Abstract
In Australia, the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has been used since 1996 to reduce numbers of introduced European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) which have a devastating impact on the native Australian environment. RHDV causes regular, short disease outbreaks, but little is known about how the virus persists and survives between epidemics. We examined the initial spread of RHDV to show that even upon its initial spread, the virus circulated continuously on a regional scale rather than persisting at a local population level and that Australian rabbit populations are highly interconnected by virus-carrying flying vectors. Sequencing data obtained from a single rabbit population showed that the viruses that caused an epidemic each year seldom bore close genetic resemblance to those present in previous years. Together, these data suggest that RHDV survives in the Australian environment through its ability to spread amongst rabbit subpopulations. This is consistent with modelling results that indicated that in a large interconnected rabbit meta-population, RHDV should maintain high virulence, cause short, strong disease outbreaks but show low persistence in any given subpopulation. This new epidemiological framework is important for understanding virus–host co-evolution and future disease management options of pest species to secure Australia's remaining natural biodiversity.
Highlights
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), known since 1984 following outbreaks in domestic rabbits in China, is an acute disease affecting European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease was introduced into high security quarantine in Australia and, after several years of laboratory testing to ascertain its specificity for European rabbits, experiments commenced in quarantine compounds on Wardang Island 4 km off the coast of South Australia
Analysis of maps and other data on the initial virus spread The escape of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) from quarantine compounds on Wardang Island, where it was being assessed for efficacy in controlling rabbits, began with its spread between rabbit pens on 23 September 1995
Summary
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), known since 1984 following outbreaks in domestic rabbits in China, is an acute disease affecting European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. RHD is regarded as a serious problem for wild rabbits in Southern Europe where rabbits represent a major food item for highly endangered higher trophic level species (e.g. European lynx, Lynx pardinus; Spanish Imperial Eagle, Aquila adalberti) as well as for commercial rabbit producers. It has been used as a biological control agent in Australia where introduced wild European rabbits are a severe pest of agriculture and the environment (DelibesMateos et al 2008; Gong et al 2009; Abrantes et al 2012). Nation-wide, rabbit numbers fell by 60% and declines were even higher in arid areas where no other methods of controlling rabbits
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