Prospects for the future: is there a role for virally vectored immunocontraception in vertebrate pest management?

Myxoma virus in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the best documented examples of host-virus co-evolution. In the natural hosts (Sylvilagus brasiliensis or S. bachmani rabbits in the Americas), myxoma virus causes a benign cutaneous fibroma. In European rabbits, however, myxoma virus causes the fulminant disease, myxomatosis. When introduced into wild European rabbit populations in Australia, Europe and Great Britain, the virus was initially highly lethal, killing in excess of 99% of infected rabbits. Development of resistance was encouraged by the emergence of attenuated virus strains which allowed the survival of moderately resistant rabbits. This may have occurred more rapidly in hot climates, as high ambient temperatures increase the survival rate of infected rabbits. Resistant rabbits are less effective transmitters of the virus and this may encourage the emergence of more virulent virus strains. Little is known of the mechanism of resistance. There have been suggestions of non-genetic resistance. However, these are yet to be confirmed experimentally.