Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i>
In late 2018, an epidemic myxomatosis outbreak emerged on the Iberian Peninsula leading to high mortality in Iberian hare populations. A recombinant Myxoma virus (strains MYXV-Tol and ha-MYXV) was rapidly identified, harbouring a 2.8 kbp insertion containing evolved duplicates of M060L, M061L, M064L...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/10/1127 |
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| author | Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Carina L. Carvalho Andreia Pinto Ranjit Rai Madalena Monteiro Paulo Carvalho Paula Mendonça Maria C. Peleteiro Francisco Parra Margarida D. Duarte |
| author_facet | Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Carina L. Carvalho Andreia Pinto Ranjit Rai Madalena Monteiro Paulo Carvalho Paula Mendonça Maria C. Peleteiro Francisco Parra Margarida D. Duarte |
| author_sort | Fábio A. Abade dos Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In late 2018, an epidemic myxomatosis outbreak emerged on the Iberian Peninsula leading to high mortality in Iberian hare populations. A recombinant Myxoma virus (strains MYXV-Tol and ha-MYXV) was rapidly identified, harbouring a 2.8 kbp insertion containing evolved duplicates of M060L, M061L, M064L, and M065L genes from myxoma virus (MYXV) or other Poxviruses. Since 2017, 1616 rabbits and 125 hares were tested by a qPCR directed to M000.5L/R gene, conserved in MYXV and MYXV-Tol/ha-MYXV strains. A subset of the positive samples (20%) from both species was tested for the insert with MYXV being detected in rabbits and the recombinant MYXV in hares. Recently, three wild rabbits were found dead South of mainland Portugal, showing skin oedema and pulmonary lesions that tested positive for the 2.8 kbp insert. Sequencing analysis showed 100% similarity with the insert sequences described in Iberian hares from Spain. Viral particles were observed in the lungs and eyelids of rabbits by electron microscopy, and isolation in RK13 cells attested virus infectivity. Despite that the analysis of complete genomes may predict the recombinant MYXV strains’ ability to infect rabbit, routine analyses showed species segregation for the circulation of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in wild rabbit and in Iberian hares, respectively. This study demonstrates, however, that recombinant MYXV can effectively infect and cause myxomatosis in wild rabbits and domestic rabbits, raising serious concerns for the future of the Iberian wild leporids while emphasises the need for the continuous monitoring of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in both species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:50:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f911bcc9fe524009a6db7440420984a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:50:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-f911bcc9fe524009a6db7440420984a82023-11-20T16:08:09ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-10-011210112710.3390/v12101127Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i>Fábio A. Abade dos Santos0Carina L. Carvalho1Andreia Pinto2Ranjit Rai3Madalena Monteiro4Paulo Carvalho5Paula Mendonça6Maria C. Peleteiro7Francisco Parra8Margarida D. Duarte9Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalPaediatric Respiratory Medicine, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Centre, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, London SW3 6NP, UKPaediatric Respiratory Medicine, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Centre, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, London SW3 6NP, UKInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalCIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalIn late 2018, an epidemic myxomatosis outbreak emerged on the Iberian Peninsula leading to high mortality in Iberian hare populations. A recombinant Myxoma virus (strains MYXV-Tol and ha-MYXV) was rapidly identified, harbouring a 2.8 kbp insertion containing evolved duplicates of M060L, M061L, M064L, and M065L genes from myxoma virus (MYXV) or other Poxviruses. Since 2017, 1616 rabbits and 125 hares were tested by a qPCR directed to M000.5L/R gene, conserved in MYXV and MYXV-Tol/ha-MYXV strains. A subset of the positive samples (20%) from both species was tested for the insert with MYXV being detected in rabbits and the recombinant MYXV in hares. Recently, three wild rabbits were found dead South of mainland Portugal, showing skin oedema and pulmonary lesions that tested positive for the 2.8 kbp insert. Sequencing analysis showed 100% similarity with the insert sequences described in Iberian hares from Spain. Viral particles were observed in the lungs and eyelids of rabbits by electron microscopy, and isolation in RK13 cells attested virus infectivity. Despite that the analysis of complete genomes may predict the recombinant MYXV strains’ ability to infect rabbit, routine analyses showed species segregation for the circulation of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in wild rabbit and in Iberian hares, respectively. This study demonstrates, however, that recombinant MYXV can effectively infect and cause myxomatosis in wild rabbits and domestic rabbits, raising serious concerns for the future of the Iberian wild leporids while emphasises the need for the continuous monitoring of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in both species.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/10/1127myxomatosisrecombinant myxoma virusha-MYXVEuropean rabbit<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus</i>species jump |
| spellingShingle | Fábio A. Abade dos Santos Carina L. Carvalho Andreia Pinto Ranjit Rai Madalena Monteiro Paulo Carvalho Paula Mendonça Maria C. Peleteiro Francisco Parra Margarida D. Duarte Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> Viruses myxomatosis recombinant myxoma virus ha-MYXV European rabbit <i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus</i> species jump |
| title | Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> |
| title_full | Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> |
| title_short | Detection of Recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in Wild Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)</i> |
| title_sort | detection of recombinant hare myxoma virus in wild rabbits i oryctolagus cuniculus algirus i |
| topic | myxomatosis recombinant myxoma virus ha-MYXV European rabbit <i>Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus</i> species jump |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/10/1127 |
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