<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fatal acute hepatitis in domestic and wild lagomorphs. It has taken on major economic importance in countries like Morocco. In addition to the classical virus (RHDV), a novel emerged genotype (RHDV2) is circulating, especially in the north shore of the Mediterranean basin since 2010. Many small animal farmers reported clinical cases from several rabbitries in Agadir (Morocco) despite systematic vaccination against the RHDV. The main objective was to characterize the current RHDV strains circulating in the studied area to help to choose an adequate vaccine. For that, we extracted viral RNA from rabbit livers, carried out the PCR analyses, and we sequenced the viral structural capsid protein (VP60) of the RHDV. The phylogenetic analysis results allowed us to state that the novel genotype (RHDV2) is circulating in the studied geographical area, and to characterize the isolated sequences. As a conclusion, we recommend updating RHD epidemiological relating data and reviewing the vaccine protocols by both targeting RHDV (GI.1) and RHDV2 (GI.2) in any future preventive program.</p>
</abstract>

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fatal acute hepatitis in domestic and wild lagomorphs. It has taken on major economic importance in countries like Morocco. In addition to the classical virus (RHDV), a novel emerged genotype (RHDV2) is circulating, especially in the north shore of the Mediterranean basin since 2010. Many small animal farmers reported clinical cases from several rabbitries in Agadir (Morocco) despite systematic vaccination against the RHDV. The main objective was to characterize the current RHDV strains circulating in the studied area to help to choose an adequate vaccine. For that, we extracted viral RNA from rabbit livers, carried out the PCR analyses, and we sequenced the viral structural capsid protein (VP60) of the RHDV. The phylogenetic analysis results allowed us to state that the novel genotype (RHDV2) is circulating in the studied geographical area, and to characterize the isolated sequences. As a conclusion, we recommend updating RHD epidemiological relating data and reviewing the vaccine protocols by both targeting RHDV (GI.1) and RHDV2 (GI.2) in any future preventive program.

Confirmation of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (GI.2) Circulation in North Africa

Regional Laboratory of Analyses and Research (ONSSA)

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fatal acute hepatitis in domestic and wild lagomorphs. It has taken on major...

Confirmation of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (GI.2) Circulation in North Africa

Published Online: Dec 13, 2022

Page range: 433 - 441

Received: Jul 24, 2022

Accepted: Nov 02, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2022-0035

Keywords
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Morocco, RHDV2 (GI.2), VP60, Phylogeny

© 2022 Aissa Saidi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Confirmation of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (GI.2) Circulation in North Africa

Published Online: Dec 13, 2022

Page range: 433 - 441

Received: Jul 24, 2022

Accepted: Nov 02, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2022-0035

KeywordsRabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Morocco, RHDV2 (GI.2), VP60, Phylogeny

© 2022 Aissa Saidi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Morocco, RHDV2 (GI.2), VP60, Phylogeny