Vol. 43, No. 4, 1999 previous next

DYNAMICS OF SELECTED PARAMETERS IN RABBITS INFECTED WITH RABBIT HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS

Deptuła, W., Kęsy, A.*, Tokarz-Deptuła, B., Stosik, M., Trávniček, M.**

University of Szczecin
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Poland		 * Institute of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Zduńska Wola
PIW Puławy
Poland		 ** University of Veterinary Medicine
Komenskeho 73
041 81 Kosice
The Slovak Republic

Summary

In the paper, changes in selected indices of immunity (mostly of non-specific immunity), which took place in rabbits experimentally infected with one of the Polish strains (KGM or Kr-1) of RHD virus, were presented. Moreover, haematologic parameters, clinical signs, anatomopathological lesions and mortality of the rabbits were also registered. Virological studies employing immunofluorescence enabled to detect the presence of RHD virus in internal organs of dead animals. The studies were performed 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 52, 56, and 60 h after the infection since between the 56th and 60th hour of observation 65 % to 80 % animals died. Analysis of the results demonstrated the most pronounced differences between the examined strains of the RHD virus in immune parameters, mortality and haematological indices. No differences could be demonstrated in anatomopathological lesions and in virological results. Alterations of immune parameters already started between the 4th and the 24th h after the infection and persisted till the 52nd-65th hour, although if sporadically they could also be demonstrated at the 60th hour after the infection. The results confirm that non-specific immunity presents an important barrier against viral infections in animals and its indices may be used to evaluate immunogenicity of viruses.

Key words: rabbit haemorhagic disease (RHD); immunological parameters; experimental infection

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 1999