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Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus isolated in Tunisia from 2015 to 2018

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Abstract

Two distinct genotypes responsible for rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) are reported, GI.1 (RHDV) and GI.2 (RHDV2). Vaccines based on these two genotypes are only partially cross-protective. Hence, knowing which genotype is circulating is important for appropriate control measures. We have investigated 25 field samples isolated between 2015 and 2018 from rabbits with clinical signs of RHD. Only GI.2 (RHDV2) is currently circulating in Tunisia. All Tunisian samples were grouped together with typical genotypic and phenotypic mutations. Therefore, we recommend initiating an extensive preventive vaccination program based on GI.2 vaccines in addition to a regular monitoring of the circulating lagoviruses.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the highly valuable help of Prof. Helmi Mardassi for providing us sequencing reagents, Mrs. Dhouha Haj Slimène (MMVDB) and Mrs. Roukaya Yaakoubi (LTCI) for helping with the nucleotide sequencing experiments, and Mrs. Neila Khabouchi for technical assistance with automated sequencing. Finally, we would like to strongly thank the Veterinary Service of the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the veterinary practitioners who performed and collected biopsy samples from the field. We would like to acknowledge the help of Mrs. Peggy Weiss, a USA native and an English language teacher in AMIDEAST, Tunis, Tunisia, for language editing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT01 Microbiologie Moléculaire, Vaccinologie et Développement Biotechnologique, 13, Place Pasteur BP-74, 1002, Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia

    Nadia Rahali, Houaida Kbaier, Amira Zanati & Chokri Bahloul

  2. Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie, Service Virologie, 20 Rue Djebel Lakhdar La Rabta, 1006, Tunis, Tunisia

    Soufien Sghaier

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  1. Nadia Rahali
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  2. Soufien Sghaier
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  3. Houaida Kbaier
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  4. Amira Zanati
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  5. Chokri Bahloul
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Contributions

NR performed all molecular biology experiments and phylogenetic analysis and was involved in the manuscript. SS provided the liver biopsies and helped in drafting of the manuscript. HK and AZ participated in molecular biology experiments. CB contributed by designing the work, drafting the manuscript, and carrying out the phylogenetic analysis.

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Correspondence to Chokri Bahloul.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Handling Editor: Reimar Johne.

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Rahali, N., Sghaier, S., Kbaier, H. et al. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus isolated in Tunisia from 2015 to 2018. Arch Virol 164, 2327–2332 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-019-04311-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-019-04311-z

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