AI Article Synopsis
- In late 2018, a myxomatosis outbreak in the Iberian Peninsula caused significant deaths in Iberian hare populations due to a recombinant Myxoma virus identified with specific genetic changes.
- Researchers tested over 1,600 rabbits and 125 hares, finding that while the standard Myxoma virus was present in rabbits, the recombinant version was affecting hares.
- Recent findings of dead wild rabbits in Portugal, showing severe symptoms and positive test results for the recombinant virus, underscore the potential threat to Iberian wildlife and highlight the necessity for ongoing monitoring of these viral strains in both rabbits and hares.
Article Abstract
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.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7600370 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v12101127 | DOI Listing |
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