Towards winning the war on feral wild rabbits

Tuesday, 10 July 2018

New research shows how two biological control agents have been effective in reducing the numbers of feral rabbits in Australia. Using data from the largest wild rabbit study in the world, scientists have examined the long-term interaction of myxoma and rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses.

The study published today in the Journal of Animal Ecology was conducted by an international team led by researchers from the University of Adelaide. It shows that both myxoma (MYXV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHDV) viruses have worked together to control feral rabbit populations in Australia during the last two decades.

Feral rabbits have been extremely successful in Australia with catastrophic impact on the landscape and agriculture. Due to their breeding habits populations have bounced back following efforts to control them and the impact of introduced viruses has been clearly seen in population fluctuations. However, the way these two viruses affect rabbit populations is less clearly understood until now.

Using more than 20 years of data collected at the rabbit research field site at Turretfield, South Australia and novel modelling approaches, the research team led by Dr Konstans Wells, from the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute, uncovered some surprising results about how the two viruses interact and affect rabbit populations.

“By explicitly modelling the complex way that diseases behave in rabbit populations we found an unexpected result. Rabbits that survive infection with MYXV virus have lower rates of survival than rabbits not yet infected,” says Dr. Wells.

“This is important because it confirms that MYXV virus weakens animals so that they have a lower resistance when subsequently exposed to RHDV disease. Our study shows the first evidence that both viruses work in tandem to control rabbit population numbers. It is no longer a case of which disease is a better control agent, because their effectiveness is intrinsically linked.”

The team also included fellow researchers Dr Damien Fordham and Dr Nina Schwensow. They explored in detail survival prospects for rabbits either infected by none, one or both of the two viruses.

“The effect of RHDV disease virus on rabbits is enhanced by previous infection with MYXV virus. Survival rates were lowest for rabbits which survived MYXV infection and then were exposed to RHDV disease,” says Dr Fordham from the University’s Environment Institute.

“The findings suggest a continuous benefit from both viruses and maximum impact on rabbit numbers if they act together.”

Dr Schwensow studied how RHDV is dependent on flies to spread it effectively from one host to another.

“The way flies bring the virus into contact with rabbits and how it then spreads through rabbit populations is crucial for its efficiency as a killer agent,” says Dr Schwensow who carried out the research while at the University of Adelaide.

“This study shows the importance of understanding the dynamics of myxoma and rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses for ensuring the continued effectiveness of these weapons in the war against feral wild rabbits, which are still one of the worst pests in Australia,” says Dr Wells.

Image caption: European wild rabbits emerging from their warren. Credit: William Booth/Shutterstock.com

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