a)The virus is a pathogenic variant of a relatively harmless agent that has existed in certain rabbit populations for some time but has not been previously identified.
b)The virus has entered rabbit populations from some other source, i.e.the rabbit is not its natural host.
(2) My response revolves on the meaning of the term "host-specific."
If by this is meant the ability to infect other hosts without causing disease, my answer, reflecting the known behaviour of other animal caliciviruses
would be that such a state of affairs is quite possible. Some of the antibody studies already reported are suggestive in this regard. While it is true that one need not
necessarily have replicative infection to produce antibody in a host, it seems likely to me, given the conditions of exposure, that some degree of virus replication
must have occurred. Moreover, if one accepts alternative "b" in my answer to Question 1 above, then the virus must be able to infect another host, i.e. its natural host (whatever that may be).
If by this is meant the ability to infect and produce disease in other hosts, my answer would be less positive, owing to the absence of evidence at the present time. I see no possible way, however, to predict the behaviour
of the virus once it has entered the unique wildlife populations of Australia and New Zealand.
(3) To my knowledge there is no preventative vaccine suitable for use in human beings, should the rabbit calicivirus spread to that species.
(4) In comparison with other virus families such as the herpesviruses and retroviruses, the caliciviruses are a very poorly studied group. Our knowledge of their molecular biology and natural history is
relatively meager. This situation is magnified in particular for the rabbit agent, which has been recognized since only about 1984 and which still cannot be propagated in cell culture. We do not know where it came from
and to a large extent we cannot predict where it will be going.
(5) An expert opinion on the molecular biology of caliciviruses can be obtained from Dr. John D. Neill at the National Animal Disease Center,
USDA, P.O. Box 70, Ames, Iowa 50010, USA. His FAX number is (515) 239-8458. His email address is: jneill@asrr.arsusda.gov
Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute.
Sincerely yours,
Jeffrey E. Barlough, DVM, PhD
Diplomate,ACVM
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
Davis, California 95616, USA
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