Open Access
Research (Published online: 28-08-2019)
23. Immune cell pathology in rabbit hemorrhagic disease
Anna Babken Semerjyan, Mariam Armenak Sargsyan, Hranush Harutyun Arzumanyan, Lina Hayrapet Hakobyan, Liana Onik Abroyan, Zara Babken Semerjyan, Aida Sergey Avetisyan, Elena Michael Karalova, Davit Mihran Manukyan, Hripsime Shavarsh Matevosyan, Nikolay Fyodor Krasnikov and Zaven Alexandr Karalyan
Veterinary World, 12(8): 1332-1340

Anna Babken Semerjyan: Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Mariam Armenak Sargsyan: Department of Epidemiology and Parasitology, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Hranush Harutyun Arzumanyan: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Lina Hayrapet Hakobyan: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Liana Onik Abroyan: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Zara Babken Semerjyan: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Aida Sergey Avetisyan: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Elena Michael Karalova: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
Davit Mihran Manukyan: Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Hripsime Shavarsh Matevosyan: Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Nikolay Fyodor Krasnikov: Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Zaven Alexandr Karalyan: Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia; Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.1332-1340

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Article history: Received: 30-04-2019, Accepted: 11-07-2019, Published online: 28-08-2019

Corresponding author: Anna Babken Semerjyan

E-mail: annasemerjian@hotmail.com

Citation: Semerjyan AB, Sargsyan MA, Arzumanyan HH, Hakobyan LH, Abroyan LO, Semerjyan ZB, Avetisyan AS, Karalova EM, Manukyan DM, Matevosyan HS, Krasnikov NF, Karalyan ZA (2019) Immune cell pathology in rabbit hemorrhagic disease, Veterinary World, 12(8): 1332-1340.
Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research was to study the effect of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) on the host immune response by examining the cellular composition/pathology of lymphoid organs and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).

Materials and Methods: Nine adult rabbits were inoculated with 1 ml of 10% infected liver homogenate, and three rabbits served as controls. The rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD)-induced animals were studied on 3 consecutive days post-infection. Diagnosis of RHD was made through routine hemagglutination tests and the polymerase chain reaction. Blood smears and tissue samples from bone marrow (BM), spleen, lymph nodes, and liver were analyzed for cell composition and cytopathology. Serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: RHD showed a decreased absolute cell count of blood as well as lymph nodes, spleen, and BM cell populations with marked left shift. This was seen as a progressive rise in immature and blast cells. Quantitative cellular changes were accompanied by an increase in specific inflammatory cytokines. Immunocytopathological alterations were evidenced by: Vacuolized, hyperactivated tissue macrophages, finding of Dohle bodies in neutrophils, and activated lymphocytes with increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Cytoplasmic eosinophilic viral inclusions found in tissue (liver, spleen, and BM) macrophages were shown for the 1st time in RHD. Megakaryocytic emperipolesis was a common feature of RHD.

Conclusion: These studies suggest that RHDV induces pathology in leukocytes due to hyperactivation with left shift (toward immature stages of the different cell lineages). Macrophages are increased in number and show an expressed cytopathic effect often accompanied by viral eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. They also developed a secretory activation (increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines).

Keywords: cytopathology, emperipolesis, eosinophilic viral inclusions, immune response, macrophages, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus.