Non-specific immunity in rabbits infected with 10 strains of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus with different biological properties

Abstract

Abstract To determine the parameters of non-specific immunity in rabbits infected with 10 biologically different strains of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus (BS89, Hagenow, Rainham, Frankfurt, Asturias, Vt97, Triptis, Hartmannsdorf, Pv97, 9905 RHDVa) the following indices were assessed: polimorphonuclear cell (PMN) adherence capacity, absorption index, percentage of absorbing cells, spontaneous, stimulated as well as spectrophotometric test for reduction of the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), metabolic activity coefficient of neutrophilic granulocytes, stimulation index, myeloperoxidase activity, lysozyme concentration and activity index. The symptoms and the percentage of mortality in animals infected were recorded. On the basis of the estimated parameters, the present study confirmed the existence of immunotypes among the strains of the RHD virus. However, the results did not indicate a connection between biological property of the RHD virus (haemagglutination capacity and generation of antigenic variants) and the immunological profile of the strains.