Korean Journal of Veterinary Research (대한수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
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Pathological study on rabbit haemorrhagic disease in young rabbits

  • Kim, Young-suk (Department of Veterinary Public Heath, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Yong-soon (Department of Veterinary Public Heath, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Seo, Kang-moon (Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Lee, Yeon-hee (Department of Biology, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Park, Jae-hak (Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 1999.01.11
  • Published : 1999.04.01
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Abstract

We investigated the pathological changes in young rabbits which were experimentally infected with rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Experimental infection of RHDV was carried out in both thymectomized and non-thymectomized young immature rabbits and adult rabbits. None of young rabbits infected with RHDV died during the experiment. Histologically, single or focal hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis with mild lymphocyte infiltration were observed in the rabbits killed at 30 hours and 5 days PI. Lymphocyte infiltration was more severe at 5 days PI than at 30 hours PI. RHDV antigens were mainly detected in the degenerating hepatocytes adjacent to the infiltrated lymphocytes at 30 hours PI and 5 days PI. In electron microscopical observation, infiltrated lymphocytes in the lesions had large nuclei without cytoplasmic granules and interdigitated with adjacent hepatocytes. It is assumed that infiltrated lymphocytes in hepatic lesions in RHDV infected young rabbits are T-lymphocytes and originate from peripheral lymphoid organs or tissues rather than from thymus.

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