MYXOMATOSIS AND RABBIT HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN WILD RABBIT: EFFICACY OF A CONTROL PROGRAM IN MEDITERRANEAN HABITATS IN SOUTHERN SPAIN

Abstract

Myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) have serious effects on the natural populations of wild rabbit in the ecosystems of the Mediterranean habitat in Southern Spain. Thus, we designed a diseases control program, which consist in a series of management measures which were applied in seven controlled game preserves (named as Zones 1 to 7). These measures were determined in previous works using logistic regression models, and included: 1) the diminution and regulation of the hunting pressure, 2) the strict sanitary control of the domestic animals in the hunting preserve, 3) the control of the density of mosquitoes by wide insecticide treatment, 4) the systematic disinsectation (piretroids) of the burrows, 5) an annual vaccination campaign against the myxomatosis and the RHD, and 6) the hunter’s formation and awareness. The application of these measures in each zone were very unequal, and depended on economic factors, availability or, simply, attitude of the hunters. The effectiveness of the measures which were applied in each zone was evaluated comparing the densities of rabbit in each zone before and after the performances, inferred through the pellet count. Using the One-way analysis of variance and one sample t test, we verified that the number of rabbits has increased every year significantly in the zones 4 and 7, zones where almost all the propose measures have been applied. We can conclude, therefore, that the control measures which we propose, significantly improve the number of rabbits in the zone.