European rabbits

RHDV1K5 is a variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1) that causes a fatal haemorrhagic disease in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). It is specific to the European rabbit, and once a rabbit shows symptoms, death is rapid. There is no treatment or cure for rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD); however a vaccine for domestic and production rabbits is available.

RHDV1 K5 should work in all areas where rabbits are found. However, it is expected to see the greatest benefits of RHDV1 K5 in the cool-wet regions of the country. An endemic benign virus is found in the cool-wet regions and temporarily protects rabbits from the Czech strain of RHDV1 (released in 1996). RHDV1 K5 can overcome this protection, so it is likely that in these cool-wet regions we will see an improvement in RHDV biocontrol.

Both variants cause the same disease; however the RHDV1 K5 variant is better adapted to overcome the protective effects of the benign calicivirus detected several years ago in Australian rabbits.

These benign viruses can temporarily protect rabbits from infection with our current variant of RHDV. These benign viruses are predominantly found in the cool-wet regions of Australia, usually areas with higher production and biodiversity values – where typically RHDV has not worked as well as it has in more arid environments. The use of the RHDV1 K5 variant should improve the effectiveness of RHDV in these cool-wet regions and continue to supress rabbit numbers throughout their distribution, particularly in conjunction with other forms of control.

The Korean strain of RHDV1 is now available for use and purchase via NSW DPI. Please see our management section for more information

RHDV is a Schedule 4 restricted chemical product and can only be supplied to  persons who are authorised to use the product under the laws of their state or territory.  Different states and territories have different authorising systems.  Requirements to become authorised vary across the states and territories and individuals should contact their relevant state or territory authority (https://apvma.gov.au/node/3190)

We recommend contacting your local biosecurity and land management officers to discuss the use of RHDV1 K5 in conjunction with appropriate additional rabbit control tools on your property.

Rabbits that are infected with RHDV first develop symptoms anywhere from 24-72 hours after infection and usually succumb within 6-36 hours after the first symptoms appear. Many infected animals show no signs of disease and die suddenly. Some animals may exhibit lethargy or excitement before death. Animals die from the rapid onset of multiple organ failure. Given the short disease time and the sudden death from rapid organ failure, RHDV continues to be one of the most humane control methods for rabbits.

RHDV is one of the more humane methods of controlling wild rabbits. Basically the rabbits end up with ‘cold-like’ symptoms, become lethargic and then die quickly. Post-infection, there is a rise in body temperature lasting up to 24 hours, followed, in 70–90% of cases, by death up to 48 hours after the onset of a fever (see humaneness assessment above). The overall welfare impact prior to death has been assessed as low using the relative humaneness model developed under the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy.

RHDV is spread by insect vectors, such as bushflies and blowflies. Direct contact between a rabbit and a rabbit carcass with RHDV is also an avenue of spread. Animals that predate on rabbit carcasses such as foxes, dogs and cats may also excrete the virus in their faeces.

In Australia, no variant of RHDV1 has ever been found to cause infection in any other animal except the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Even predatory animals that eat rabbits that have died from RHDV1 do not develop an infection.

There have been a number of examinations by the CSIROs Australian Animal Health Laboratories, of the impact of RHDV1 on animals other than rabbits.

This has included a large array of production animals, native wildlife and even a selection of feral animals. These studies showed that in all cases no animals other than European rabbits develop disease from the virus. This included animals directly exposed to the virus or those that have consumed rabbit carcasses.

The stringent approval process performed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority considered all of the information available on potential impacts to native animals before the approval for RHDV1 K5 to be used to control rabbits was given. The protection of native species is the main goal in reducing rabbit populations and their safety has been of utmost importance in the process of developing the tools to minimise the impacts of rabbits.

The release of RHDV1 K5 will be using a carrot bait. It has been found that rabbits are naturally attracted to carrots and generally prefer it over other bait types. While other animals will eat carrot, they cannot become diseased from RHDV1 K5 and the manner in which the bait is put out also reduces the risk of other animals taking the bait.

Prior to RHDV1 K5 being released, carrots will be put out in the locations where rabbits are on the properties. This will allow us to know how much carrot is required to allow only the rabbits to consume it. Carrots will only be put out late in the afternoon to reduce the risk of diurnal animals access it and any left-over carrots will be removed the following morning. RHDV1 K5 is a virus and does not have an afterlife or dormancy like a poison does. The virus can persist in rabbit carcasses for a few weeks but does not persist for as long in the environment before it degrades completely.

References:

• Carman, J. A., et al. “Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and human health.” Epidemiology and infection 121.02 (1998): 409-418.
• Cooke, Brian D., and Frank Fenner. “Rabbit haemorrhagic disease and the biological control of wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, in Australia and New Zealand.” Wildlife Research 29.6 (2003): 689-706.

To mitigate any short term impact of feral predators on native animals or livestock in conservation sensitive or high risk areas, it is recommended that an integrated pest management approach be undertaken, with plans in place for feral predator control concurrent with rabbit control

There is no direct evidence to support that prey-switching by feral or native predators (foxes, feral cats, quolls as examples) is a major conservation risk to native animals in Australia.

In fact, scientific evidence shows that reduced rabbit abundance levels can lead to reduce feral cat and fox abundance and in turn reduce predation of native fauna and recovery of threatened prey populations.

More specifically, recent research in South Australia, analysing more than 45 years’ worth of data, has found that three threatened mammals in South Australia have staged dramatic recoveries in the past 20 years, predominately due to the release of the Czech strain of RHDV1 in 1996. This reduced rabbit numbers, with associated reductions in their main predators, cats and foxes, leading to native mammals having less competition for food and less predation pressure.

References:

• Mutze, G. (2016), Continental-scale analysis of feral cat diet in Australia, prey-switching and the risk: benefit of rabbit control. Journal of Biogeography.
• Pedler, R. D., Brandle, R., Read, J. L., Southgate, R., Bird, P. and Moseby, K. E. (2016), Rabbit biocontrol and landscape-scale recovery of threatened desert mammals. Conservation Biology.
• Read, J. & Bowen, Z. (2001), Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia. Wildlife Research.

Yes. The current vaccine has been shown to be effective against RHDV1 K5.

Rabbits are estimated to cost over $200 million in lost agricultural production every year. Rabbits compete with grazing stock for food, contribute to soil erosion and destabilise the structural integrity of the land potentially leading to injury of livestock. Rabbits are also linked to the decline of native animals and plant species throughout their range. It is suggested that rabbits impact on 304 threatened species in Australia.

Rabbits are not only a regional issue. Rabbits do occur in urban environments, such as sports grounds, within parklands, along railway tracks and in urban remnant bushland areas.

Currently there is no dollar value on the impact of rabbits on the environment; however, their impact is known to be significant. Rabbits continue to compete with native wildlife for food, contribute to soil erosion and subsequently desertification of the Australian environment, severely limit the regenerative ability of many plants and plant communities including endangered species and in some cases, can support populations of introduced predators that also prey on native wildlife.