Genetic resistance to the rabbit calici virus [rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, a calicivirus] has not been ruled out by one of Victoria's top vertebrate researchers.
Fears of inbuilt resistance have surfaced with reports of increasing numbers of rabbits in parts of the State.
Vertebrate Pest Manager with Victoria's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tim Bloomfield, says it is very difficult to assess.
There may be some degrees of genetic resistance but it is very difficult to
tell what level that might be at, mostly because when you get rabbits in
older age groups not dying, it appears that it may be genetic resistance
and it may be other variables in relation to the virus too.
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