RESUMEN
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) emerged in the United States in 2018 and has spread in both domestic and wild rabbits nationwide. The virus has a high mortality rate and can spread rapidly once introduced in a rabbit population. Vaccination against RHDV2 provides the best protection against disease and should be considered by all rabbit owners. Here, we investigate the duration of immunity provided by vaccination with the Medgene Platform conditionally licensed commercial vaccine 6 months following the initial series. Rabbits received either the vaccination or a placebo and were challenged with RHDV2 6 months later. All vaccinated rabbits survived challenge whereas 18/19 non-vaccinated controls succumbed to infection within 10 or fewer days post-challenge. These results demonstrate lasting immunity following vaccination with the Medgene RHDV2 vaccine.
Asunto(s)
Baculoviridae , Infecciones por Caliciviridae , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo , Vacunación , Vacunas Sintéticas , Vacunas Virales , Animales , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo/inmunología , Virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica del Conejo/genética , Conejos , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/prevención & control , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/inmunología , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/virología , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/veterinaria , Vacunas Virales/inmunología , Vacunas Virales/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Virales/genética , Vacunas Sintéticas/inmunología , Vacunas Sintéticas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Sintéticas/genética , Baculoviridae/genética , Baculoviridae/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of a novel vaccine against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in domestic rabbits. ANIMALS: 40 New Zealand White rabbits obtained from a commercial breeder. PROCEDURES: Rabbits were vaccinated and held at the production facility for the duration of the vaccination phase and transferred to Colorado State University for challenge with RHDV2. Rabbits were challenged with oral suspensions containing infectious virus and monitored for clinical disease for up to 10 days. Rabbits that died or were euthanized following infection were necropsied, and livers were evaluated for viral RNA via RT-PCR. RESULTS: None of the vaccinated animals (0/9) exhibited clinical disease or mortality following infection with RHDV2 while 9/13 (69%) of the control animals succumbed to lethal disease following infection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The novel vaccine described herein provided complete protection against lethal infection following RHDV2 challenge. Outside of emergency use, there are currently no licensed vaccines against RHDV2 on the market in the United States; as such, this vaccine candidate would provide an option for control of this disease now that RHDV2 has become established in North America.
