Molecular and antigenic characterization of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus isolated in Cuba indicates a distinct antigenic subtype.
Phylogenetic analyses conducted on isolates of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) from throughout the world have shown well-defined genogroups comprising representative strains of the virus and antigenic variants. In this work, we have isolated and characterized RHDV from the major epizootic that occurred in Cuba in 2004-2005. Sequence analysis of the capsid protein gene and antigenic characterization of this strain has allowed its inclusion as a member of the distinct RHDVa subtype. We also found that specific antibodies directed against RHDV reference strains bound to the Cuban isolate in a competition ELISA and inhibited virus hemagglutination in vitro. This is the second report on the molecular characterization of RHDVa circulating in the American region.
Farnós
O
O
Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba. omar.farnos@cigb.edu.cu
Rodríguez
D
D
Valdés
O
O
Chiong
M
M
Parra
F
F
Toledo
J R
JR
Fernández
E
E
Lleonart
R
R
Suárez
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D003462:Cuba; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017929:Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011817:Rabbits; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; C081149:viral protein 60, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus