Spillover event of recombinant <i>Lagovirus europaeus</i> /GI.2 into the Iberian hare ( <i>Lepus granatensis</i> ) in Spain

Viruses that affect lagomorphs have decades of reported history spillover events. One these viruses is the causative agent so-called rabbit or ‘lagomorph’ haemorrhagic disease (e.g. Lagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and L. europaeus/GI.2). In particular, europaeus/GI.2 has shown a great capacity to recombine with existing lagoviruses. fact, it replaced former GI.1 genotype in wild, recently, an increase on events been detected among several lagomorph species including European North American hares. this study, we report for first time infection wild Iberian hare GI.2 (RHDV2/b), potential shedding associated histopathological alterations. We identify recombinant GI.4P-GI.2 as discuss plausible causes regarding origin event its consequences populations, which endemic Peninsula well important game prey many predators, endangered species.