RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC-DISEASE (RHD) - CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CAUSATIVE CALICIVIRUS

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) which was first recognized in China i n 1984 spread via Eastern Europe to many countries of Western Europe a nd other parts of the world. The analysis of the virus outlined in thi s review comprises: 1) physico-chemical properties, 2) electron micros copy including immunoelectron microscopy, 3) demonstration of capsid p rotein, 4) in vivo neutralization with monoclonal antibodies (mabs), 5 ) infectivity of purified RNA, and 6) characterization of the viral ge nome. Also included are clinical, pathological and epidemiological fin dings, different diagnostic methods as well as disease control measure s. Finally, similarities between RHD and the European brown hare syndr ome (EBHS) are pointed out. The latter disease is caused by a calicivi rus different from RHDV.