Lagoviruses in European brown hares, first serologic evidence for RHDVa

Serological tests for the presence of antibodies to European brown hare syndrome virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type a and type 2 were performed on 275 samples of blood serum from the European brown hare by hemagglutination inhibition test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The presence of antibodies against European brown hare syndrome virus was 28% in the Czech Republic while in the Slovak Republic between 9–33%. Furthermore, the results showed the possibility of interspecies transmission, both rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type a and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 on the European brown hare. In case of RHDVa it is the first documented interspecies transmission, which has not yet been described. This study improved our knowledge about circulation of RHDV in Central European ecosystems and its possible ability to cross interspecies barriers. However, from an epizootiological point of view, it is likely European brown hare is not a significant source of RHD infection for domesticated rabbits.