Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research's video: Rabbit biocontrol - Changing impacts of RHDV viruses Webinar

In autumn 2018, a new strain of rabbit calicivirus called RHDV1 K5 was released nationwide to improve the efficacy of RHDV-based biocontrol of rabbits in New Zealand. RHDV1 K5 was hand laid as carrot bait at over 180 sites and was subsequently confirmed present in 35 dead rabbits at 26 locations throughout New Zealand between March and December 2018. Night counts undertaken 6–8 weeks after release indicate a decrease in rabbit numbers of about 35–40%, reflecting the combined impacts of RHDV1 K5 and Czech, as well as of conventional control over this time. While monitoring the spread of RHDV1 K5, another type of RHDV called RHDV2 was also identified. The strain of RHDV2 in New Zealand is different from the strain present in Australia and how it arrived here is unknown, but it has now been detected in wild rabbits from Waikato, Otago, Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa, and Canterbury. The long-term impacts of RHDV2 on wild rabbit populations in New Zealand is uncertain, as the lethality of the New Zealand strain of RHDV2 is currently unknown. Janine covers current knowledge about RHDV1 K5 and RHDV2 and their potential impacts in New Zealand during this webinar.