An outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) caused by Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in Ehime, Japan

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 83; no. 6; pp. 931 - 934
• Main Authors: KATAYAMA, Akiho, MIYAZAKI, Ayako, OKAZAKI, Naohito, NAKAYAMA, Teruko, MIKAMI, Osamu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 2021; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Blood coagulation; Cytoplasm; Electron microscopy; Fibrin; Hemorrhagic disease; Hepatitis; Hepatocytes; Japan; Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2; Necropsy; Outbreaks; Pathology; Phylogeny; Rabbit hemorrhagic disease; rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD); Japan; Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2; electron microscopy; rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD); Japan
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0128

A total of ten 1–2-year-old rabbits died within 2 weeks at a facility in Ehime prefecture in May 2019. Necropsy revealed liver discoloration and fragility, hemorrhage of some organs and blood coagulation failure. On histopathologic examination, necrotizing hepatitis was a common finding, together with fibrin thrombi in the small vessels and hemorrhage in some organs. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus gene was detected in liver samples, and viral particles of approximately 32 nm in diameter were found in the cytoplasm of degenerated hepatocytes by electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial VP60 gene sequence classified it as Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2. This is the first confirmed outbreak of RHD caused by globally emerging GI.2/RHDV2 in Japan.