Hepatic lesions in young rabbits experimentally infected with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

Twenty young rabbits (eleven 2-week-old and nine 4-week-old) were experimen tally infected with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) to clarify sus ceptibility. They were killed chronologically up to 96 hours post-inoculati on (PI) and examined for lesions. All inoculated rabbits were clinically no rmal, but grossly minute white or grey spots were detected throughout the l iver. Histologically, the lesions consisted of aggregates of lymphocytes, m acrophages and heterophils, with or without acidophilic bodies and necrotic hepatocytes. Immunohistochemically, RHDV antigens were found in the degene rated hepatocytes and in macrophages. The cellular aggregates were consider ed to be a reaction to necrotic hepatocytes infected with RHDV. It was conc luded that some hepatocytes are susceptible to RHDV in young rabbits.