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Comparative Epidemiology of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Strains from Viral Sequence Data
Carlo Pacioni1,2, Robyn N Hall3, Tanja Strive3
1Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia.
Viruses
|January 21, 2023
Summary
European rabbits in Australia cause significant agricultural and biodiversity damage. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) strains RHDV1 and RHDV2 show similar dynamics but geographic differences and competition, aiding control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Virology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) introduced in 1859 pose a major threat to Australian agriculture and biodiversity.
- Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 1 (RHDV1) is a key biocontrol agent for landscape-scale rabbit population management.
- Monitoring the epidemiology and dynamics of field strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses is complex and resource-intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiology of different rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) strains in Australia.
- To use molecular data for dating the emergence of novel RHDV variants.
- To evaluate potential competitive interactions between different RHDV strains.
Main Methods:
- Phylodynamic modeling was employed to analyze available molecular data of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses.
- Analysis focused on determining the epidemiological patterns of various RHDV strains.
- Molecular data was used to estimate the emergence timelines of new RHDV variants.
Main Results:
- The two primary pathogenic lagovirus variants in Australia, RHDV1 and RHDV2, exhibited similar epidemiological dynamics post-release, albeit over different time scales (RHDV2 dynamics were substantially shorter).
- Significant geographic variations in the activity of RHDV1 and RHDV2 were observed across Australia.
- Evidence suggests direct competition occurring between the RHDV1 and RHDV2 strains.
Conclusions:
- Phylodynamic analysis provides valuable insights into the complex epidemiology of biocontrol viruses like RHDV.
- Understanding strain dynamics, geographic distribution, and inter-strain competition is crucial for optimizing rabbit biocontrol strategies in Australia.
- The findings support the continued use and monitoring of RHDV as a critical tool for managing invasive rabbit populations.
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