Tag: invasive species

Taming viruses to control introduced pest animals

I found this interesting.

Australia has one of the most active research groups in the world in this area, since the Australian environment suffers from many pest animals that were introduced and have no natural predators.

New Scientist reports that Australian researchers have created a highly infectious rabbit virus (myxoma) that could wipe out the country’s rabbit pests by making them sterile. Infected female rabbits produce antibodies against their own eggs, a process called immunocontraception. The team has already applied for permission to carry out field trials with a similar virus that makes European mice infertile.

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