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Myxomatosis in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Rosamond C. H. Shepherd ,
J. W. Edmonds ,
I. F. Nolan  and
A. Gocs
Rosamond C. H. Shepherd
Affiliation:
Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Vermin and Noxious WeedsDestruction Board, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Frankston, Victoria, 3199
J. W. Edmonds
Affiliation:
Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Vermin and Noxious WeedsDestruction Board, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Frankston, Victoria, 3199
I. F. Nolan
Affiliation:
Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Vermin and Noxious WeedsDestruction Board, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Frankston, Victoria, 3199
A. Gocs
Affiliation:
Keith Turnbull Research Institute, Vermin and Noxious WeedsDestruction Board, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Frankston, Victoria, 3199
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Summary

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Sharp reductions in the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.)) population in the Mallee are associated with annual myxomatosis epizootics. The extent to which the population reductionsare the direct result of the epizootics varies with time of epizootic occurrence. All grazing animals in the Mallee are under nutritional stress each summer and autumn. When the epizootic occurs during the early summer heavy losses occur in a previously healthy population. Similar losses which occur in the late summer and autumn are the result of a nutritional stress – epizootic complex. The end result in each case is a population reduction of about 80%.

This reduction occurs in a population which is the most resistant to myxomatosis known in Victoria and in association with epizooties caused by field strains of myxoma virus of moderate virulence only.

The earlier summer epizootics are of considerable economic importance because they sharply reduce the pressure on the limited food available for other grazing animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 81 , Issue 2 , October 1978 , pp. 239 - 243
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

References

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