16 March 2018
Mr Gary Stephenson
Dear Gary
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (“LGOIMA”):
Request for Information
I refer to your email to the Ministry of Primary Industries, dated 16/02/18 requesting
information on protocols, actions and education on pet rabbit deaths. Your request has
been transferred by MPI to Environment Canterbury and referred to me to reply.
You ask: “what protocols are in place to test pet rabbits that have died from
RHDV or suspected RHDV especially those who have been vaccinated with the
Cylap vaccine which protects against RHDV1-V351 and is said to protect against
RHDV1a-K5 to ensure Cylap is affording the protection stated against RHDV1 a-
K5.”
No protocols have been put in place to test pet rabbits by Environment Canterbury. If
people suspect their pet rabbit has died from an RHDV strain they can approach their
Veterinary Surgeon to have a necropsy done to determine cause of death. Population,
serology and reproductive data are collected from feral rabbits (declared pests) across
Canterbury annually.
You ask: “what protocols are in place to test kits/babies under the age of 12
weeks who gain immunity from RHDV1 from their mothers that have died from
RHOV or suspected RHDV to ensure immunity against RHDV1a-K5 is being
passed on from their mothers and also that RHDV2 has not arrived.”
A Veterinary Surgeon can take a sample blood test to determine whether a pet rabbit
has immunity to RHDV1. An estimated 10 - 15% of kits born to mothers with immunity
will succumb to RHDV1. Inoculation is essential at 10 – 12 weeks to ensure immunity
plus regular boosters. Appropriate blood tests would reveal whether RHDV2 was
present.
You ask “what protocols are in place to test pet rabbits that have died from RHDV
or suspected RHOV in unusual circumstances, vaccinated, large numbers,
mixed ages, adults/kits, single-sex only deaths.”
Since before and after the 1997 release of RHDV1 Czech into New Zealand, rabbit
abundance has been monitored at long term monitoring sites across the Mackenzie
Basin, Central Otago and other rabbit prone areas. The intensity and frequency of
monitoring has varied between local authorities and over time.
Population, serology and reproductive data were collated from more than 15,000
rabbits shot across 140 sites over New Zealand between late 1997 and 2017 to assess
File Number: GOVE/INQU/OMBU/1274C
the effects of virus on rabbit populations and immunity to RHDV1. Serum samples have
also been collected between 2014 and 2017 from more than 880 rabbits at 32 sites
across New Zealand and assessed for the RHDV and benign RCV-A1 antibodies. This
data will provide background and baseline data for measuring the impact of the new
RHDV1 K5 strain.
Three types of release sites are to be established and data collected to monitor the
impacts of the RHDV1 K5 release in New Zealand: intensive monitoring release sites;
science study sites, and broad scale release sites.
The final number of sites to be monitored is dependent on funding and resources, and
willingness and expertise available to local bodies and communities.
What action will be taken if vaccine immunity or mother to kit immunity does not
occur as stated?
Prior to registering RHDV1 K5 for use in wild rabbit control in Australia, the NSW
Department of Primary Industries undertook a validation study to examine the vaccine
for suitability in protecting domestic and production rabbits from RHDV1 K5. This
experiment compared the mortality of a small number of vaccinated and unvaccinated
rabbits that were subsequently infected with a high dose of RHDV1 K5. All of the
rabbits vaccinated with the currently available vaccine survived infection with RHDV1
K5. None of the unvaccinated rabbits survived. This experiment indicates that the
currently registered vaccine is likely to protect pet rabbits against RHDV1 K5.
Pet rabbit owners are advised to discuss with their veterinarian how best to take care
of their rabbits. Zoetis, the manufacture of the Cylap® vaccine, has confirmed that
additional vaccine supplies have been made available in New Zealand.
What actions will be taken if RHDV2 is found to have arrived, how quickly will a
vaccine available from Europe be approved?
RHDV1 K5 is a commercially prepared product that is completely free of RHDV2. If
RHDV2 is found to be present in New Zealand through testing it will have arrived
through other pathways that not within the control of RHDV1 K5 release programme.
If found to be present, appropriate mitigation measures will be considered by the
relevant pest management agencies.
What actions are in place to advise Veterinary Surgeons and owners on what to
do if they suspect their pet rabbit has died of RHOV in order to ascertain the
strain of RHDV?
Where reasonable and appropriate, pet rabbit owners can ask their local Regional
Council to test rabbits using the standard test protocol for the presence of RHDV1 K5.
What education is in place to advise veterinary surgeons of the correct
vaccination protocol for the Cylap vaccine?
The agencies that are co-coordinating the RHDV1 K5 release have been in constant
contact with New Zealand Veterinary Association and the vaccination protocol remains
as per current Cylap label recommendations. NZVA has also been formally notified of
the planned release.
Further information about protecting pet rabbits can be found at:
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/vertebrate-
pests/biological-control-of-rabbits/pet-rabbit
File Number: GOVE/INQU/OMBU/1274C
You will be aware that if you are not satisfied with this response you are able to refer
this matter to the Office of the Ombudsman under s27 (3) of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Please be advised that we now put LGOIMA responses that are in the public interest
onto our website. No personal details of the requester are given, but we do summarise
the essence of the request alongside the response.
Should you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to
contact Anna Paris in the first instan
ce [email address] or 033653828.
Yours sincerely,
Nadeine Dommisse
Chief Operating Officer
File Number: GOVE/INQU/OMBU/1274C
