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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(5)

Antibody status and survival of Australian wild rabbits challenged with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

S. R. McPhee A B F , K. L. Butler A , J. Kovaliski C , G. Mutze C , L. Capucci D and B. D. Cooke E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.

B Agricultural Technical Services Pty Ltd, 177 Ballan Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.

C Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

D Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emillia, Via Bianchi 7, 25124 Brescia, Italy.

E Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Building 3, Level D, University of Canberra Campus, Canberra, ACT 2611, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: Steve.McPhee@dpi.vic.gov.au

Wildlife Research 36(5) 447-456 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR08137
Submitted: 25 September 2008  Accepted: 18 May 2009   Published: 21 July 2009

Abstract

In Australia, the epidemiology of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is complicated by non-pathogenic forms of calicivirus (bCV) co-circulating with RHDV and providing variable protection from RHDV. Currently no bCV virus-specific antibody tests exist; however, a series of four ELISAs used to detect antibodies to RHDV provided an indirect means to detect antibodies to bCV, enabling antibody categories of seronegative, maternal RHDV, RHDV or bCV to be determined. Rabbits (188) from four locations were challenged with RHDV and logistic regression models determined that, for rabbits <15 months old, survival was dependent on antibody titres alone and the relationship did not vary with age, capture site, gender, liveweight or reproductive status. All rabbits survived challenge after reaching 15 months of age, irrespective of their antibody titres. Where bCV antibodies were prevalent in young rabbits, the bCV category did not adequately summarise all information about rabbit survival that can be obtained from antibody titres. Within antibody categories, 95% of rabbits with RHDV, 33% with bCV, 40% with maternal RHDV and 22% with seronegative antibodies survived. The high survival rate of adults implies that natural outbreaks or controlled releases of RHDV will have little impact on adult breeding rabbits. Therefore, where RHDV and bCV are endemic, conventional rabbit-control programs targeting the immune breeding populations should provide the most predictable outcome for long-term maintenance of low rabbit populations.


Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge field and laboratory support provided by Pat Daniels, Sharon Koch, Kelly Backhouse, Gail Squires and Vicki Langdon. Norm Simms performed some of the ELISAs with reagents supplied by Dr Lorenzo Capucci’s assistant, Mrs Giuliana Botti from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emillia, Italy. We thank the three anonymous referees for constructive critique of the manuscript. The Victorian Institute of Animal Science Animal Ethics Committee approved the protocol (98/99-1812). The study was supported by State and Federal funds administered through the Rabbit Calicivirus Management Group and by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Primary Industries.


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