pathogenic strain, with high levels of seroprevalence being recorded, in the absence of associated mortality. Using a seasonal, age–structured model we examine the hypothesis that differences in rabbit population demography differentially affect the basic reproductive rates ( R 0 ) of the pathogenic and non–pathogenic strains, leading to each dominating in some populations and not others. The strain with the higher R 0 excluded the other, with the dynamics depending upon the ratio of the two R 0 values. When the non–pathogenic strain dominated, the pathogenic strain caused only transient mortality, although this could be significant when the two R 0 values were similar. When the pathogenic strain dominated, repeated epidemics led to host eradication. Seroprevalence data suggest that the non–pathogenic strain may be protecting some, but not all UK populations, with half being ‘at risk’ from invasion by the pathogenic strain and a fifth prone to significant transient mortality. We identify key questions for empirical research to test this prediction.

Distribution of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus RNA in Experimentally Infected Rabbits

2001 ◽  
Vol 124 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 134-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kimura ◽  
I. Mitsui ◽  
Y. Okada ◽  
T. Furuya ◽  
K. Ochiai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

scholarly journals Molecular epidemiology of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

2002 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 2461-2467 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Moss ◽  
S. L. Turner ◽  
R. C. Trout ◽  
P. J. White ◽  
P. J. Hudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Virulent Virus ◽  
Rabbit Bone ◽  
European Rabbits ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

Millions of domestic and wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have died in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand during the past 17 years following infection by Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). This highly contagious and deadly disease was first identified in China in 1984. Epidemics of RHDV then radiated across Europe until the virus apparently appeared in Britain in 1992. However, this concept of radiation of a new and virulent virus from China is not entirely consistent with serological and molecular evidence. This study shows, using RT–PCR and nucleotide sequencing of RNA obtained from the serum of healthy rabbits stored at 4 °C for nearly 50 years, that, contrary to previous opinions, RHDV circulated as an apparently avirulent virus throughout Britain more than 50 years ago and more than 30 years before the disease itself was identified. Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of British and European RHDV sequences, it is concluded that RHDV has almost certainly circulated harmlessly in Britain and Europe for centuries rather than decades. Moreover, analysis of partial capsid sequences did not reveal significant differences between RHDV isolates that came from either healthy rabbits or animals that had died with typical haemorrhagic disease. The high stability of RHDV RNA is also demonstrated by showing that it can be amplified and sequenced from rabbit bone marrow samples collected at least 7 weeks after the animal has died.

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