When the idea of using a calicivirus to control wild rabbits in Australia was first considered there was much discussion about the name it should be given. In China and in Europe, it had been known by a variety of names including viral haemorrhagic pneumonia and viral haemorrhagic disease. However, because the virus causing the disease was known to be a rabbit-specific calicivirus, and because it caused coagulation of the blood rather than haemorrhage, it was considered that a ‘neutral’ name such as rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) might be a better description. Calling the virus Rabbit Calicivirus (RCV) also fitted in with the pattern of names already established for the calicivrus in cats, Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and for the human caliciviruses (HCVs).

However, things are never simple or logical. Since that time, the official name for the rabbit disease has become more firmly accepted in the scientific literature as rabbit haemorrhagic disease or RHD. In addition, Lorenzo Capucci and others in Italy have discovered a related calicivirus, which causes no disease in rabbits, that they have also called RCV. It would thus be less confusing here in Australia if we called the virus rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and the disease it causes haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

At this forum, you will no doubt hear the virus referred to by several names, such as RCV and RHDV, and the disease it causes will similarly be variable in name (RCD or RHD). It is difficult to change names established by common use to those preferred by the scientific community. However, we are talking about the same virus!

Dr Brian Cooke
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
& Pest Animal Control CRC