European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation
European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is one of the main causes of mortality in brown hares (<i>Lepus europaeus</i>) and mountain hares (<i>Lepus timidus</i>) in Europe. Since the mid-1990s, this highly lethal and contagious plague has been widespread in many European countries...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2423 |
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| author | Andrzej Fitzner Wiesław Niedbalski Andrzej Kęsy Bogusław Rataj Marian Flis |
| author_facet | Andrzej Fitzner Wiesław Niedbalski Andrzej Kęsy Bogusław Rataj Marian Flis |
| author_sort | Andrzej Fitzner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is one of the main causes of mortality in brown hares (<i>Lepus europaeus</i>) and mountain hares (<i>Lepus timidus</i>) in Europe. Since the mid-1990s, this highly lethal and contagious plague has been widespread in many European countries, contributing to a drastic decline in the number of free-living and farmed hares. A second lagovirus, able to infect some species of hares is rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) recognised in 2010, a new viral emergence of RHDV (GI.1) which is known to be responsible for haemorrhagic disease in rabbits—RHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current EBHS epidemiological situation on the basis of the presence of antibodies to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and anti-RHDV2 antibodies in sera collected from free-ranging hares in Central and Southeastern Poland in 2020–2021. Additionally, studies on the presence of EBHSV and RHDV2 antigens or their genetic material in the blood and internal organs taken from brown hares between 2014–2021 have been carried out. The results of the serological examination showed nearly 88% of tested blood samples were positive for EBHSV antibodies. No EBHSV was identified in the examined hares using virological and molecular tests. The positive results of EBHS serological studies confirmed the circulation and maintenance of EBHSV in free-living brown hares in Poland. However, no serological, virological or molecular evidence was obtained indicating that the brown hares tested had been in contact with RHDV2. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:34:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3a126ff23b844139185a1e0cec9b961 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:34:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3a126ff23b844139185a1e0cec9b9612023-11-24T07:16:58ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-10-011411242310.3390/v14112423European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological SituationAndrzej Fitzner0Wiesław Niedbalski1Andrzej Kęsy2Bogusław Rataj3Marian Flis4Department of Foot and Mouth Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute, ul. Wodna 7, 98–220 Zduńska Wola, PolandDepartment of Foot and Mouth Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute, ul. Wodna 7, 98–220 Zduńska Wola, PolandDepartment of Foot and Mouth Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute, ul. Wodna 7, 98–220 Zduńska Wola, PolandPolish Hunting Association, District Board Nowy Sącz, 33–300 Nowy Sącz, PolandDepartment of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, ul. Akademicka 15, 20–950 Lublin, PolandEuropean brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is one of the main causes of mortality in brown hares (<i>Lepus europaeus</i>) and mountain hares (<i>Lepus timidus</i>) in Europe. Since the mid-1990s, this highly lethal and contagious plague has been widespread in many European countries, contributing to a drastic decline in the number of free-living and farmed hares. A second lagovirus, able to infect some species of hares is rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) recognised in 2010, a new viral emergence of RHDV (GI.1) which is known to be responsible for haemorrhagic disease in rabbits—RHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current EBHS epidemiological situation on the basis of the presence of antibodies to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and anti-RHDV2 antibodies in sera collected from free-ranging hares in Central and Southeastern Poland in 2020–2021. Additionally, studies on the presence of EBHSV and RHDV2 antigens or their genetic material in the blood and internal organs taken from brown hares between 2014–2021 have been carried out. The results of the serological examination showed nearly 88% of tested blood samples were positive for EBHSV antibodies. No EBHSV was identified in the examined hares using virological and molecular tests. The positive results of EBHS serological studies confirmed the circulation and maintenance of EBHSV in free-living brown hares in Poland. However, no serological, virological or molecular evidence was obtained indicating that the brown hares tested had been in contact with RHDV2.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2423EBHSEuropean harelagovirusesserologyepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Andrzej Fitzner Wiesław Niedbalski Andrzej Kęsy Bogusław Rataj Marian Flis European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation Viruses EBHS European hare lagoviruses serology epidemiology |
| title | European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation |
| title_full | European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation |
| title_fullStr | European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation |
| title_full_unstemmed | European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation |
| title_short | European Brown Hare Syndrome in Poland: Current Epidemiological Situation |
| title_sort | european brown hare syndrome in poland current epidemiological situation |
| topic | EBHS European hare lagoviruses serology epidemiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/11/2423 |
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