Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1)
Biological control (where available) is an important component of holistic management of a pest species. When rabbit numbers increase and cause significant impact, Biosecurity Tasmania actively releases one strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (or rabbit calicivirus), RHDV1-K5, to achieve localised rabbit control.
RHDV1 is a viral disease which only affects European rabbits. It was introduced into Australia in 1996 and Tasmania in 1997, and since then it has spread throughout most of the country. But the effectiveness of a biological control agent reduces over time (called host-parasite co-evolution), so research has been undertaken to find a different strain of the virus to release, to boost effectiveness.
From 2017, after more than 10 years of testing (through the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre RHD Boost Project), a variant of the existing calicivirus, known as RHDV1-K5, was released into wild rabbit populations.
RDHV1 and RHDV1-K5 are different strains of the same calicivirus.
Despite the name similarities, and the similar modes of death, RHDV1 and RHDV2 are different types of caliciviruses.
RHDV1-K5 only affects European rabbits and is a naturally occurring variant of the original strain (RHDV1). RHDV1-K5 poses no risk to human health or other non-target species. However, domestic rabbits and farmed rabbits are susceptible.
It is recommended that domestic rabbit owners and commercial rabbit breeders consult their local veterinarian about vaccinations and provide additional protection against the virus by keeping rabbits inside or in insect-proof enclosures.
How is RHDV1-K5 Delivered?
In Tasmania, the RHDV1-K5 virus is introduced using baited carrots. Use of the RHDV1-K5 virus is restricted to trained Biosecurity Tasmania staff and other people who are assessed as competent.
RHDV1 is widespread in rabbit populations in Tasmania. The release of the virus may not be the best control option in all situations; it is only considered for use in areas where:
- other control techniques are not suitable; and,
- there has been no evidence of RHDV1 for over 12 months.
How Does Calicivirus affect rabbits?
A rabbit infected with RHDV1 will develop the disease within one to three days. Greater than 75 per cent of infected rabbits will die from the disease. Infected rabbits end up with ‘cold-like’ symptoms, become lethargic and then die quickly from multiple organ failure.
It should be noted that some rabbits die very quickly from the disease and can look relatively normal externally. They may also show very few visible changes to the internal organs.
Generally, only rabbits older than 12 weeks are susceptible to the RHDV1 and RHDV1-K5. Rabbits younger than 12 weeks that are infected are less likely to die than older rabbits. Young rabbits that survive infection become immune adults.
Vaccine for domestic rabbits
The vaccine that is used to protect rabbits from RHDV1 (Cylap®) also works with RHDV1-K5 and can be provided by your local vet. Validation trials by the NSW Department of Primary Industries demonstrated that all rabbits vaccinated with the current vaccine survived infection with RHDV-K5 whilst none of the unvaccinated rabbits survived.
The RHDV1 vaccine is safe to use on pet and farmed rabbits. As with any vaccine for animals or humans, only vaccinate your rabbit when it is healthy.
Your veterinarian can advise on other issues to be aware of when having your rabbit vaccinated.
Protecting your pet and farmed rabbits from RHDV
An outbreak of another calicivirus known as RHDV2, for which the origin is unknown and there is no available vaccine, may put pet and farmed rabbit stock at risk in Tasmania.
Effects on other species
There is no scientific evidence that RHDV1 infects any other animals.
Australia has tested for the virus in at least 33 representative animal species, domesticated and wild, native and feral. All were given large doses of the virus and no signs of infection were observed. Worldwide, 43 different species have been tested and the virus did not infect any of them.
No evidence of RHDV1 infection has ever been reported for humans. International laboratories confirm that human infection with RHDV is not known to occur and no health effects have been seen, even in people working very closely with the virus.
In addition to rabbits, RHDV2 has been detected in hares in Europe.
RHDV1 K5 Tasmanian release sites - 2020
Release of
RHDV1 K5 was carried out at these locations in 2020:
South/South East
Acton Park
Adventure Bay
Austins Ferry
Bellerive
Berriedale
Bothwell
Brighton
Buckland
Cambridge
Claremont
Clifton Beach
Collinsvale
Cradoc
Eagle Hawk Neck
Franklin
Glenorchy
| Granton
Howden
Huonville
Judbury
Kellevie
Kettering
Kingston
Kingston Beach
Lauderdale
Lucaston
Lymington
Margate
Midway Point
Mt Nelson
Murdunna
Oatlands | Old Beach
Opossum Bay
Orford
Oyster Cove
Pelverata
Police Point
Richmond
Roches Beach
Saltwater River
Sandford
South Arm
South Hobart
Swansea
Taroona
Tranmere
Woodbridge |
North/North East
Bicheno
Binalong Bay
Campbell Town
Caveside
Chudleigh
Coles Bay
Conara
Deloraine
Deviot
Dilston
Exton
Falmouth
Frankford
George Town | Golden Valley
Gravelly Beach
Grindelwald
Hadspen
Hillwood
Kayena
Legana
Lilydale
Longford
Low Head
Mole Creek
Pioneer
Prospect
Red Hills
| Riverside
Robigana
Rosevears
Rowella
Scamander
Seymour
South Launceston
Summerhill
Swan Bay
Trevallyn
West Launceston
Westbury
Youngtown
|
North West
Aberdeen
Barrington
Cooee
Don
Forth
Gawler
Gunns Plains
Heybridge
Latrobe
Leith
| Northdown
Ocean Vista
Penguin
Port Sorell
Railton
Romaine
Shearwater
Sheffield
Shorewell Park
Somerset
| Sprent
Spreyton
Stony Rise
Strahan
Ulverstone
Wesley Vale
West Kentish
West Ulverstone
Wynyard
|