Hare demography, physiology and European Brown Hare Syndrome virus infection: is there an association?

Abstract In this paper we describe recently occurring outbreaks of European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in a captive hare population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the phylogenetic position of detected Polish strains compared to other European strains of EBHSV. Investigations were undertaken in hares from different provinces of Poland. Liver or spleen samples were tested for viral RNA using the RT-nested PCR method and the products were subsequently sequenced. The genetic analysis was based on the fragment of gene encoding viral capsid protein; it revealed a high homology and close relationship between Polish and European EBHSV strains isolated between 2001 and 2011

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Morphologic and Immunohistochemical Characterization of the Hepatic Lesions Associated with European Brown Hare Syndrome

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/030098589403100305 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 327-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

D. Gavier-Widén

Keyword(s):

Fatty Degeneration ◽

Lepus Europaeus ◽

Coagulation Necrosis ◽

Brown Hare ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

European Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare Syndrome ◽

Hepatic Lesions ◽

Living Adult

Liver lesions were studied in 40 free-living adult European brown hares ( Lepus europaeus) and varying hares ( Lepus timidus) of both sexes that had died in Sweden with the viral infection European brown hare syndrome (EBHS). The lesions were characterized by their histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings. Periportal to massive coagulation necrosis was a distinctive feature of EBHS. Lytic necrosis, inflammation, fatty degeneration, and cholangitis occurred variably. Accumulation of basophilic granules in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes was commonly observed; these lesions corresponded ultrastructurally to mitochondrial calcification. Viral antigen was revealed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of hepatocytes and in the cytoplasm of macrophages.

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NEW VARIANTS OF EUROPEAN BROWN HARE SYNDROME VIRUS STRAINS IN FREE-RANGING EUROPEAN BROWN HARES (LEPUS EUROPAEUS) FROM SLOVAKIA

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/0090-3558-43.1.89 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 89-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kai Frölich ◽

Jörns Fickel ◽

Arne Ludwig ◽

Dietmar Lieckfeldt ◽

Wolf Jürgen Streich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lepus Europaeus ◽

Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare Syndrome ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Virus Strains

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Incidence, epizootiology and control of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and the european brown hare syndrome in Germany

Revue Scientifique et Technique de l OIE ◽

10.20506/rst.10.2.557 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 423-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

H.CH. LOLIGER ◽

U. ESKENS

Keyword(s):

Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare Syndrome ◽

Haemorrhagic Disease ◽

And Control

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Phylogenetic Analysis of European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus Strains from Poland (1992–2004)

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13101999 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1999

Author(s):

Andrzej Fitzner ◽

Ewa Kwit ◽

Wiesław Niedbalski ◽

Ewelina Bigoraj ◽

Andrzej Kęsy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Amino Acid Sequence ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Brown Hare ◽

European Brown Hare ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Vp60 Gene ◽

European Brown Hare Syndrome ◽

Virus Strains

European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is lethal to several species of free-living hares worldwide. The genetic characterization of its virus (EBHSV) strains in European circulation and epidemiological knowledge of EBHSV infections is not yet complete. The study determined the nucleotide sequences of the genomes of EBHSV strains from Poland and analyzed their genetic and phylogenetic relationships to a group of hare lagoviruses. The genome of five virus strains detected in Poland between 1992 and 2004 was obtained by RT-PCR and sequencing of the obtained amplicons. The genetic relationships of the EBHSV strains were analyzed using the full genome and VP60 gene sequences. Additionally, the amino acid sequence of the VP60 gene was analyzed to identify mutations specific to recognized EBHSV subgroups. Partial amplification of the virus open reading frame (ORF)1 and ORF2 regions obtained nearly complete nucleotide genome sequences of the EBHSV strains. Phylogenetic analysis placed them in a GII.1 cluster with other European strains related to nonpathogenic hare caliciviruses. VP60 gene analysis allocated these EBHSV strains to the G1.2, G2.2–2.3 or G3 virus genetic groups. The amino acid sequence differences in the entire genome ranged from 1.1 to 2.6%. Compared to a reference French EBHSV-GD strain, 22 variable amino acid sites were identified in the VP60 region of the Polish strains, but only six were in VP10. Single amino acid changes appeared in different sequence positions among Polish and other European virus strains from different genetic groups, as well as in VP10 sequences of nonpathogenic hare caliciviruses. The results of the study showed a high genetic homogeneity of EBHSV strains from Poland despite their different location occurrence and initial detection times. These strains are also phylogenetically closely related to other EBHSV strains circulating in Europe, likely confirming the slow evolutionary dynamics of this lagovirus species.

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