Observations on the impacts of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on agricultural production values in Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Saunders ◽  
Barry Kay ◽  
Greg Mutze ◽  
David Choquenot
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Production Values ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Australian Case ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) may be the most important rabbit control agent to be made available to graziers in Australia since the advent of myxomatosis. Documenting the benefits of RHD to agricultural production values is an important process in determining best-practice strategies for the use of the disease in controlling rabbit populations. In this paper we review previous studies on the impact of rabbits and present recent Australian case studies that tracked the effects of RHD on agricultural production as the disease first spread across the continent. Indirect consequences of RHD, such as changes in costs of rabbit control as monitored through the use of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate), are reported. Potential negative impacts such as adverse effects on the wild rabbit fur and meat trade and in the spread of woody weeds are also discussed.

Corrigendum to: The impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Queensland

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 651
Author(s):  
G. Story ◽  
J. Scanlan ◽  
R. Palmer ◽  
D. Berman
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) escaped from quarantine facilities on Wardang Island in September 1995 and spread through South Australia to Queensland by December 1995. To determine the impact of this biological control agent on wild rabbit populations in Queensland, shot sample and spotlight count data were collected at six sites. RHDV spread across Queensland from the south-west to the east at a rate of at least 91 km month–1 between October 1995 and October 1996. The initial impact on rabbit density appeared highly variable, with an increase of 81% (255 ± 79 (s.e.) to 385 ± 73 rabbits km–2) at one site and a decrease of 83% (129 ± 27 to 22 ± 18 rabbits km–2) at another during the first outbreak. However, after 30 months of RHDV activity, counts were at least 90% below counts conducted before RHDV arrived. Using a population model to account for environmental conditions, the mean suppression of rabbit density caused by rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) was estimated to be 74% (ranging from 43% to 94% between sites). No outbreaks were observed when the density of susceptible rabbits was lower than 12 km–2. Where rabbit density remains low for long periods RHDV may not persist. This is perhaps most likely to occur in the isolated populations towards the northern edge of the range of rabbits in Australia. RHDV may have to be reintroduced into these populations. Further south in areas more suitable for rabbits, RHDV is more likely to persist, resulting in a high density of immune rabbits. In such areas conventional control techniques may be more important to enhance the influence of RHD.

The impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Queensland

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Story ◽  
D. Berman ◽  
R. Palmer ◽  
J. Scanlan
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) escaped from quarantine facilities on Wardang Island in September 1995 and spread through South Australia to Queensland by December 1995. To determine the impact of this biological control agent on wild rabbit populations in Queensland, shot sample and spotlight count data were collected at six sites. RHDV spread across Queensland from the south-west to the east at a rate of at least 91 km month–1 between October 1995 and October 1996. The initial impact on rabbit density appeared highly variable, with an increase of 81% (255 ± 79 (s.e.) to 385 ± 73 rabbits km–2) at one site and a decrease of 83% (129 ± 27 to 22 ± 18 rabbits km–2) at another during the first outbreak. However, after 30 months of RHDV activity, counts were at least 90% below counts conducted before RHDV arrived. Using a population model to account for environmental conditions, the mean suppression of rabbit density caused by rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) was estimated to be 74% (ranging from 43% to 94% between sites). No outbreaks were observed when the density of susceptible rabbits was lower than 12 km–2. Where rabbit density remains low for long periods RHDV may not persist. This is perhaps most likely to occur in the isolated populations towards the northern edge of the range of rabbits in Australia. RHDV may have to be reintroduced into these populations. Further south in areas more suitable for rabbits, RHDV is more likely to persist, resulting in a high density of immune rabbits. In such areas conventional control techniques may be more important to enhance the influence of RHD.

Does a benign calicivirus reduce the effectiveness of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Australia? Experimental evidence from field releases of RHDV on bait

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Mutze ◽  
Ron Sinclair ◽  
David Peacock ◽  
John Kovaliski ◽  
Lorenzo Capucci
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Genetic Sequencing ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Context. European rabbits are serious environmental and agricultural pests throughout their range in Australia. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) greatly reduced rabbit numbers in arid central Australia but had less impact in cooler, higher-rainfall areas. RHDV-like benign caliciviruses (bCVs) have been implicated in limiting the impact of RHDV in the higher-rainfall regions of Australia and also in Europe. Aims. Experimental releases of RHDV on bait were tested as a means of initiating disease outbreaks. Serological evidence of antibodies to bCVs was examined to determine whether they reduce mortality rates and/or spread of the released RHDV, and how that might influence the effectiveness of future RHDV releases for rabbit management. Methods. Four experimental releases were conducted in high-rainfall and coastal regions of southern Australia. Virus activity was implied from recapture rates and serological changes in marked rabbits, and genetic sequencing of virus recovered from dead rabbits. Changes in rabbit abundance were estimated from spotlight transect counts. Key results. Release of RHDV on bait produced disease outbreaks that challenged almost all animals within the general release area and spread up to 4 km beyond the release sites. Recapture rates were high in marked rabbits that possessed antibodies from previous exposure to RHDV and extremely low amongst rabbits that lacked any detectable antibodies. Rabbits carrying antibodies classified as being due to previous infection with bCVs had recapture rates that were dependent on circulating antibody titre and were ~55% of recapture rates in rabbits with clear antibodies to RHDV. Conclusions. This is the first quantified evidence that antibodies produced against bCVs provide significant protection against RHD outbreaks in field populations of rabbits. Implications. bCVs can greatly reduce the impact of RHDV on wild-rabbit populations in Australia and presumably elsewhere. RHDV can be effectively released on bait although further releases are likely to be of minor or inconsistent benefit for controlling rabbit numbers where bCVs are common.

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: does a pre-existing RHDV-like virus reduce the effectiveness of RHD as a biological control in Australia?

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Cooke ◽  
S. McPhee ◽  
A. J. Robinson ◽  
L. Capucci
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Serological Data ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

Serological data from wild rabbits support the hypothesis that a second RHDV-like virus was already present in Australia before rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was introduced as a biological control agent. This putative virus apparently persists in most wild rabbit populations in the presence of RHDV, and antibodies raised against it appear to protect some rabbits from fatal rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). High titres of these antibodies are most commonly found in rabbits from high rainfall areas; this may explain why the initial mortality from RHD declined as the disease spread from dry areas into wetter regions and why it remains less effective as a biological control in wetter regions today. The implications for further advances in rabbit control are discussed, including the need to isolate this putative RHDV-like virus and develop specific ELISA tests to facilitate its detection in the field.

Is increased juvenile infection the key to recovery of wild rabbit populations from the impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease?

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Mutze ◽  
R. G. Sinclair ◽  
D. E. Peacock ◽  
L. Capucci ◽  
J. Kovaliski
Keyword(s):  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Emerging epidemiological patterns in rabbit haemorrhagic disease, its interaction with myxomatosis, and their effects on rabbit populations in South Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Mutze ◽  
Peter Bird ◽  
John Kovaliski ◽  
David Peacock ◽  
Scott Jennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Area ◽  
Population Change ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Maternal Antibodies ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Population Parameters ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

The impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) on wild rabbit populations was assessed by comparing population parameters measured before the introduction of RHD into Australia in 1995 with population parameters after RHD. We used data from an arid inland area and a moist coastal area in South Australia to examine the timing and extent of RHD outbreaks, their interaction with myxomatosis and their effect on breeding, recruitment and seasonal abundance of rabbits. From this we propose a generalised conceptual model of how RHD affects rabbit populations in southern Australia. RHD decreased long-term average numbers of rabbits by 85% in the arid area. In the coastal area, RHD decreased numbers of rabbits by 73% in the first year but numbers gradually recovered and were only 12% below pre-RHD numbers in the third year. Disease activity generally begins a month or two after the commencement of breeding in autumn or winter, peaks in early spring and ceases to be apparent in summer. Where the disease is most active, the pattern of population change is almost the inverse of the former pattern. During the breeding season, RHD severely suppresses rabbit numbers. Compensatory recruitment of late-born young, protected by maternal antibodies until the disease becomes inactive at the end of spring (also the end of breeding), allows the observed rabbit abundance to increase during summer, albeit to lower levels than before RHD. Maternal antibodies are lost during summer and the population becomes susceptible to RHD. The seasonal peak in myxomatosis activity is pushed back from late spring to early summer or autumn. Survivors of myxomatosis breed after opening rains in autumn but many succumb to RHD before raising their litters. The reduced abundance of rabbits and changed pattern of seasonal abundance have potential consequences for vegetation recovery.

Recovery of South Australian rabbit populations from the impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 552 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mutze ◽  
P. Bird ◽  
S. Jennings ◽  
D. Peacock ◽  
N. de Preu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Transect Counts ◽  
Alternative Hypotheses ◽  
Serological Data ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Context Recovery of Australian rabbit populations from the impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) contrasts with more prolonged suppression of wild rabbits in Europe, and has been widely discussed in the scientific community, but not yet documented in formal scientific literature. The underlying causes of recovery remain unclear, but resistance to RHDV infection has been reported in laboratory studies of wild-caught rabbits. Aims We document numerical changes in two South Australian wild rabbit populations that were initially suppressed by RHDV, and examine serological data to evaluate several alternative hypotheses for the cause of recovery. Methods Rabbit numbers were assessed from spotlight transect counts and dung mass transects between 1991 and 2011, and age and RHDV antibody sero-prevalence were estimated from rabbits shot in late summer. Key results Rabbit numbers were heavily suppressed by RHDV between 1995 and 2002, then increased 5- to 10-fold between 2003 and 2010. During the period of increase, annual RHDV infection rates remained stable or increased slightly, average age of rabbits remained stable and annual rainfall was below average. Conclusions Rabbit populations recovered but neither avoidance of RHDV infection, gradual accumulation of long-lived RHD-immune rabbits, nor high pasture productivity were contributing factors. This leaves increased annual survival from RHDV infection as the most likely cause of recovery. Implications Previously documented evidence of resistance to RHDV infection may be of little consequence to post-RHD recovery in rabbit numbers, unless the factors that influence the probability of infection also shape the course of infection and affect survival of infected rabbits.

scholarly journals The impact of RHDV-K5 on rabbit populations in Australia: an evaluation of citizen science surveys to monitor rabbit abundance

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarnya E. Cox ◽  
David S. L. Ramsey ◽  
Emma Sawyers ◽  
Susan Campbell ◽  
John Matthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Unconscious Bias ◽  
Science Data ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The increasing popularity of citizen science in ecological research has created opportunities for data collection from large teams of observers that are widely dispersed. We established a citizen science program to complement the release of a new variant of the rabbit biological control agent, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), known colloquially as K5, across Australia. We evaluated the impact of K5 on the national rabbit population and compared citizen science and professionally-collected spotlight count data. Of the citizen science sites (n = 219), 93% indicated a decrease in rabbit abundance following the release of K5. The overall finite monthly growth rate in rabbit abundance was estimated as 0.66 (95%CI, 0.26, 1.03), averaging a monthly reduction of 34% at the citizen science sites one month after the release. No such declines were observed at the professionally monitored sites (n = 22). The citizen science data submissions may have been unconsciously biased or the number of professional sites may have been insufficient to detect a change. Citizen science participation also declined by 56% over the post-release period. Future programs should ensure the use of blinded trials to check for unconscious bias and consider how incentives and/or the good will of the participants can be maintained throughout the program.

scholarly journals A strain-specific multiplex RT-PCR for Australian rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses uncovers a new recombinant virus variant in rabbits and hares

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn N Hall ◽  
Jackie E. Mahar ◽  
Andrew J. Read ◽  
R Mourant ◽  
M Piper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

SummaryRabbit haemorrhagic disease virus(RHDV, or GI.1), is a calicivirus in the genusLagovirusthat has been widely utilised in Australia as a biological control agent for the management of overabundant wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations since 1996. Recently, two exotic incursions of pathogenic lagoviruses have been reported in Australia; GI.1a-Aus, previously called RHDVa-Aus, is a GI.1a virus detected in January 2014, and the novel lagovirus GI.2 (previously known as RHDV2). Furthermore, an additional GI.1a strain, GI.1a-K5 (also known as 08Q712), was released nationwide in March 2017 as a supplementary tool for wild rabbit management. To discriminate between these lagoviruses, a highly sensitive strain-specific multiplex RT-PCR assay was developed, which allows fast, cost-effective, and sensitive detection of the four pathogenic lagoviruses currently known to be circulating in Australia. In addition, we developed a universal qRT-PCR assay to be used in conjunction with the multiplex assay that broadly detects all four viruses and facilitates quantification of viral RNA load in samples. These assays enable rapid detection, identification, and quantification of pathogenic lagoviruses in the Australian context. Using these assays, a novel recombinant lagovirus was detected in rabbit tissues samples, which contained the non-structural genes of GI.1a-Aus and the structural genes of GI.2. This variant was also recovered from the liver of a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). The impact of this novel recombinant on Australian wild lagomorph populations and its competitiveness in relation to circulating field strains, particularly GI.2, requires further studies.

Habitat factors related to wild rabbit population trends after the initial impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Calvete ◽  
Enrique Pelayo ◽  
Javier Sampietro
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Rabbit Population ◽  
Habitat Factors ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an introduced pest species in Australia and New Zealand. Rabbits have a devastating negative impact on agricultural production and biodiversity in these countries, and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is currently included in control strategies for rabbit populations. On the other hand, the European wild rabbit is a key native prey species in the Iberian Peninsula. Since the arrival of RHD, however, rabbit populations have undergone dramatic decreases and several predator species at risk of extinction are currently dependent on the rabbit population density. Therefore, from the point of view of biodiversity conservation, evaluating habitat correlates and trends of rabbit populations after the first RHD epizootic is of great interest to improve the long-term control or promotion of wild rabbit populations. We estimated the relationship between habitat factors and long-term population trends as well as the relationships between habitat factors and rabbit abundance 2 and 14 years after the arrival of RHD in several Iberian rabbit populations. We observed that only 26% of surveyed populations seemed to experience an increase in rabbit abundance over the last 12 years and that this increase was higher in the low-rabbit-abundance areas of l992, leading to high rabbit abundance in 2004. Our results suggested that short- and long-term impacts of RHD were related to habitat quality. The initial impact of RHD was higher in more suitable habitats, but increasing long-term population trends were positively related to good habitat quality.

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