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1
Smertina, Elena, Luca M. Keller, Nina Huang, et al. "First Detection of Benign Rabbit Caliciviruses in Chile." Viruses 16, no. 3 (2024): 439. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v16030439.
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Pathogenic lagoviruses (Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, RHDV) are widely spread across the world and are used in Australia and New Zealand to control populations of feral European rabbits. The spread of the non-pathogenic lagoviruses, e.g., rabbit calicivirus (RCV), is less well studied as the infection results in no clinical signs. Nonetheless, RCV has important implications for the spread of RHDV and rabbit biocontrol as it can provide varying levels of cross-protection against fatal infection with pathogenic lagoviruses. In Chile, where European rabbits are also an introduced species, myxoma virus was used for localised biocontrol of rabbits in the 1950s. To date, there have been no studies investigating the presence of lagoviruses in the Chilean feral rabbit population. In this study, liver and duodenum rabbit samples from central Chile were tested for the presence of lagoviruses and positive samples were subject to whole RNA sequencing and subsequent data analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a novel RCV variant in duodenal samples that likely originated from European RCVs. Sequencing analysis also detected the presence of a rabbit astrovirus in one of the lagovirus-positive samples.
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Twigg, Laurie E., Tim J. Lowe, Garry S. Gray, Gary R. Martin, Amanda G. Wheeler, and William Barker. "Spotlight counts, site fidelity and migration of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)." Wildlife Research 25, no. 2 (1998): 113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97065.
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Regardless of their sex and age, the persistence of 76 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) translocated onto 5 different sites with relatively low rabbit densities was identical to that of resident rabbits. Emigration and exploratory movements by rabbits from 12 discrete populations were positively correlated with rabbit density and mainly undertaken by adult rabbits. Adult males moved significantly more often and further than adult females. Two peaks in immigration were observed; a large peak (usually in January) immediately following the breeding season, and a second but smaller peak in March which preceded the start of the next breeding season. Again, significantly more adult males than females immigrated. The proportion of rabbits seen in spotlight counts was positively correlated with rabbit density, which suggests that biases in population estimates could result in some situations. No clear patterns on the effects of a variety of weather variables on spotlight counts could be established, but increasing rainfall, wind speed and moonlight may have reduced rabbit activity.
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Neves, Fabiana, Joana Abrantes, Tereza Almeida, Paulo P. Costa, and Pedro J. Esteves. "Evolutionary Insights into IL17A in Lagomorphs." Mediators of Inflammation 2015 (2015): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/367670.
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In leporids, IL17A had been implicated in the host defense against extracellular pathogens, such asFrancisella tularensisthat infects hares and rabbits and causes the zoonotic disease tularemia. Here, we studied IL17A from five lagomorphs, European rabbit, pygmy rabbit, brush rabbit, European brown hare, and American pika. We observed that this protein is highly conserved between these species, with a similarity of 97–99% in leporids and ~88% between leporids and American pika. The exon/intron structure, N-glycosylation sites, and cysteine residues are conserved between lagomorphs. However, at codon 88, one of the interaction sites between IL17A and its receptor IL17RA, there is an Arg>Pro mutation that only occurs in European rabbit and European brown hare. This could induce critical alterations in the IL17A structure and conformation and consequently modify its function. The differences observed between leporids and humans or rodents might also represent important alterations in protein structure and function. In addition, as for other interleukins, IL17A sequences of human and European rabbit are more closely related than the sequences of human and mouse or European rabbit and mouse. This study gives further support to the hypothesis that European rabbit might be a more suitable animal model for studies on human IL17.
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Mutze, Greg, Brian Cooke, and Scott Jennings. "Estimating density-dependent impacts of European rabbits on Australian tree and shrub populations." Australian Journal of Botany 64, no. 2 (2016): 142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt15208.
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Introduced European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, can severely damage Australian native vegetation but the problem is difficult to quantify because simple methods to estimate rabbit impacts are lacking. Management decision-making is often uncertain because of unknown relationships between rabbit density and damage. We tested simple quantitative sampling methods using belt transects to detect differences in critical characteristics of perennial vegetation communities affected by rabbit browsing: damage to individual juvenile shrubs and trees, and loss of recruitment cohorts. Rabbit density and relative abundance of larger herbivores were estimated from dung pellet density. The prevalence of identifiable rabbit browse on juvenile plants increased with increasing rabbit density and was higher for plant species considered by previous authors to be highly palatable than for moderately palatable or unpalatable species. At densities of ≥0.5 rabbits ha–1, highly palatable plant species were severely damaged as juveniles and cohorts in 0.3–1.0 m height classes and 5–20 mm basal diameter classes were missing. Similar damage became apparent in moderately palatable species at 2 rabbits ha–1 but was rarely seen in unpalatable species. Within species, size cohort evenness was inversely related to the proportion of surviving juveniles with identifiable rabbit damage. The effect of rabbits on native vegetation condition can be recorded in a simple manner suitable for identifying density-damage relationships and changes in vegetation condition over time. It is particularly useful in setting target densities below which rabbits must be managed to maintain natural plant recruitment and ecosystem function in conservation reserves and pastoral grazing properties of southern Australia.
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Peacock, David E., and Ron G. Sinclair. "Longevity record for a wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from South Australia." Australian Mammalogy 31, no. 1 (2009): 65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am08108.
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A population of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been monitored since November 1996 through mark–recapture as part of a longitudinal epidemiological study into two Australian rabbit biocontrol agents, rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and myxomatosis. A female rabbit, first captured as a subadult in late November 1999, was recaptured 18 times before its final capture at the end of February 2007. The longevity of this rabbit, being from its calculated birth date to the date it was last captured, was 7.6 years. A review of the literature indicates this to be the longest lifespan recorded for a European rabbit in the wild.
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Moreno, Sacramento, Juan F. Beltrán, Irene Cotilla, et al. "Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain." Wildlife Research 34, no. 8 (2007): 652. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr06142.
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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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Paul, Gabriele, and Daniel Friend. "Mucoid enteropathy/epizootic rabbit enteropathy in two species of cottontail rabbits: four recent cases." Wildlife Rehabilitation Bulletin 41, no. 1 (2023): 9–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.53607/wrb.v41.260.
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Mucoid enteropathy/epizootic rabbit enteropathy is a disease of domestic European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that has been recognized for nearly 50 years but is still not well understood. Morbidity and mortality are high and can lead to large losses in domestic rabbit production facilities. Recently, the Colorado Wild Rabbit Foundation identified four cases with similar presentations in two species of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) undergoing rehabilitation (2020–2022). Clinical signs, gross pathology, and histopathology findings were consistent with what has been described in domestic rabbits.
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Rouco, C., P. Ferreras, F. Castro, and R. Villafuerte. "The effect of exclusion of terrestrial predators on short-term survival of translocated European wild rabbits." Wildlife Research 35, no. 7 (2008): 625. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr07151.
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Many translocation methods have been tested in southern Europe in recent decades to increase the translocation success of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) for both conservation and game purposes. The main problem experienced during such translocations is the high short-term (7 days) mortality attributed to predation during the days immediately following rabbit release. In this study, we test the effect of the exclusion of terrestrial predators on the survival of translocated rabbits for recovery purposes. Four translocation plots (4 ha with 18 artificial warrens each) were constructed, two of them with a fence to exclude terrestrial predators. In all, 724 rabbits were released to the translocation plots in five batches and forced to remain inside warrens for 7 days. Following liberation, exclusion of predators did not increase rabbit survival in the short term. Contrary to expectations, three months after release, survival of rabbits in the unfenced plot was slightly, but not significantly, higher than in the fenced plot (0.57 and 0.40 respectively). Although predator control is a frequent management practice associated with rabbit translocations, our results suggest that it may not favour rabbit survival rate as much as the adaptation of rabbits to the release site.
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Rizwan, Muhammad, Rana Manzoor Ahmad, Abdul Majid Khan, Misbah Khalid, and Muhammad Wajid. "Craniometric Analysis of European Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Breeds to Trace out Intraspecific and Inter Gender Morphometric Variations." Journal of Bioresource Management 8, no. 3 (2021): 41–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.35691/jbm.1202.0194.
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The family Liproidae expresses the significant variation of morphometric features at species level. In already available literature on the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) the idea is proposed that there can be variation in the morphometric character of different breeds of Oryctolagus cuniculus but there are negligible scientific research base evidences for it. So in this study interbreed craniometric comparison of the European rabbit is carried out to trace out their intergender and intraspecific morphometric variations. The study material consists of 32 sexually mature rabbits belong to two breeds of European rabbit that are New Zealand rabbit (eight males and eight females) and American Dutch rabbit (eight males and eight females) collected from different districts of the Punjab, Pakistan. There were 29 different measurements taken from the skull and mandible of both breeds by using digital and manual verniar calipers. The results of this study have revealed that there is significant interbreed variation in the nasal length measurement of the New Zealand and American Dutch rabbit. This significant interbreed difference in nasal length is observed in both female as well as male rabbits (p=0.0059 and 0.0069 respectively). The current study also depicts that inter gender craniometric variations exist in the New Zealand as well as American Dutch rabbit. The standard deviation of the foramen magnum index of the both included breeds is comparatively higher than all the other included morphometric features. This study provides the baseline data on interbreed craniometric variations in the Oryctolagus cuniculus.
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Mutze, Greg, Brian Cooke, Mark Lethbridge, and Scott Jennings. "A rapid survey method for estimating population density of European rabbits living in native vegetation." Rangeland Journal 36, no. 3 (2014): 239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj13117.
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European rabbits are severe environmental pests in Australia but reporting of density-damage relationships has been hindered by a lack of simple methods to estimate the density of rabbit populations in native vegetation. A methodology for quantifying rabbit densities suitable for use in sparse populations of rabbits in conjunction with surveys of the condition of native vegetation is proposed. Dung pellets were counted in 11 629 regularly-spaced quadrats of 0.1 m2 in semiarid, coastal and cool-temperate areas of southern Australia. Mean pellet counts in latrines and the relationship between dung counts outside of latrines and the proportion of quadrats falling on latrines were quantified. This allowed density of dung pellets to be estimated by using a correction factor for latrines instead of attempting to count all pellets within quadrats that included parts of latrines. Rabbit density was calculated from pellet density based on mean pellet size, pellet breakdown rate and estimates of rabbits’ dry matter intake and digestive efficiency. Results were validated against estimates of rabbit density from long-term studies using a combination of spotlight transect counts and burrow entrance counts. The proposed methodology allows estimates of rabbit density in native vegetation to be obtained from just a few hours work and can be used in conjunction with surveys of the condition of native vegetation to quantify rabbit impacts. This methodology is seen as particularly useful in providing a tool to allow rabbit densities to be estimated and then compared with the thresholds, determined separately, at which damage occurs for given ecosystems.
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Berman, D., M. Brennan, and P. Elsworth. "How can warren destruction by ripping control European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on large properties in the Australian arid zone?" Wildlife Research 38, no. 1 (2011): 77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr09178.
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Context For over 100 years, control efforts have been unable to stop rabbits causing damage to cattle production and native plants and animals on large properties in arid parts of Australia. Warren destruction by ripping has shown promise, but doubts about long-term success and the perceived expense of treating vast areas have led to this technique not being commonly used. Aims This study measured the long-term reduction in rabbit activity and calculated the potential cost saving associated with treating just the areas where rabbits are believed to survive drought. We also considered whether ripping should be used in a full-scale rabbit control program on a property where rabbits have been exceptionally resilient to the influence of biological and other control measures. Methods Rabbits were counted along spotlight transects before warrens were ripped and during the two years after ripping, in treated and untreated plots. Rabbit activity was recorded to determine the immediate and long-term impact of ripping, up to seven years after treatment. The costs of ripping warrens within different distances from drought refuge areas were calculated. Key results Destroying rabbit warrens by ripping caused an immediate reduction in rabbit activity and there were still 98% fewer rabbits counted by spotlight in ripped plots five months after ripping. Seven years after ripping no active warrens were found in ripped plots, whereas 57% of warrens in unripped plots showed signs of rabbit activity. The cost of ripping only the areas where rabbits were likely to seek refuge from drought was calculated to be less than 4% of the cost of ripping all warrens on the property. Conclusions Destroying rabbit warrens by ripping is a very effective way of reducing rabbit numbers on large properties in arid Australia. Ripping should commence in areas used by rabbits to survive drought. It is possible that no further ripping will be required. Implications Strategic destruction of warrens in drought refuge areas could provide an alternative to biological control for managing rabbits on large properties in the Australian arid zone.
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Pennell, Christopher G. L., M. Philip Rolston, A. David M. Latham, et al. "Novel grass–endophyte associations reduce the feeding behaviour of invasive European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)." Wildlife Research 43, no. 8 (2016): 681. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr16114.
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Context Small mammalian herbivores, such as European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), can have significant unwanted impacts on agriculture and horticulture and can attract birds of prey and avian scavengers to airports, increasing the risk of bird strike. Sustainable wildlife management tools that have high efficacy and animal welfare are needed to mitigate these impacts. Aim We assessed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) cultivars associated with selected Epichloë endophytes, originally developed for bird management at airports, to determine their feeding-deterrent properties towards invasive rabbits. Methods A pellet feed trial using caged domestic rabbits and a pen trial using wild rabbits were conducted to assess rabbit responses to food pellets with novel endophyte-infected or uninfected grass seed and to plots planted with endophyte-infected or uninfected grasses, respectively. Key results Caged rabbits ate significantly less food pellets containing endophyte-infected grass straw than pellets containing endophyte-free grass straw. Wild rabbits consumed significantly less herbage from plots planted with endophyte-infected grasses than those of the equivalent endophyte-free grass cultivars. Temporal patterns of rabbit feeding behaviour support the hypothesis that deterrence in rabbits resulted from post-ingestion feedback associated with grass–endophyte secondary metabolites. Conclusions Although more research is required on the exact mechanism of action in rabbits, our results suggest novel endophyte-infected grass associations may substantially reduce rabbit feeding behaviour and possibly rabbit numbers in areas where these grasses are sown. Implications Novel grass–endophyte associations have great potential for deterring problem wildlife at airports and other amenity areas.
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Coelho, Catarina, Madalena Vieira-Pinto, Anabela Vilares, et al. "PCR Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Portugal." Microorganisms 8, no. 12 (2020): 1926. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8121926.
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Wildlife plays an important role in the epidemiological cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can be a source of infection to wild and domestic hosts, including human beings. Additionally, as an herbivorous animal, the European wild rabbit may also be a sentinel of environmental contamination with T. gondii and, consequently, an indicator of the potential transmission of this parasite. The purpose of the present work was to detect T. gondii DNA in European wild rabbit from central Portugal, as well as the possible implications for public health. Heart and diaphragm samples were obtained from 28 rabbits hunted in central Portugal. Nested PCR separately amplified the 5′ and 3′ ends of the surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene. T. gondii DNA was detected in 19 out of the 28 sampled animals, resulting in a prevalence of 67.9%. These results show that T. gondii infection occurs in European wild rabbit and therefore may pose a potential risk for humans if consumed as raw or undercooked meat. Measures should be taken in order to prevent infection by this zoonotic parasite and for the conservation of wildlife. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed by means of PCR on T. gondii in European wild rabbit meat samples.
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Jahnke, Marlene, Edward C. Holmes, Peter J. Kerr, John D. Wright, and Tanja Strive. "Evolution and Phylogeography of the Nonpathogenic Calicivirus RCV-A1 in Wild Rabbits in Australia." Journal of Virology 84, no. 23 (2010): 12397–404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jvi.00777-10.
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ABSTRACT Despite its potential importance for the biological control of European rabbits, relatively little is known about the evolution and molecular epidemiology of rabbit calicivirus Australia 1 (RCV-A1). To address this issue we undertook an extensive evolutionary analysis of 36 RCV-A1 samples collected from wild rabbit populations in southeast Australia between 2007 and 2009. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the entire capsid sequence, six clades of RCV-A1 were defined, each exhibiting strong population subdivision. Strikingly, our estimates of the time to the most recent common ancestor of RCV-A1 coincide with the introduction of rabbits to Australia in the mid-19th century. Subsequent divergence events visible in the RCV-A1 phylogenies likely reflect key moments in the history of the European rabbit in Australia, most notably the bottlenecks in rabbit populations induced by the two viral biocontrol agents used on the Australian continent, myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). RCV-A1 strains therefore exhibit strong phylogeographic separation and may constitute a useful tool to study recent host population dynamics and migration patterns, which in turn could be used to monitor rabbit control in Australia.
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Varela, Fernando. "Myxomatosis and Radioactivity in Carlos Saura’s La caza (The Hunt, 1966)." Environmental Humanities 14, no. 1 (2022): 129–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1215/22011919-9481473.
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Abstract The myxoma virus (MYXV) was used in Australia in 1950 to control, albeit temporarily, the overpopulation of the invasive European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). A different strand of the virus was released in France two years later, resulting in the drastic decline of European rabbits in the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The MYXV’s disease, myxomatosis, is a highly contagious and normally fatal infection in a rabbit species lacking resistance, such as the European rabbit. As myxomatosis was spreading across the European continent, Spain started to invest in nuclear energy. The use of myxomatosis as a bioweapon and the creation of nuclear energy capable of radioactive pollution are also at the core of Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura’s La caza (The Hunt, 1966). This article argues that The Hunt provides an important examination on extinction and biopolitics at both local and global levels through its portrayal of myxomatosis and radioactivity.
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Olsen, Jerry, Brian Cooke, Susan Trost, and David Judge. "Is wedge-tailed eagle, Aquila audax, survival and breeding success closely linked to the abundance of European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus?" Wildlife Research 41, no. 2 (2014): 95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14033.
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Context Some ecologists argue that nesting success and abundance of wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax) are strongly linked to the abundance of introduced wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Consequently, concerns were expressed about eagle population viability when the biological control agent rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) heavily reduced rabbit numbers. However, observations following the spread of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in Australia and Spain (where Aquila adalberti is an equivalent of A. audax) question this assertion. Eagle numbers did not fall even though rabbits declined regionally by up to 90% in both countries. Aims To reconsider the assumption of a strong link between rabbit abundance and wedge-tailed eagle breeding and population maintenance. Dispelling misconceptions, if any, about the eagles’ dependence on rabbits would benefit the future management of both eagles and rabbits. Methods We reviewed the literature associated with claims that eagles were heavily dependent on rabbits and asked whether these views could be substantiated given the lack of changes in eagle abundance following the spread of RHD. Data on eagle egg-clutch size and nesting success were also reviewed. Conclusions There is little evidence that eagles depend heavily on rabbits as prey. Instead, as rabbits decline, more kangaroos, reptiles and birds are eaten, partly because more native prey becomes available. Eagles have a high proportion of rabbits in their diets mainly where degradation of natural ecosystems, including that caused by rabbits, results in native prey being rare or unavailable. There has been minimal variation in average clutch size following major perturbations in rabbit population size. Implications Rather than perpetuating the idea that high populations of rabbits are needed for wedge-tailed eagle conservation, resources would be better re-directed into understanding continental-scale eagle population dynamics. This would provide a more rational framework to assist decisions on future biological control agents for rabbits.
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Kontsiotis, Vasileios J., Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis, and Vasilios Liordos. "Impact of European wild rabbits foraging in different habitat and vegetation types in an insular environment." Mammalia 82, no. 2 (2018): 193–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2016-0132.
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AbstractEuropean wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are prolific herbivores, affecting natural and agricultural ecosystems. We installed 10 experimental units, each consisting of two fenced plots, one excluding all herbivores and one allowing rabbit access only, to estimate the impact of rabbit grazing in three vegetation types occurring in two dominant habitat types on Lemnos Island, Greece. Plant productivity was significantly higher in barley crops than on both fallow land and Mediterranean scrublands. Rabbit grazing caused significant reduction of productivity in barley crops and Mediterranean scrublands, but not on fallow land. Selective feeding and seasonal food availability may have shaped patterns of rabbit impact.
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Gidenne, Thierry, Laurence Fortun-Lamothe, Yayu Huang, and Davi Savietto. "Pastured rabbit systems and organic certification: European union regulations and technical and economic performance in France." World Rabbit Science 32, no. 2 (2024): 83–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2024.20894.
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In the European Union (EU), organic rabbit farming (ORF) remains uncommon (≈50 farms), found mainly in France, and to a much lesser extent in Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. As rabbits are herbivorous, ORF is based mainly on grazing. This review summarises information on the functioning and performance of rabbit farming systems in France, with organic certification and/or access to pasture. Recent studies have quantified the grass intake (30 to 80 g dry matter/d/rabbit) and growth rate of rabbits on pasture (15 to 30 g/d). ORF has an extensive production cycle with a mean of 2.7 parturitions per doe and per year. The main concerns for the farmers developing ORF include available land and managing health and feeding. However, in France, a herd with 40 does on 4 ha (of pastures and complementary crops), can provide a halftime minimum salary. Since January 2022, a new regulation on ORF is applied for all EU member countries that recommends a maximum use of pasture but nevertheless allows farmers to keep a herd with 40 does on only 200 m² of pasture. It also does not require rotating rabbits on the pasture between batches of animals, wich increases the risk of parasitism. A smartphone application (GAELA) was recently developed to assist with daily management of rabbit farming, and to build a database of technical benchmarks to support the development of organic and pastured rabbit farming in France.
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Birolo, Marco. "Feeding, Nutrition and Rearing Systems of the Rabbit." Animals 13, no. 8 (2023): 1305. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13081305.
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During the last years, several issues have contributed to a progressive decline in rabbit meat consumption in the European Union, including consumers’ concerns for animal welfare, the unsuitable presentation of the end product, an increased popularity of rabbits as pet animals, high production costs (aggravated by the ongoing geopolitical crises), and criticism about the environmental sustainability of rabbit farms [...]
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Kossoff, Angelina, Sheila Schueller, Hannah Nossan, Ian Slack, Pavlos Avramidis, and Johannes Foufopoulos. "Ecological Impacts of Introduced European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Island Ecosystems in the Mediterranean." Diversity 16, no. 4 (2024): 244. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d16040244.
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The Cyclades Islands (Aegean Sea, Greece) are part of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot and harbor a plethora of endemic species. Plant communities on the smaller islands in this region have largely evolved in the absence of herbivory and frequently lack antiherbivore defenses. This study evaluates the short- and long-term effects of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), an herbivore that has been released on numerous islands in the region, by comparing islands that 1. have historically been rabbit-free (ungrazed); 2. are currently grazed by rabbits, and 3. have previously been grazed, but are now rabbit-free. Ecological impacts of rabbits on the Aegean Islands were investigated by assessing the abundance, composition, and diversity of plant and arthropod communities as well as soil characteristics. Our results indicate that ungrazed islands have more arthropod species, more specialized or endemic plant species, and less exposed soil than currently grazed islands. While ungrazed islands did not necessarily possess higher total plant species richness, they did harbor significantly more small-island endemic taxa relative to presently grazed islands. This study indicates that native plant communities on Mediterranean islets are not adapted to the presence of this introduced species and that the practice of intentionally releasing rabbits on islands has significant and lasting negative ecological impacts, especially on small islands. While a complete recovery of post-rabbit was not evident over the time span of our research, both arthropod and plant data indicate that partial recovery is possible once rabbits have been removed.
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Emam, Ahmed Mostafa, Sandra Afonso, Pedro González-Redondo, et al. "Status and origin of Egyptian local rabbits in comparison with Spanish common rabbits using mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis." World Rabbit Science 28, no. 2 (2020): 93. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.12219.
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<p>Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequences were used to determine the status of genetic diversity and phylogeny for 132 individuals from local rabbit breeds in Egypt and Spain. The Egyptian local rabbit breeds were Egyptian Red Baladi (ERB), Egyptian Black Baladi (EBB) and Egyptian Gabali Sinai (EGS). However, the Spanish local rabbit breed was Spanish common rabbit (SCR). Previous breeds were compared with European Wild Rabbit taken from Albacete, Spain (EWR). A total of 353 mutations, 290 polymorphic sites, 14 haplotypes, 0.06126 haplotype diversity and -1.900 (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt;&lt;0.05) for Tajima’s D were defined in this study. Haplotype A mostly occurred in 83.3% of Egyptian rabbits and 11.7% of EWR, while haplotype B occurred in 63.8% of Spanish rabbits and 36.2% of the EGS breed. A total of 47 domestic and wild &lt;em&gt;Oryctolagus cuniculus&lt;/em&gt; published sequences were used to investigate the origin and relation among the rabbit breeds tested in this study. The most common haplotype (A) was combined with 44.7% of published sequences. However, haplotype B was combined with 8.5%. Haplotypes of Egyptian, SCR and EWR were scattered in cluster 1, while we found only one EGS haplotype with two haplotypes of EWR in cluster 2. Our results assumed that genetic diversity for ERB, EBB and SCR was very low. Egyptian breeds and SCR were introduced from European rabbits. We found that ERB and EBB belong to one breed.</p>
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Gübelin, Patricia, Jennifer Paola Correa-Cuadros, María Isidora Ávila-Thieme, et al. "European Rabbit Invasion in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of Chile: How Relevant Is Its Role in Food Webs?" Life 13, no. 4 (2023): 916. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life13040916.
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The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the main invasive species in Chile, where it became naturalized ca. 150 years ago. Their high reproductive capacity, lack of specialist predators, and great adaptability favored the settlement of rabbits in diverse mainland and island ecosystems of the country. Recently, rabbits have become central players in semi-arid ecosystems, such as those represented in Las Chinchillas National Reserve in north-central Chile. We undertook to analyze the place and role of rabbits in the food web of that Reserve, based on a bibliographic review and long-term annual data gathered from 1987 until 2022 (36 years). Results showed that the network comprised 77 species, where 69% were primary producers (plants), 18% were mid-level consumers (herbivores), and 13% were top-level consumers (predators). The most connected species in the food web was the rabbit, which positively or negatively affected the species interacting with it. Predators such as Galictis cuja, Geranoaetus polyosoma, Leopardus colocolo, and Puma concolor, and the scavenger Vultur gryphus, could be negatively affected by an eventual decrease (natural or human-caused) in the rabbit population of the Reserve. To the contrary, primary producers such as Oxalis perdicaria, Plantago hispidula, Schizanthus parvulus, Senna cumminggi, and Tropaeolum azureum could be positively affected by an increase in their biomass in response to a decrease in rabbits, favoring native rodents. We consider that analyzing the rabbit-centered food web and its impacts on native interacting species allows a better understanding of the relevance of invasive species in the local community, providing conceptual tools for rabbit management.
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Calvete, Carlos, Enrique Pelayo, and Javier Sampietro. "Habitat factors related to wild rabbit population trends after the initial impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease." Wildlife Research 33, no. 6 (2006): 467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05107.
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The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an introduced pest species in Australia and New Zealand. Rabbits have a devastating negative impact on agricultural production and biodiversity in these countries, and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is currently included in control strategies for rabbit populations. On the other hand, the European wild rabbit is a key native prey species in the Iberian Peninsula. Since the arrival of RHD, however, rabbit populations have undergone dramatic decreases and several predator species at risk of extinction are currently dependent on the rabbit population density. Therefore, from the point of view of biodiversity conservation, evaluating habitat correlates and trends of rabbit populations after the first RHD epizootic is of great interest to improve the long-term control or promotion of wild rabbit populations. We estimated the relationship between habitat factors and long-term population trends as well as the relationships between habitat factors and rabbit abundance 2 and 14 years after the arrival of RHD in several Iberian rabbit populations. We observed that only 26% of surveyed populations seemed to experience an increase in rabbit abundance over the last 12 years and that this increase was higher in the low-rabbit-abundance areas of l992, leading to high rabbit abundance in 2004. Our results suggested that short- and long-term impacts of RHD were related to habitat quality. The initial impact of RHD was higher in more suitable habitats, but increasing long-term population trends were positively related to good habitat quality.
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Zheng, Tao, Anna M. Napier, John P. Parkes, Joseph S. O'Keefe, and Paul H. Atkinson. "Detection of RNA of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus from New Zealand wild rabbits." Wildlife Research 29, no. 6 (2002): 683. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01071.
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Rabbit numbers have returned to high levels in some areas of New Zealand following the initial spread of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). We undertook to determine whether possible infection with an RHDV-related virus was interfering with the initiation of new outbreaks of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). RHDV RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) using RHDV-specific primers from tissue samples of wild rabbits that had been shot in the field. RHDV RNA was detected in 11 of 19 rabbits from an area of Otago where the rabbit population had greatly expanded and in 2 of 8 rabbits from the West Coast where outbreaks of RHD had not been previously reported. Among the 13 rabbits positive for RHDV RNA, 10 had detectable antibodies against RHDV. The nucleotide sequences of the isolates — a segment of the RHDV capsid gene — shared about 99% identity with that of the Czech strain V351 and that of a 1997 New Zealand wild isolate, but shared only about 84% identity with that of a European benign rabbit calicivirus. These results provide evidence for persistent infection of RHDV in rabbits.
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King, DR, AJ Oliver, and SH Wheeler. "The European Rabbit Flea, Spilopsyllus Cuniculi, in South-Western Australia." Wildlife Research 12, no. 2 (1985): 227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9850227.
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Spilopsyllus cuniculi, a vector of myxomatosis, was introduced by various methods at several sites in the south-west of Western Australia in May 1969 for the biological control of rabbits. It spread rapidly and within 14 months all rabbits collected within about 5 km of one of the release sites were infested with fleas. Further introductions of the flea during the past decade have resulted in a wide distribution for it throughout the south-west of the state. Flea numbers fluctuate seasonally and are highest in reproductively active female rabbits in winter and spring. Since the introductions of the flea, the timing of epizootics of myxomatosis has changed and their effect on rabbit populations has increased.
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Latham, A. David M., Graham Nugent, and Bruce Warburton. "Evaluation of camera traps for monitoring European rabbits before and after control operations in Otago, New Zealand." Wildlife Research 39, no. 7 (2012): 621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr12050.
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Context European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are reaching plague proportions again in some parts of New Zealand as the effect of rabbit haemorrhagic disease begins to wane. Effective monitoring techniques are required to quantify the success of alternative methods of controlling rabbits, such as poisoning. Aim To evaluate camera traps as a method of estimating the percentage of rabbits killed in a poison control operation, and to compare results obtained from cameras with those from traditional monitoring methods (spotlight transects and vantage-point counts). Methods We deployed cameras and conducted vantage-point counts and spotlight transects to compare a priori statistical power. We then used these monitoring methods to estimate percentage kill from a case study rabbit-control operation using sodium fluoroacetate (compound 1080). Key results Cameras had good statistical power to detect large reductions in rabbit numbers (>90%) and the percentage kill estimated using cameras was comparable with spotlight transects and vantage-point counts. Conclusions Cameras set up at fixed sampling locations can be an effective method of quantitatively assessing rabbit population control outcomes. We recommend that ≥6 cameras per 100 ha should remain active for at least 5 days before and 5 days following control, so as to obtain reliable estimates of percentage kill. Implications Cameras may be preferable to conventional monitoring methods where there is insufficient area to walk or drive transects, terrain is too rugged or scrubby for transects, and there are no or few vantage points from which to count rabbits.
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Foran, BD, WA Low, and BW Strong. "The Response of Rabbit Populations and Vegetation to Rabbit Control on a Calcareous Shrubby Grassland in Central Australia." Wildlife Research 12, no. 2 (1985): 237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9850237.
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The effect of rabbit control methods on rabbit populations and subsequent changes in vegetation were assessed over 2 years on a calcareous shrubby grassland in central Australia. Warren ripping and fumigating decreased mean population levels to four rabbits per kilometre of spotlight transect, and 1080 poisoning decreased mean levels to 9 km-1, compared to the untreated levels of 20 km-l. Release of European rabbit fleas did not have any significant effect on rabbit populations. In the untreated rabbit populations, 68% of the fluctuation in numbers was accounted for by total rainfalls in the previous summer and the previous winter, and by a forage greenness rating. Experimental control of rabbits combined with exclosures indicated that grazing by high numbers of rabbits reduced the frequency of Enneapogon spp. at one site whereas levels rose in all other sites during the two years of good rainfall. The frequency of several species, such as Chenopodium cristatum, Phyllanthus rhytidospermus and Portulaca oleracea, was highly correlated with rabbit density in the previous year, suggesting that rabbit grazing promotes their increase. Grazing'by rabbits alone depressed standing biomass in the following season by 300 kg ha-1 from a maximum 1200 kg ha-1 within the exclosures. Cattle grazing further decreased biomass by 150 kg ha-1. Seedlings of Acacia kempeana were almost absent in those areas open to rabbit grazing, but they were reasonably dense where rabbits were excluded. However, the vegetation response over the 2 years of experiment was due mainly to seasonal changes rather than rabbit control, and does not justify the expense of rabbit control at this stage. Substantial improvement in vegetation composition over the longer term may alter this conclusion.
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Elsworth, P., D. Berman, and M. Brennan. "Changes in small native animal populations following control of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by warren ripping in the Australian arid zone." Wildlife Research 46, no. 4 (2019): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18088.
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Context European rabbits have a great impact on native vegetation and small vertebrates in Australia. Rabbits consume vegetation and promote invasive plants and invasive predators, and compete directly and indirectly with native animals suppressing those populations. Aims We explored the changes in small native vertebrates and invertebrates following the removal of rabbits. Methods Warren ripping was undertaken on a property in south-western Queensland at four sites and the results of pitfall trapping were compared with four nearby paired control sites. Invertebrates and small mammals were counted in pitfall traps, and bird surveys were conducted in all treatment and control sites. Key results Following a rabbit-control program, we observed a four-fold increase in the number of dunnarts trapped in treatment plots, whereas no change was observed in control plots. The spring following the rabbit-control program also saw an increase in some lizards in treatment plots. Conclusions The presence of rabbits in arid-zone Australia can suppress native animal populations. Implications Many species of small native mammals and lizards rely on food sources that fluctuate greatly with environmental conditions. The presence of rabbits altering the landscape, supporting introduced predators, reducing vegetation and, therefore, insects, adds increased pressure for insectivorous species. Rabbit control through warren ripping in arid-zone Australia is an effective method to reduce rabbit numbers, and allowed for an increase in small vertebrates in treated areas.
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Shouket, Usama, Rana Manzoor Ahmad, Muhammad Tahir Waseem, Abdul Majid Khan, and Sania Zubaid. "Niche partitioning and competition between different rabbit breeds using stable isotopes." World Rabbit Science 32, no. 1 (2024): 73–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2024.19934.
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Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is an evolving method for determining diet, understanding food web and resolving biogeochemical issues in the ecosystem. This study aims to trace out ecological niche preferences/partitioning and competition among the lagomorphs, including two different breeds of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), New Zealand rabbit and American Dutch rabbit, using SIA. Thirty-two samples of tooth enamel were analysed, which were collected from different districts of Punjab, Pakistan, including Okara, Sahiwal and Kasur. Among these samples, 16 belonged to the New Zealand breed (08 male and 08 female rabbits) and 16 to the American Dutch breed (08 male and 08 female rabbits). Significant (P<0.001) intergender differences in the isotope content of δ13C in the enamel for New Zealand and American Dutch rabbit were found. The European rabbits showed significant differences for both genders in the stable isotope of oxygen in the enamel (δ18O) values (P=0.05). Nitrogen stable isotope results showed no significant intergender differences between American Dutch and New Zealand rabbits (P=0.24). The stable isotope results for δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O indicate that the trophic niche partitioning of both breeds overlaps, which can potentially cause competition for resources, whereas the water intake may differ among different genders, which may reflect differential gender-related activities. The archaeological and fossilised data of lagomorphs is present, but there is no significant literature available for living lagomorphs (rabbits). In general, this study provides a basic and first dataset for δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O of living lagomorphs, which can serve as a comparative dataset for future studies.
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Reemers, Sylvia, Leon Peeters, Joyce van Schijndel, et al. "Novel Trivalent Vectored Vaccine for Control of Myxomatosis and Disease Caused by Classical and a New Genotype of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus." Vaccines 8, no. 3 (2020): 441. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030441.
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Myxoma virus (MV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are the major causes of lethal viral diseases in the European rabbit. In 2010, a new RHDV genotype (RHDV2) emerged in the field that had limited cross-protection with the classical RHDV (RHDV1). For optimal protection of rabbits and preventing spread of disease, a vaccine providing protection against all three key viruses would be ideal. Therefore, a novel trivalent myxoma vectored RHDV vaccine (Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS) was developed similar to the existing bivalent myxoma vectored RHDV vaccine Nobivac Myxo-RHD. The new vaccine contains the Myxo-RHDV1 strain already included in Nobivac Myxo-RHD and a similarly produced Myxo-RHDV2 strain. This paper describes several key safety and efficacy studies conducted for European licensing purposes. Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS showed to be safe for use in rabbits from five weeks of age onwards, including pregnant rabbits, and did not spread from vaccinated rabbits to in-contact controls. Furthermore, protection to RHDV1 and RHDV2 was demonstrated by challenge, while the serological response to MV was similar to that after vaccination with Nobivac Myxo-RHD. Therefore, routine vaccination with Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS can prevent the kept rabbit population from these major viral diseases.
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White, Piran C. L., Geraldine Newton-Cross, Michael Gray, Roland Ashford, Catherine White, and Glen Saunders. "Spatial interactions and habitat use of rabbits on pasture and implications for the spread of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in New South Wales." Wildlife Research 30, no. 1 (2003): 49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01106.
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Successful control of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Australia has been achieved with the use of disease, initially myxomatosis and more recently rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). Predicting the effectiveness of disease as a control agent depends on understanding the spatial and social organisation of its host population. We radio-tracked 37 rabbits from adjacent burrow systems during May and June 1999. Surface-dwelling rabbits had larger home ranges and core areas and a higher proportion of vegetation cover in their ranges than warren-based rabbits. Interactions between rabbit dyads from the same warren showed greater range overlap than those involving rabbits from different warrens and those involving itinerants. Static interaction was high and positive for intra-warren dyads, but low and negative for inter-warren, warren–surface and surface–surface dyads. These patterns of range use and interaction behaviour create a hierarchical contact and transmission structure within the rabbit population that is likely to vary according to external factors such as population density, resource availability, season, climate and the environment. Quantifying these links between the environment and the transmission process is important to increase our understanding of RHD as an effective management tool for rabbit populations.
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Cooke, B. D., J. L. Chapuis, V. Magnet, A. Lucas, and J. Kovaliski. "Potential use of myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus to control feral rabbits in the Kerguelen Archipelago." Wildlife Research 31, no. 4 (2004): 415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr03084.
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Rabbits have caused enormous damage to the vegetation on seven islands in the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen archipelago, including the main island, Grande Terre. Rabbit sera collected during 2001–02 were tested for antibodies against myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus with a view to considering the wider use of these viruses to control rabbits. The results confirmed work done 15–20 years earlier that suggested that myxoma virus has not spread across all parts of Grande Terre and occurs at low prevalence among rabbits. By contrast, on Ile du Cimetière, where European rabbit fleas were introduced in 1987–88, the prevalence of myxoma antibodies is high and the rabbit population is relatively low, supporting the idea that the fleas are effective vectors of myxoma virus. Consequently, there should be benefits in releasing fleas on Grand Terre to enhance disease transmission. Reactivity of some rabbit sera in RHD-specific ELISAs suggested that a virus similar to RHDV may be present at low prevalence on Grande Terre but most rabbits are likely to be susceptible and this virus could be considered for use as a future biological control agent.
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Korovin, I. V., A. O. Rusanova, and A. P. Gerilovych. "THE LABORATORY TESTING OF THE PCR-BASED PROTOCOL OF DETECTION OF THE RABBIT HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS RNA." One Health Journal 2, no. III (2024): 39–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.31073/onehealthjournal2024-iii-05.
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Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD), also known as Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD), is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects domestic and wild rabbits. It's caused by two related viruses: Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2). The disease is endemic in many European, Asian and American countries, but the agent is still recognized as an emergent infection, associated with mass losses and extremely high mortality in rabbits of all breeds. One Health Scientific and Research Institute, PSI in collaboration with SRI ‘Veterinary Biotechnologies’, LLC developed the in house PCR-based protocol for RHDV detection and RHDV-2 differentiation, that requires fast implementation. This diagnostics kit evaluation in described under OIE requirements with determination of the sensitivity, specificity, repeatability and domain-specificity. Detection kit is recommended for practical application.
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Carvalho, Carina Luisa, Fábio Alexandre Abade dos Santos, Teresa Fagulha, et al. "Myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 coinfection in a European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus), Portugal." Veterinary Record Case Reports 8, no. 1 (2020): e001002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vetreccr-2019-001002.
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Myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) are two major pathogens that affect the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Between August 2017 and August 2019, 1166 wild rabbits (971 legally hunted and 195 found dead) were tested by PCR-based methods for MYXV and RHDV2 within the scope of an ongoing surveillance programme on wild leporids in Portugal. Despite never having been reported before and being considered a rare event, coinfection by RHDV2 and MYXV was detected in one juvenile wild rabbit found dead in the Évora district located in Alentejo. The relative frequency of coinfection in the group of diseased rabbits (found dead in the field) was 0.52 per cent (1/195). The positivity percentage of each single virus was much higher, namely, 14.36 per cent (28/195) for MYXV and 55.38 per cent (108/195) for RHDV2, within the 2 years of sample collection considered.
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Guerrero–Casado, J., J. Letty, and F. S. Tortosa. "European rabbit restocking: a critical review in accordance with IUCN (1998) guidelines for re–introduction." Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 36, no. 2 (2013): 177–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.32800/abc.2013.36.0177.
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European rabbit restocking is one of the most frequent actions in hunting estates and conservation projects in Spain, France and Portugal where rabbit is a keystone species. The aim of this work was to review current knowledge regarding rabbit restocking in accordance with the IUCN (1998) guidelines for re–introduction in order to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight the techniques that improve the overall success rate. Eight of 17 items selected from these guidelines were identified as partly studied or unknown, including important items such as the management and release of captive–reared wild rabbits, the development of transport and monitoring programs, the application of vaccine programs, and post–release long–term studies. Researchers should therefore concentrate their efforts on bridging these knowledge gaps, and wildlife managers should consider all the factors reviewed herein so as to establish accurate management guidelines for subsequent rabbit restocking programs.
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Maženský, D., and S. Flešárová. "Anatomical Arrangement of the Subclavian Artery Branches in the Rabbit and European Hare." Folia Veterinaria 61, no. 4 (2017): 22–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/fv-2017-0034.
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Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the anatomical arrangements of the branches arising from the subclavian arteries in the domesticated rabbit and hare. The study was carried out on ten adult rabbits and ten adult European hares using the corrosion cast technique. After the euthanasia, the vascular network was perfused with saline. The arterial system of the entire body was injected by Batson’s corrosion casting kit No. 17. After polymerization of the medium, the maceration was carried out in KOH solution. The arrangement of the origins of the branches of the bilateral subclavian arteries were more variable in the hare. The number of branches arising from the subclavian artery were more regular in the rabbit on the right side and in the hare on the left side. In the rabbit, we found in two cases, the origins of the branches of the left subclavian artery from the aortic arch. The anatomical found between the rabbit and the hare may possibly be associated with their different ways of life.
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Robley, Alan J., Jeff Short, and Stuart Bradley. "Do European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) influence the population ecology of the burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur)?" Wildlife Research 29, no. 5 (2002): 423. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01007.
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The influence of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on the survival of medium-sized native mammals remains unclear despite 60 years of speculation. Most medium-sized native species that might have been affected by the presence of rabbits are extinct, rare, or endangered. This limits the opportunity to study their interaction with introduced herbivores. We studied the effect of changes in rabbit density on aspects of the ecology of burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) reintroduced to mainland Australia on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia. The rabbit population at the site grew to a 10-year high concomitant with a dry summer and low and declining pasture cover. Rabbit browsing led to widespread defoliation of, and subsequent death of, many palatable shrubs. Despite these adverse conditions, reproduction, recruitment and rate of increase of bettongs did not vary with changes in rabbit density, nor did the survival of adult males and females. This work casts doubt on the idea that competition with an introduced herbivore, such as the rabbit, was an important factor in the decline of the burrowing bettong. It highlights the need to understand the ecologies and life histories of native and introduced species in order to manage for the long-term persistence of native species.
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Dellafiore, C. M., C. Rouco, S. Muñóz Vallés, and J. B. Gallego Fernández. "Seasonal habitat use by the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a coastal dune system in SW Spain." Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 37, no. 2 (2014): 233–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.32800/abc.2014.37.0233.
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We studied habitat use by the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a coastal sand dune system in the south–western Iberian peninsula. Our goals were to define the use of this habitat by rabbits in relation to food and shelter availability between seasons. Rabbit density, food availability and refuge abundance were analysed using multiple regression analyses. We found that, independently of season, habitat selection was principally related to cover by the woody shrub Retama monosperma which rabbits use both as a food resource and as protection against predators. Although it is an invasive native plant, the benefits that R. monosperma provides.
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Flešárová, S., and D. Maženský. "Anatomical Comparison of the Renal Arteries in the Rabbit and European Hare." Folia Veterinaria 61, no. 4 (2017): 12–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/fv-2017-0032.
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AbstractThe aim of this paper was to compare the level of origin of the renal arteries in the rabbit and hare. The study was carried out on ten adult rabbits and ten adult European hares using the corrosion cast technique. After the euthanasia, the vascular network was perfused with saline. Batson’s corrosion casting kit No. 17 was used as a casting medium. After polymerization of the medium, the maceration was carried out in KOH solution. We found variable levels of the origin of renal arteries in the rabbit, in the hare and between both species. In the rabbit, the right renal artery originated at the level of the second lumbar vertebra in 70 % of the cases and at the level of the first lumbar vertebra in 30 % of the cases, and the left-sided renal artery originated in 60 % of the cases at the level of the second lumbar vertebra and at the level of the third lumbar vertebra in 40 % of the cases. In the hare, the bilateral renal arteries originated at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. According to the results, it can be concluded that the origin level of the renal arteries from the abdominal aorta is more variable in the domesticated rabbit in comparison with the hare.
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MATUSCHKA, F. R., T. W. SCHINKEL, B. KLUG, A. SPIELMAN, and D. RICHTER. "Relative incompetence of European rabbits for Lyme disease spirochaetes." Parasitology 121, no. 3 (2000): 297–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182099006241.
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To determine whether rabbits may serve as reservoir hosts for Lyme disease spirochaetes in Europe, we compared their competence as hosts for Borrelia afzelii, one of the most prevalent European spirochaetal variants, with that of the Mongolian jird. To infect rabbits or jirds, at least 3 nymphal or adult Ixodes ricinus ticks infected with spirochaetes fed to repletion on each animal. Whereas jirds readily acquired tick-borne Lyme disease spirochaetes and subsequently infected vector ticks, rabbits exposed to tick-borne spirochaetes rarely became infectious to ticks. Only the rabbit that was infectious to ticks developed an antibody response. To the extent that I. ricinus ticks feed on European rabbits, these mammals may be zooprophylactic by diverting vector ticks from more suitable reservoir competent hosts.
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Abade dos Santos, Fábio A., Carolina Magro, Carina L. Carvalho, Pedro Ruivo, Margarida D. Duarte, and Maria C. Peleteiro. "A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit." Animals 11, no. 1 (2020): 40. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11010040.
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Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious infectious disease of European wild and domestic rabbits. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1) emerged in 1986 in Europe, rapidly spreading all over the world. Several genotypes of RHDV have been recognised over time, but in 2010, a new virus (RHDV2/RHDVb, GI.2) emerged and progressively replaced the previous RHDV strains, due to the lack of cross-immunity conferred between RHDV and RHDV2. RHDV2 has a high mutation rate, similarly to the other calivirus and recombines with strains of RHDV and non-pathogenic calicivirus (GI.4), ensuring the continuous emergence of new field strains. Although this poses a threat to the already endangered European rabbit species, the available vaccines against RHDV2 and the compliance of biosafety measures seem to be controlling the infection in the rabbit industry Pet rabbits, especially when kept indoor, are considered at lower risk of infections, although RHDV2 and myxoma virus (MYXV) constitute a permanent threat due to transmission via insects. Vaccination against these viruses is therefore recommended every 6 months (myxomatosis) or annually (rabbit haemorrhagic disease). The combined immunization for myxomatosis and RHDV through a commercially available bivalent vaccine with RHDV antigen has been extensively used (Nobivac® Myxo-RHD, MSD, Kenilworth, NJ, USA). This vaccine however does not confer proper protection against the RHDV2, thus the need for a rabbit clinical vaccination protocol update. Here we report a clinical case of hepatitis and alteration of coagulation in a pet rabbit that had been vaccinated with the commercially available bivalent vaccine against RHDV and tested positive to RHDV2 after death. The animal developed a prolonged and atypical disease, compatible with RHD. The virus was identified to be an RHDV2 recombinant strain, with the structural backbone of RHDV2 (GI.2) and the non-structural genes of non-pathogenic-A1 strains (RCV-A1, GI.4). Although confirmation of the etiological agent was only made after death, the clinical signs and analytic data were very suggestive of RHD.
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Lillo, Francesco, Vincenzo Di Dio, and Mario Lo Valvo. "Non-cruelty eradication of european rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from a small mediterranean island (Isola delle Femmine, Italy)." World Rabbit Science 31, no. 3 (2023): 201–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2023.18506.
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European rabbit is, among mammals, one of the most widespread species almost worldwide, introduced on over 800 islands. In microinsular habitats, the introduction of alien species represents a major threat to biodiversity, and the European rabbit is included in the IUCN published list of the 100 worst invasive species. In 2008, an eradication plan was launched on “Isola delle Femmine”, a small and uninhabited island of about 14.5 ha, located in the Mediterranean basin and established as a nature reserve in 1997 to protect its flora and vegetation. The present work was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-cruelty intervention through the trapping and translocation of live animals, avoiding the use of poisons or hunting in a sensitive microinsular habitat. The European rabbit eradication plan began in December 2007 and ended in 2016, with the complete eradication of the species achieved in 2012. During the 5 yr in which trapping took place on the island, a total of 799 rabbits were trapped and translocated. A significant positive correlation (r=0.986; P=0.014) was observed between the number of catches made during the year and the estimated rabbit density in July (considered the highest of the year). The method used showed considerable efficacy for the management of rabbit populations in microinsular environments, highlighting the possibility of intervention with these methods when control using poison or direct culling is impractical or inadvisable.
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Virgós, Emilio, Sara Cabezas-Díaz, Aurelio Malo, Jorge Lozano, and Daniel López-Huertas. "Factors shaping European rabbit abundance." Acta Theriologica 48, no. 1 (2003): 113–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf03194271.
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Mutze, Greg, Nicki De Preu, Trish Mooney, et al. "Substantial numerical decline in South Australian rabbit populations following the detection of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2." Veterinary Record 182, no. 20 (2018): 574. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.104734.
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Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also commonly known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2, was first detected at two long-term monitoring sites for European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, in South Australia, in mid-2016. Numbers of rabbits in the following 12–18 months were reduced to approximately 20 per cent of average numbers in the preceding 10 years. The impact recorded at the two South Australian sites, if widespread in Australia and persistent for several years, is likely to be of enormous economic and environmental benefit.
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Moss, S. R., S. L. Turner, R. C. Trout, et al. "Molecular epidemiology of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus." Journal of General Virology 83, no. 10 (2002): 2461–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-83-10-2461.
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Millions of domestic and wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have died in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand during the past 17 years following infection by Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). This highly contagious and deadly disease was first identified in China in 1984. Epidemics of RHDV then radiated across Europe until the virus apparently appeared in Britain in 1992. However, this concept of radiation of a new and virulent virus from China is not entirely consistent with serological and molecular evidence. This study shows, using RT–PCR and nucleotide sequencing of RNA obtained from the serum of healthy rabbits stored at 4 °C for nearly 50 years, that, contrary to previous opinions, RHDV circulated as an apparently avirulent virus throughout Britain more than 50 years ago and more than 30 years before the disease itself was identified. Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of British and European RHDV sequences, it is concluded that RHDV has almost certainly circulated harmlessly in Britain and Europe for centuries rather than decades. Moreover, analysis of partial capsid sequences did not reveal significant differences between RHDV isolates that came from either healthy rabbits or animals that had died with typical haemorrhagic disease. The high stability of RHDV RNA is also demonstrated by showing that it can be amplified and sequenced from rabbit bone marrow samples collected at least 7 weeks after the animal has died.
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Maženský, D., and S. Flešárová. "Origin Level of the Ventral Branches of the Abdominal Aorta in the Rabbit and European Hare." Folia Veterinaria 61, no. 2 (2017): 22–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/fv-2017-0014.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractThe aim of this research was to describe the level of origin of the branches originating from the ventral surface of the abdominal aorta in the rabbit and hare. The study was carried out on ten adult rabbits and ten adult European hares using the corrosion cast technique. After euthanasia, the vascular network was perfused with saline. Batson’s corrosion casting kit No. 17 was used as a casting medium. After polymerization of the medium, the maceration was carried out in a KOH solution. We found variable levels of the origin of the celiac, cranial mesenteric and caudal mesenteric arteries in both species. In the rabbit, the celiac artery originated in the majority of cases at the cranial end of the first lumbar vertebra and in the hare at the middle part of the vertebral body of the same vertebra. The cranial mesenteric artery in the rabbit originated predominantly at the level of the first lumbar vertebra and in the hare at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. In the rabbit, the caudal mesenteric artery originated mainly at the level of the sixth lumbar vertebra and in the hare, at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra. We concluded that there were higher variabilities of the origins of the ventral branches of the abdominal aorta in domesticated rabbit in comparison with the European hare.
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Peng, Chen, Sherry L. Haller, Masmudur M. Rahman, Grant McFadden, and Stefan Rothenburg. "Myxoma virus M156 is a specific inhibitor of rabbit PKR but contains a loss-of-function mutation in Australian virus isolates." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, no. 14 (2016): 3855–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1515613113.
Full textAbstract:
Myxoma virus (MYXV) is a rabbit-specific poxvirus, which is highly virulent in European rabbits. The attenuation of MYXV and the increased resistance of rabbits following the release of MYXV in Australia is one of the best-documented examples of host–pathogen coevolution. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the restriction of MYXV infection to rabbits and MYXV attenuation in the field, we have studied the interaction of the MYXV protein M156 with the host antiviral protein kinase R (PKR). In yeast and cell-culture transfection assays, M156 only inhibited rabbit PKR but not PKR from other tested mammalian species. Infection assays with human HeLa PKR knock-down cells, which were stably transfected with human or rabbit PKR, revealed that only human but not rabbit PKR was able to restrict MYXV infection, whereas both PKRs were able to restrict replication of a vaccinia virus (VACV) strain that lacks the PKR inhibitors E3 and K3. Inactivation of M156R led to MYXV virus attenuation in rabbit cells, which was rescued by the ectopic expression of VACV E3 and K3. We further show that a mutation in the M156 encoding gene that was identified in more than 50% of MYXV field isolates from Australia resulted in an M156 variant that lost its ability to inhibit rabbit PKR and led to virus attenuation. The species-specific inhibition of rabbit PKR by M156 and the M156 loss-of-function in Australian MYXV field isolates might thus contribute to the species specificity of MYXV and to the attenuation in the field, respectively.
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Cooke, BD. "Rabbit Burrows as Environments for European Rabbit Fleas, Spilopsyllus-Cuniculi (Dale), in Arid South-Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 38, no. 3 (1990): 317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9900317.
Full textAbstract:
The temperature and humidity of air within rabbit burrows was recorded for sites on either side of the margin of the distribution of the rabbit flea, Spilopsyllus cuniculi, in South Australia. The microclimate in the burrows differed significantly across this margin, and the differences in temperatures and humidities were large enough to have significant effects on flea populations. At sites where fleas occurred, the relative humidity of burrow air was above 70% and usually between 80 and 90% RH for at least 4-5 months during the winter and spring. This not only provided optimum conditions for the survival of flea larvae in the rabbits' nests, but also should have enabled the flea populations to achieve their full reproductive potential. High humidity of burrow air at these sites during summer would also favour the survival of free-living adult fleas. At those sites where fleas did not occur, the humidity of burrow air is generally unsuitable for the survival of larvae or free-living adult fleas.
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Wheeler, SH, and DR King. "The European Rabbit in South- Western Australia II. Reproduction." Wildlife Research 12, no. 2 (1985): 197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9850197.
Full textAbstract:
'The reproduction of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), at two intensive study sites in south-western Australia is compared with reproductive data from rabbits taken throughout the coastal and inland districts of the south-west region. South-western Australia has hot, arid summers and cool wet winters. Rabbit breeding in the region is characteristic of that in Mediterranean climates, with a winter breeding season which begins when pastures germinate with the initial winter rainfall (April-May) and ceases when the pastures dry out at the end of the year. Unseasonal cyclonic rain can promote pasture growth in summer, leading to limited breeding. At all times of year there were some fertile males, with fewest at the height of summer, followed by an increase before the winter breeding season. Near the coast, male fertility increased more rapidly than further inland. At our two study sites at Cape Naturaliste (on the coast) and Chidlow (55 km inland) the pattern was similar to that in the coastal district. Production of kittens was greater near the coast than further inland, because near the coast there was a high early peak in incidence of pregnancy, a second peak late in the year, and litters remained large throughout the breeding season. In the inland district, the early incidence of pregnancy was lower, there was no second peak, and litter sizes fell at the end of the year. Female reproduction at Cape Naturaliste was typical of that in the coastal district, but that at Chidlow was typical of the inland. The second peak of pregnancy at Cape Naturaliste was due to intensive breeding by subadults born earlier in the year. The differences in female reproduction and productivity between the coastal and inland districts are probably because pasture growth begins earlier and is better in the more fertile coastal areas than in the inland. That nutrition is better for rabbits in the coastal areas than in the inland is reflected in higher growth rates of kittens at Cape Naturaliste than at Chidlow. It is postulated, on the basis of the literature and the results of our studies, that the factor which determines whether rabbits will breed is the presence of growing vegetation, and that the intensity of breeding is influenced by a seasonal cycle in fertility.
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Tokarz-Deptuła, Beata, Jakub Kulus, Łukasz Baraniecki, Michał Stosik, and Wiesław Deptuła. "Characterisation of Lagovirus europaeus GI–RHDVs (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Viruses) in Terms of Their Pathogenicity and Immunogenicity." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 10 (2024): 5342. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105342.
Full textAbstract:
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses (RHDV) belong to the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus europaeus, genogroup GI, comprising four genotypes GI.1–GI.4, of which the genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 are pathogenic RHD viruses, while the genotypes GI.3 and GI.4 are non-pathogenic RCV (Rabbit calicivirus) viruses. Among the pathogenic genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 of RHD viruses, an antigenic variant of RHDV, named RHDVa—now GI.1a–RHDVa, was distinguished in 1996; and in 2010, a variant of RHDV—named RHDVb, later RHDV2 and now GI.2–RHDV2/b—was described; and recombinants of these viruses were registered. Pathogenic viruses of the genotype GI.1 were the cause of a disease described in 1984 in China in domestic (Oryctolagus (O.) cuniculus domesticus) and wild (O. cuniculus) rabbits, characterised by a very rapid course and a mortality rate of 90–100%, which spread in countries all over the world and which has been defined since 1989 as rabbit haemorrhagic disease. It is now accepted that GI.1–RHDV, including GI.1a–RHDVa, cause the predetermined primary haemorrhagic disease in domestic and wild rabbits, while GI.2–RHDV2/b cause it not only in rabbits, including domestic rabbits’ young up to 4 weeks and rabbits immunised with rabbit haemorrhagic disease vaccine, but also in five various species of wild rabbits and seven different species of hares, as well as wild ruminants: mountain muskoxen and European badger. Among these viruses, haemagglutination-positive, doubtful and harmful viruses have been recorded and described and have been shown to form phylogenogroups, immunotypes, haematotypes and pathotypes, which, together with traits that alter and expand their infectious spectrum (rabbit, hare, wild ruminant, badger and various rabbit and hare species), are the determinants of their pathogenicity (infectivity) and immunogenicity and thus shape their virulence. These relationships are the aim of our consideration in this article.