EXOone RHDV (new variant)

Description

RHDV is a calicivirus whose nucleic acid is a single stranded positive sense RNA and causes a rapidly fatal, highly infectious disease of the European rabbit. Several mutation episodes of this virus have been described generating new variants. Moreover, a new variant of Rabbit Hemorragic Disease (RHDVb) has been widely detected in the Iberian peninsula since 2011. Significative differences considering the course of the disease and the age of affected animals have been reported.
New vaccines constituted of variant RHDV strains have been recently developed in addition to the traditional vaccines based on classic strains. As vaccination is often used in the face of outbreaks the decision of which vaccine to use is fundamental.
Although the currently available ELISA used is unable to differentiate between classic and variant isolates, this qRT-PCR allows for a prompt differential diagnosis for RHDVb.