Key result
Novel RHDV2 recombinant variants replaced the previous dominant parental RHDV2 in their respective geographical areas, implicating non-structural genes as key drivers of epidemiological fitness.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to understand the evolutionary interactions among emerging lagovirus variants in Australia.
Population
Lagovirus variants in populations of Australian rabbits and hares
Comparison
Geographical distribution and relative incidence of circulating lagovirus variants over time
Design
Continental-scale competition and surveillance study
Follow-up
Within 3 years
Authors
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Raises need for updated lagovirus surveillance; leaves open recombination's role across other viral systems.
Observational
Yes
Frequent intergenotypic recombination between non-structural and structural genes is a major driver of epidemiological fitness in lagoviruses.
Mahar et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) infection. RHDV2 recombinant variants (RHDV2-4e and RHDV2-4c) vs. Parental RHDV2 (genotype GI.1bP-GI.2) was evaluated on Geographical distribution and relative incidence over time (viral replacement). Novel RHDV2 recombinant variants replaced the previous dominant parental RHDV2 in their respective geographical areas, implicating non-structural genes as key drivers of epidemiological fitness.
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