Surveillance of Wildlife Viruses: Insights from South Australia’s Monitoring of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV GI.1 and GI.2)

Abstract

Surveillance of wildlife virus impacts can be passive or active. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, especially regarding cost and knowledge that can be gained. Monitoring of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.1 and GI.2) in South Australia has utilised both strategies and their methods and gained insights are discussed. Active strategies to monitor the continuing impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (GI.2) on susceptible lagomorphs in countries such as the USA, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, France and Portugal are encouraged to gain critical insights into the evolution, spread and impact of this virus. Furthermore, there are lessons here for the international monitoring of diseases in wildlife, particularly where there is a risk of them becoming zoonotic.