RS> The current idea is that rabbit calici virus is unique to rabbits,
RS> cant infect any other species. It doesnt even infect close ones
RS> like hares. What they are currently doing is testing to see if
RS> the rabbit calici virus can infect any native species, because
RS> obviously you dont want one of those to be decimated by it too.

BG> Quite so, and it has indeed happened where a particular virus has
BG> spread into an animal which normally wouldn't have been susceptible. 
BG> A good example of this is a certain pig disease (can't remember the
BG> name off hand) which, for some inexplicable reason, started infecting
BG> British racehorses in the early 1980s.  Only a few were infected, mainly
BG> due to rapid quarantine, but the possibility appears to exist regardless.

There are actually quite a few examples. HIV is another, so is that recent
equine morbili virus that killed horses in Bris and atleast one human.

There is also an example which moved from dogs to cats
in the last few years, and its now known that just TWO
gene changes was all that it took to infect cats.

BG> Or, given it's original method of introduction, intentionally.

RS> Presumably you mean the escape from the island,

BG> Yep, exactly.

RS> that certainly wasnt intentional, and the detail of
RS> its spread is consistent with it being insect born.

BG> Odd, I read up here that it had been done "accidentally"
BG> by a disgruntled employee, but then one should
BG> not always believe the newspapers, I guess.

Yeah, it certainly didnt happen like that. The spread to the adjacent
mainland is consistent with insect carriage. It was thought that it
wasnt going to be carried by insects, but it certainly looks like it is.

BG> Do you know if any locally infected rabbits have managed to survive?

RS> Yes, there are survivors in the Flinders Ranges. Corse you
RS> can choose to just kill those with the traditional methods too.

BG> And if they manage to breed, would it be reasonable
BG> to expect that their offspring will also be immune?

Thats complicated. If the ones who didnt die didnt die because of their
genetics, they are genetically different and dont die when exposed to
the virus, and those genes arent recessive etc, then yes, you will get
offspring which dont get killed by the virus.

If on the other hand it isnt a genetic difference that causes a
percentage to survive, say its the age they are exposed to the virus
or something like that, then in that case you dont get immunity passed.

And its never just one or the other extreme either.

BG> Any idea what it's related to, virus-wise?

RS> There are a range of them in animals. They are all called
RS> calici viruses. None of the others have anything like the
RS> mortality tho. And one of them is far more motile across
RS> species barriers too. Which is also a bit of a worry.

BG> Just as the pig to horse cross-infection has already proved.

And the more recent ones, HIV even more dramatically.
@EOT:

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