Rabbit calicivirus (RCD) or Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a disease which infects only rabbits. It was developed in Australia and deliberately introduced into rabbit populations there in an attempt to control rabbit infestation. Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae, found in many parts of the world. ...

For more information about the virus' development see Rabbits in Australia. A European Rabbit in Australia In Australia, rabbits are the most serious mammalian pests, an invasive species, and are responsible for the extinction of about as many native animals as the fox. ...

Release in New Zealand

In July 1997, after considering over 800 public submissions, the New Zealand Ministry of Health decided not to allow 'RCD' to be imported into New Zealand to control rabbit populations. This was backed up in an early August review of the decision by the Director-General of Agriculture. By late August, it was confirmed that RCD/RHD had been deliberately introduced to the Cromwell area of the South Island. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ...

An unsuccessful attempt was made by New Zealand officials to control the spread of the disease. It was, however, being intentionally spread, and several farmers (notably in the Mackenzie Basin area) admitted to processing rabbits that had died from the disease in kitchen blenders for further spreading. The Mackenzie Basin, popularly and traditionally known as the Mackenzie Country, is a roughly elliptical and elevated area (700m/3000 ft above sea level) near the centre of the South Island of New Zealand. ...

Effects of the disease

The disease targets the Hepatocytes of infected animals, leading to Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The incubation period is 24 to 48 hours and death occurs 6 to 24 hours from the start of fever. Hepatocytes make up 60-80% of the cytoplasmic mass of the liver. ... Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. ...