Monitoring of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (GI.2) epidemic in European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in southern Spain, 2013-2017

Abstract Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly infectious disease in European rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ), caused by a virus belonging to the genus Lagovirus (RHDV; family Caliciviridae ). In 2010, a new serotype RHDV (RHDV2/RHDVb, currently designated GI.2) emerged in France, affecting both domestic, even those vaccinated for the classical RHDV genogroups, and wild rabbits. GI.2 was subsequently identified in other European countries. The aim of the present study was to monitor the GI.2 epidemic in wild rabbits in Andalusia (southern Spain) during the period 2013-2017. At the beginning of summer 2013, abnormal mortalities were detected in wild rabbit populations in southern Spain. A total of 96 affected hunting or protected areas were surveyed. The first outbreak was observed on June 2013. The number of outbreaks sharply increased in 2013 and 2014, with a decreasing trend observed during the following years. The spatial distribution of GI.2 was not homogeneous, since most of the detected outbreaks were concentrated in the western part of Andalusia. The outbreaks peaked in winter and spring and have been detected in the last five consecutive years, which suggests endemic circulation of GI.2 in wild rabbit populations in Spain. A total of 190 dead rabbits from 87 of the 96 areas surveyed were collected during the study period. Mortality affected rabbits of different age classes, including kittens. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of GI.2 RNA in the livers of 185 of the 190 (97.4%) rabbits. Phylogenetic analysis performed on twelve samples collected in different provinces of Andalusia between 2013 and 2017, showed high nucleotide identity with GI.2 strains detected previously in Spain and Portugal. The results constitute an important step in understanding of the emergence and spread of GI.2 in this country and will provide valuable information for the development of surveillance programs in Europe.