Leporids’ Emerging Diseases as a Threat to Biodiversity

Abstract

Wild leporids have been gaining interest and prominence in the scientific and social community worldwide. While endangered of extinction in its native territory, the Iberian Peninsula, where it has a key role in the Mediterranean ecosystems, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is considered a plague in Australia, due to the great economic and ecological consequences of its presence in the territories. The impact of viral diseases on the Leporidae family’ members, namely on the European rabbit, has been largely recognized worldwide since the early 50s, due to the emergence of myxomatosis and, from the mid-80s onwards, due to the emergence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 1 and 2. More recently, in 2018, a recombinant myxoma virus emerged with the ability to infect and cause severe disease in the Iberian hare (Lepus ganatensis). Also, a new gammaherpesvirus was described in Iberian hares, associated with myxoma virus infections. In this chapter, we revise the main viral infectious treats to the native leporids of the Iberian Peninsula. The recovery of the European rabbit populations, as well as of other leporid species around the world, is currently a major challenge for the scientific and social communities and policy-makers. If we fail, the ripple effects on the trophic web will be so dramatic that are likely to be unrecoverable.