Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is an important pathogen of horses worldwide, associated with respiratory,
reproductive and/or neurological disease. A mouse model for EHV-1 infection has been
established but fails to reproduce some important aspects of the viral pathogenesis. Then, we investigated
the susceptibility of rabbits to EHV-1 aiming at proposing this species as an alternative model for
EHV-1 infection. Weanling rabbits inoculated intranasal with EHV-1 Kentucky D (107 TCID50/animal)
shed virus in nasal secretions up to day 8e10 post-inoculation (pi), presented viremia up to day 14 pi and
seroconverted to EHV-1 (virus neutralizing titers 4 to 64). Most rabbits (75%) developed respiratory
disease, characterized by serous to hemorrhagic nasal discharge and mild to severe dyspnea. Some animals
(20%) presented neurological signs as circling, bruxism and opisthotonus. Six animals died during
acute disease (days 3e6); infectious virus and/or viral DNA were detected in the lungs, trigeminal ganglia
(TG), olfactory bulbs (OBs) and cerebral cortex/brain (CC). Histological examination showed necrohemorrhagic,
multifocal to coalescent bronchointerstitial pneumonia and diffuse alveolar edema. In two
rabbits euthanized at day 50 pi, latent EHV-1 DNA was detected in the OBs. Dexamethasone administration
at day 50 pi resulted in virus reactivation, demonstrated by virus shedding, viremia, clinical signs,
and increase in VN titers and/or by detection of virus DNA in lungs, OBs, TGs and/or CC. These results
demonstrate that rabbits are susceptible to EHV-1 infection and develop respiratory and neurological
signs upon experimental inoculation. Thus, rabbits may be used to study selected aspects of EHV-1
biology and pathogenesis, extending and complementing the mouse model.