First field trial of a transmissible recombinant vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease

As a novel approach for immunisation of wild rabbits, we have recently deve loped a transmissible vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic di sease (RHD) based on a recombinant myxoma virus (MV) expressing the RHDV ca psid protein [J. Virol. 74 (2000) 1114]. The efficacy and safety of the vac cine have been extensively evaluated under laboratory conditions. In this s tudy, we report the first limited field trial of the candidate vaccine that was undertaken in an island of 34 Has containing a population of around 30 0 rabbits. Following administration by the subcutaneous route to 76 rabbits , the vaccine induced specific antibody responses against both myxomatosis and RHDV in all the inoculated rabbits. Furthermore, the recombinant virus exhibited a limited horizontal transmission capacity, promoting seroconvers ion of around 50%, of the uninoculated rabbit population. No evidence of un desirable effects due to the recombinant virus field release was detected. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.