title: Factors affecting the seroprevalence of lagovirus infection in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Southern Spain.
abstract: Cross-sectional studies were carried out on wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Southern Spain to assess the prevalence of lagovirus infection and to identify potentially associated risk factors. A total of 619 blood and 487 liver samples from wild rabbits were collected from seven hunting areas with different Mediterranean ecosystems. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between seropositivity and an extensive set of variables. The seroprevalence was 29.2% (95% CI: 25.6-32.8) and lagoviruses were not detected in liver samples. Logistic regression indicated that seropositivity to lagoviruses was associated with seropositivity to myxomatosis, wild rabbit density, the existence of artificial feeding sites, mean maximum monthly temperatures of 20-30 °C, and annual accumulated rainfall of >600 mm.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCO, Campus Universitarios de Rabanales, Apdo. 14071 Córdoba, Spain. nacho.garcia@uco.es
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Bocanegra
authors.forename: Rafael J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Astorga
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Napp
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonero
authors.forename: Anselmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arenas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology*; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D029321:Lagovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D009234:Myxomatosis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000662:veterinary; D011156:Population Density; D011817:Rabbits / Q000821:virology*; D011891:Rain; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013696:Temperature