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RHDV2
RHDV2 does not pose a risk to human health and is not a modifiable livestock disease.
However, the impact on pet rabbits and rabbit farms is high and it can cause death in
young kittens (3-4 weeks) and a proportion of vaccinated adults. This new virus strain is
distinct from RHD
V1, which was released in Australia in 1996 for the control of wild rabbits. It affects rabbits
and hares only.
RHDV2 was first reported in France in 2010 and has been found in several other Euro-
pean countries. It was first detected in Australia in the Canberra area in May 2015.
Clinical signs of RHDV2 differ from the type 1 virus. RHDV2 affects kittens at a younger
age (from 3-4 weeks) and clinical signs may be over 3-5 days before death. This is sig-
nificant in general practice where unwell rabbits may present for vague clinical signs in-
cluding; lethargy, in appetence, pyrexia and gut stasis. These rabbits will be infectious to
other rabbits.
The current vaccine for rabbit calcivirus (Cylap RCD) is not fully protective against
RHDV2. However, there is evidence of some cross protection between type 1 and type 2
viruses. Keeping domestic or pet rabbits’ vaccinations up to date is recommended to pro-
vide the maximum possible protection against this new strain. While an updated vaccine
has been developed in Europe it is not currently available in Australia.
Until a specific vaccine is available for RHDV2, a revised vaccination protocol using the
vaccine currently available in Australia has been suggested, though it is not known to what
extent this will confer protection.
The virus is being distributed in March 2017 and nearby release sites are, Goomalling,
Koorda, Wongan Hills, Dalwallinu
Korean strain (K5) of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus
(RHDV)
Shire of Victoria Plains
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