RT Journal Article
T1 Seroprevalence responses to RHDV variants in wild European rabbits: evidence of resilience in the Iberian Peninsula
A1 Aguayo Adán, Juan Antonio
A1 Santoro, Simone
A1 Villafuerte, Rafael
A1 Delibes Mateos, Miguel
A1 Castro, Francisca
A1 Almeida, Tereza
A1 Abrantes, Joana
A1 Rouco, Carlos
AB The emergence and spread of the main genotypes of Lagovirus europaeus (GI.1 and GI.2), the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) have had severe consequences for the conservation of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a keystone species within the Iberian Mediterranean ecosystem. Understanding seroprevalence in wild rabbit populations in response to RHDV outbreaks is crucial for estimating the proportion of individuals capable of surviving such events. This study investigates the serological and demographic responses to the circulation of GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes by analysing data from 18 wild rabbit populations surveyed in 2002 and 2021, approximately a decade after each strain’s emergence. Results show a significantly higher seroprevalence during the GI.2 genotypes period (0.58 vs. 0.44). However, our analysis did not reveal any significant relationship between seroprevalence and population abundance after either outbreak. These findings suggest resilience in wild rabbit populations to RHDV, with critical implications for disease management and conservation. The study stresses the need for continued monitoring to mitigate RHDV’s impact and support the preservation of rabbit populations and associated ecosystems.
PB Springer
SN 1616-5047
SN 1618-1476 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27364
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27364
LA eng
NO Aguayo-Adán, J. A., Santoro, S., Villafuerte, R., Delibes-Mateos, M., Castro, F., Almeida, T., Abrantes, J., & Rouco, C. (2025). Seroprevalence responses to RHDV variants in wild European rabbits: evidence of resilience in the Iberian Peninsula. Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-025-00532-9
NO This work was supported by project LAGMED (http://www.lagmed.eu) (REF: PRIMAS2-11-PCI2019-103698 and PRIMA/0003/2018 - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT Portugal), funded by PRIMA programme, an Art. 185 initiative supported and funded under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s Framework Programme, and project Iber-LagoHealth (REF: PID2023-151954NBI00), Gescon (REF: PID2020-114724RB-I00) and ToolRabbits (REF: PID2023-152079OB-I00) through Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University. JAAA’s PhD contract was supported by project LAGMED. FCT also supported the Assistant Researcher grant of JA (CEECIND/00078/2017). Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Sevilla/ CBUA
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026