Points to consider about the use of RCD as a potential Biological Control
Agent include:
- 1. Authorities cannot prove that Rabbit Calicivirus will not infect any
other species.
- 2. Is it morally or ethically justifiable to import and use infectious
diseases as Biological Control
agents? The authorities have 7 live Irido Viruses from South America for
possible use against
Cane toads. An approach by Australian authorities to the USA regarding
Reptilian Calicivirus for
use as a possible Biological control agent against Cane Toads was answered
with the reply that
the Reptilian Calicivirus could infect more than one species and therefore was
not suitable as a control
over one species ( being the Cane Toad ). Perhaps because so far Myxomatosis
has been used to kill rabbits
without known effects to other species, this may have set a dangerous
precedent?
- 3. If Rabbit Calicivirus did jump species would it take it's haemorrhagic
capability with it?
The virus shows a small (approx 4%) variation on replication and comes from
a family of viruses who mostly
infect more than one species. RCD virus has only been known for 11 years.
- 4. Little is known about why this RCD virus is a deadly killer or where
it came from. The way in which the RCD virus is possibly transmitted by
insects is still being studied.
- 5. Antibodies to RCD have been found in Fox, dog, mouse, kiwis and a
Mexican Laboratory worker.
Although authorities put this down to seroconversion, it is also likely that
antibodies can be the result of infection. Not enough research has been
done in these areas.