Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: Macquarie Island rabbit eradication adds to knowledge on both pest control and epidemiology
Brian Cooke A F , Keith Springer B C , Lorenzo Capucci D and Greg Mutze E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Moonah, Tas. 7009, Australia.
C The RSPB, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK.
D Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna, Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
E Biosecurity SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions, SA 5001, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: Brian.Cooke@canberra.edu.au
Wildlife Research 44(2) 93-96 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR16221
Submitted: 17 May 2016 Accepted: 8 March 2017 Published: 19 April 2017
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), introduced into in Australia and New Zealand as a biological-control agent for wild rabbits, is least efficacious in cool humid areas where a non-pathogenic calicivirus (RCV-A1) also circulates. Heavy rabbit mortality following release of RHDV on cold sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, where RCV-A1 was apparently absent, not only complemented the planned rabbit eradication operations, especially by reducing secondary poisoning of sea-birds from aerial baiting, but also ruled out cool or humid climate as a major limiting factor of disease spread. In turn, this has advanced the idea that RCV-A1 antibodies inhibit RHDV spread as well as reducing disease severity and mortality.
Additional keywords: biological control, non-target poisoning, Oryctolagus, RCV-A1, RHDV.
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