Effects of vaccination against viral haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis on long‐term mortality rates of European wild rabbits

Calvete, C.; Estrada, Rolando; Lucientes, Javier; Osácar, J. J.; Villafuerte, Rafael

doi:10.1136/vr.155.13.388

Cited by 33 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although management to increase rabbit numbers has been undertaken in the park (Moreno and Villafuerte 1995;LIFE 2002;Moreno et al 2004), no positive outcome is yet evident. Because diseases are difficult to manage or control in the wild (Calvete et al 2004), any effective future effort to increase rabbit populations should be based on reliable information that includes simultaneous data on population dynamics and field epidemiology (Cooke 2002). Future studies in this area should aim to gather such data and include comparative studies on differential predation impact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Ayala

Quintero

et al. 2007

Wildl. Res.

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Abstract. The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species native to the Iberian Peninsula, where it was once extremely abundant. It is considered the most important prey item for the peninsula's assemblage of Mediterranean vertebrate predators, which includes two endangered specialist rabbit feeders, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, rabbit population trends in Spain have not been accurately documented. In the present study, we analysed trends in a population of European rabbits monitored over 23 years in the Doñana National Park, home to one of the most diverse and densest predator communities in Europe. Rabbit abundance and population trends were estimated using roadside counts. Results show that the rabbit population declined sharply by ~60% during the first wave of epizootic rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in 1990. Since then, rabbit numbers have declined at a relatively constant rate and the species has become progressively scarcer in the area. The current population is less than 10% of that before the arrival of RHD. However, after the RHD epizootic we observed increasing intra-annual population recruitment. We hypothesise that density-dependent factors caused by enzootic viral diseases (myxomatosis, RHD) and higher predation of rabbits are the main factors preventing recovery of rabbit numbers. The effects of a decline in the prey species on the ecology of sympatric rabbit predators are discussed, and measures to improve ongoing rabbit conservation efforts are suggested.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Ayala

Quintero

et al. 2007

Wildl. Res.

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“…Since both myxomatosis and RHD have had a substantial impact on rabbit populations, many efforts have been made to rescue these populations by vaccinating rabbits against these viral diseases. The effectiveness of these vaccination campaigns has been debated by hunters, conservationists and wildlife managers because the success of these procedures has been generally negligible (Calvete et al 2004). According to our results, vaccination was marginally significant in the first exploratory analysis (Table 4) but it did not appear related to rabbit population change in our final model (see Results).…”

Section: Disease Prevention Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rabbit populations and game management: the situation after 15 years of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in central-southern Spain

2007

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Over recent decades wild rabbit populations have undergone a sharp decline in Spain with consequent negative impact both on a game-based economy, and on the conservation of threatened species that depend on rabbits. We investigated the relationships between rabbit population change and habitat and game management in central-southern Spain. To determine recent rabbit population changes we revisited 60 localities during summer 2002 to repeat surveys previously carried out in 1993. Each survey consisted of 4-km walked transects to record indices of rabbit abundance. The percentage of vegetation cover and of different soil types were also estimated during these transects. In the same areas, the type and intensity of game management practices were obtained by interviewing hunting managers, hunters or gamekeepers. Rabbit populations were stable or increasing only in 26.6% of the studied populations, more commonly in areas with soft soils where warren building is easier for rabbits and where rabbits were an important game species and managed to increase their numbers. Although we could not establish causality, habitat management and predator removal were the main management practices related to rabbit population change. Rabbit scarcity in Spain constitutes a serious problem for conservation, so hunters, researchers and policy makers need to reach a consensus to establish a longterm program to monitor rabbit population trends and share results obtained, especially when intense manage programs are being carried out to improve rabbit abundance.

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“…In turn, serological response against RHD in populations of wild adult rabbits in Spain previously vaccinated against RHD demonstrated seroprevalence results that ranged within 50-78%. At the same time it has been shown that vaccination campaigns, introduced in order to protect the wild rabbit population of the Iberian Peninsula and to keep the ecosystem in balance, led to a reduction in their mortality due to RHD (Cooke 2002, Calvete et al 2004, Arenas et al 2012. The HI titers of RHDV antibody in the majority of the tested sera were consistent with both ELISAs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological Survey for RHD Antibodies in Rabbits from Two Types of Rabbit Breeding Farms

Fitzner

Niedbalski

2016

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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Seroprevalence studies of RHDV antibodies in domestic rabbits were conducted between [2008][2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014]. A total of 12,169 sera from the provinces of central, southern and south-east Poland, including 7,570 samples collected from mixed-breed rabbits reared in smallholder farms and nearly 4,600 sera taken mainly from unvaccinated rabbits kept in industrial farms, were examined using ELISA tests. Additionally, cross-reactivity of selected tested and control archival sera using both classic RHDV and RHDVa antigens was determined by HI assay. The overall seroprevalence was 13.3%. In rabbits with unkown history of immunisation or RHD infection which came from small farms, RHDV antibodies were detected in 6.1% ranging between 1.0% to 17.2% of animals. In rabbits of the same group, but with a declared vaccination status, or confirmed exposure to an infectious virus, or coming from exposed females, the seroprevalence ranged from 83% to 100%. Among unvaccinated meat rabbits aged 71 to 90 days from industrial farms, low (1.85%, 4.17%, 11%), medium (34%, 54%) or high rates (98.7%) of seropositivity were detected. The seroconversion recorded in adult vaccinated females from industrial farms was 70% and 95%. Generally, the antibody levels examined by ELISAs and HI were comparable. However, a number of sera from the rabbits from small farms, as well as archival sera, showed clear differences. Several-fold differences in antibody titers, evidenced mainly in the postoutbreak sera, indictaed the contact of animals with RHDVa antigen. The overall results of the survey revealed a great proportion of seronegative rabbits potentially highly susceptible to RHD infection. In combination with the emergence of a novel pathogenic RHD virus type (RHDV2), it poses a severe risk of a next wave of fatal disease cases spreading in the native population of domestic rabbits, especially in farms with a traditional system of husbandry.

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Effects of vaccination against viral haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis on long‐term mortality rates of European wild rabbits

Cited by 33 publications

References 23 publications

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Rabbit populations and game management: the situation after 15 years of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in central-southern Spain

Serological Survey for RHD Antibodies in Rabbits from Two Types of Rabbit Breeding Farms

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