May 27, 2023
S6 E4: Little Bunny Foo Foo: The Story of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus

Rabbits, hares and pikas belong to a family of animals called “Lagomorphs” or order Lagomorpha. Rabbits and hares belong to the family Leporidae and pikas belong to the family Ochotonidae. While rabbits and hares have long ears, a short tail and very...
Rabbits, hares and pikas belong to a family of animals called “Lagomorphs” or order Lagomorpha. Rabbits and hares belong to the family Leporidae and pikas belong to the family Ochotonidae. While rabbits and hares have long ears, a short tail and very strong hind limbs that give them that characteristic bounding motion, pikas are smaller, have shorter, rounded ears, no external tail to speak of and smaller hind limbs that give them more of a scampering motion. Lagomorphs are small to medium-sized herbivores that tend to live underground. At one time, they were included in the Order Rodentia since both orders possess a set of incisors that grow throughout their lives. However, lagomorphs also have a second pair of incisors that are set directly behind the growing pair in the upper jaw. This trait is specific to lagomorphs. Now, thanks to species gene coding, we know that these two orders have very distinct and separate evolutionary histories. Rabbits are an important part of the ecosystems that they inhabit. Without them, many prey animals wouldn’t survive. This disease could kill off a necessary food source for coyotes, hawks, eagles, bears and other prey animals. You can reach me on the website at www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Show Notes: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-rhdv2.pdf https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/RHDV.htm https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/RabbitHemorrhagicDisease.aspx https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/rabbit-hemorrhagic/ https://veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1297-9716-43-12 https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/rabbit_hemorrhagic_disease.pdf https://veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13567-015-0245-5#:~:text=RHDV%20is%20a%20non%2Denveloped,capsid%20subunit%2C%20the%20VP60%20protein. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9541616/
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.600
During March of twenty twenty, I
did what so many of us did during
2
00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:09.640
that time. I took up a
new hobby. I decided that I was
3
00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:15.560
going to propagate plants. I bought
all kinds of seeds. I had the
4
00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.039
idea that I could grow any kind
of herb that I wanted, and I
5
00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.559
would be able to use these herbs
to do everything from infusing oils to throwing
6
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:31.079
them on some amazingly tasty meals.
Well, I failed miserably. I had
7
00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:35.000
no idea what I was doing,
and most of my plants died. I
8
00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.119
didn't know how to start them correctly, I didn't know how to cut them
9
00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:43.719
correctly. So there I was with
a bunch of empty pots, starting over
10
00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:49.719
and over again, and failing every
time. Then I found true Leaf Market.
11
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.119
True Leaf offers seed packets, grow
kits, and even planters for roughly
12
00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:00.840
the same price that I was paying
at the local stores. Seed packets started
13
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:06.159
about two forty nine and organic seeds
start at two ninety nine. For the
14
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:11.480
last fifty years, true Leaf Market
has offered a huge selection of non GMO
15
00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.879
seeds, including vegetables, grains,
flowers, cover crops, specialty seeds,
16
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:23.680
sprouting and microgreen seeds, and of
course my favorite herbs. They offer heirlooms,
17
00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:30.000
organics, and hybrids of all kinds
too. With super fast shipping and
18
00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:34.599
free shipping on orders over seventy five
dollars, you can't go wrong. No
19
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.239
matter whether you're an in home gardener
with grow lights and raised garden beds in
20
00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.959
the living room or a bulk wholesaler, True Leaf Market is the place to
21
00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.879
look for all your seed needs.
Remember all those past failures that I had,
22
00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:53.760
well, True Leaf Market has my
back with growing supplies and starter kits.
23
00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:57.879
Plus they have a ton of how
two PDFs that I can download to
24
00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:04.000
my computer with all the info I
need to be successful with my herb garden.
25
00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:09.039
I'm already more successful than I have
ever been. I want you to
26
00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:14.759
succeed in your gardening ventures too,
so I'm teaming up with true Leaf through
27
00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:20.479
June thirtieth to offer you ten dollars
off any order of fifty dollars or more
28
00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:27.919
when you use promo code cod ten. Go to www dot true leafmarket dot
29
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:32.240
com and use the promo code cod
ten for ten dollars off any order of
30
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:38.840
fifty dollars or more, and don't
forget You'll also get free shipping on orders
31
00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:44.879
of over seventy five dollars. This
offer is only available through June thirtieth,
32
00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:50.080
so get your seeds today and have
a great gardening season. My name is
33
00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:55.000
Keely and I host a true grimin
paranormal podcast called Missy Mysteries. Missy Mysteries
34
00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:00.840
takes a special focus on unsolved cases. I'm missing Person's Case. All of
35
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.919
my truecrime episodes are made and hopes
to raise awareness and bring justice to those
36
00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:08.639
who need it most. Most of
these episodes are made in partnership or made
37
00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:15.159
with the families of the victims and
missing people. But the podcast isn't always
38
00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:21.120
true crime. Sometimes I bring spooky
content like countings, aliens, and cryptics
39
00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.879
such as the original story of the
Conjuring House, The Life of Edin lur
40
00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:29.719
and Warren and Mothman. Truecrime and
paranormal even cross at times to make two
41
00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:34.639
part episodes like The Bobby Mackey Music
World, The Lizzie Bordenhouse, and The
42
00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:39.080
Veliska Acts Murder House. Missy Mysteries
is ready to be binge listened to with
43
00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:44.960
over fifty episodes anywhere you get your
podcasts. I cannot wait to keep you
44
00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:52.599
company whenever and wherever you like to
listen to your podcast. Hi, this
45
00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:58.599
is Kelly and this is Jenna.
We're the hosts of ODFN. That's why
46
00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:02.400
from Murder. Each week we discuss
a true crime murder case and intertwine our
47
00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:06.719
unique sense of dark humor. Each
episode relates to a word starting with the
48
00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:12.639
letter D. The stories we tell
are serious and true. Our opinions are
49
00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:15.639
not. But be warned we don't
hold back on the details of the case
50
00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:21.040
or our inappropriate comments and colorful language. Join us every Monday on your favorite
51
00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:26.759
podcast provider for a new episode of
ODFM. You're on a full ride scholarship
52
00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:31.240
to Hell Dark Cast Network. Come
on over to the dark Side. We're
53
00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:45.160
really nice people once you get past
the true crime and scary science. Hello,
54
00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.920
and welcome to Cause of Death.
One hundred seconds to midnight. I'm
55
00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:56.839
your host, Jackie Moranti. I
want to begin this episode by thanking all
56
00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:01.879
of my long time and new listeners
for stick with this podcast. You are
57
00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:08.600
the reason that I pour over pages
and pages of white papers and government documents
58
00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:14.600
so that every two weeks I can
tell you about another disease or another disaster
59
00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:18.759
that plagues the earth. It's because
of you that I made it to number
60
00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:25.800
fifty five on the Apple Podcast charts
for Life Sciences in the US. I've
61
00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.680
also stayed at number one on the
Good Pods Life Sciences and Indie Life Sciences
62
00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:35.040
charts for several weeks now. And
if that wasn't enough, I've hit the
63
00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:42.560
top five percent in the Listen Notes
charts. All these things mean that the
64
00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:47.160
podcast will be easier to find for
other listeners. Every chart I make,
65
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:53.959
every subscription, every review, they
all count toward making this podcast the first
66
00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:58.120
thing that comes up when people look
up cause of death in their podcast player.
67
00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.519
It's a big deal, and if
it weren't for all of you,
68
00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:06.839
I'd just be talking to myself.
So thank you so much for supporting this
69
00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:12.439
project. If you're new to the
pod, I'm going to ask that you
70
00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:15.120
don't give up on it. It's
a little technical in the beginning, but
71
00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:18.720
I promise by the time we get
to the history part of the episode,
72
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:24.759
everything will seem a lot clearer.
I also want to say that this is
73
00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:29.360
not as depressing as it seems.
I won't give your rose colored glasses,
74
00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.639
but I will try to give you
a greater understanding of the things that can
75
00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:38.639
be done to bring us back from
the brink. I had a couple of
76
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:44.800
listener emails after the last show.
My friend and mentor Eric had some very
77
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.360
kind words for me. I even
got a little misty over this. I
78
00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.839
love that I can have you research
all the stuff that I have questions about.
79
00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.639
I might have to wait a few
months, but you get there,
80
00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:05.199
and I'm grateful. I'm also pissed
off about the deregulation of trains. Thanks
81
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.079
so much, Eric, I appreciate
those words, especially coming from you.
82
00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:15.399
Eric has one of the best true
crime podcasts around. It's called True Consequences.
83
00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.600
I do quite a bit of research
and writing for that show. So
84
00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:25.000
if you love this one and you
love true crime, go listen to Eric
85
00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:29.920
and you'll hear more of my research. In writing in those episodes, Jessica
86
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.959
wrote, are you sure that the
railroads are totally under their own control?
87
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:39.879
No one oversees them. There is
no federal agency telling them what they can
88
00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:46.920
and can't do. Okay, Jessica. Nothing pisses me off more than finding
89
00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:54.399
out that any entity governs themselves.
That's a golden invitation for corruption. But
90
00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:00.720
the railroad has been self governed since
the first tracks were laid. That information
91
00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.800
is out there for anyone who looks
for it, and also it's in the
92
00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:09.600
show notes of the last episode.
Dominic asked, why is it taking so
93
00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:16.120
long to figure out how these disasters
are affecting ecosystems? Does it really take
94
00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:20.839
forty years to find out what happened
at Chernobyl? How can they not know
95
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:26.160
what happened to the larger wildlife in
Ohio, Okay? So Chernobyl is a
96
00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.240
strange beast. Remember, Russia didn't
immediately tell the rest of the world that
97
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:37.120
there was a problem. They tried
to hide the whole incident and clean it
98
00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:43.360
up on their own. Then the
area around that plant for miles was contaminated,
99
00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:46.000
and no one knew whether it was
safe to go into that area or
100
00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:52.240
not. People still don't live in
the sea easy. The immediate effects weren't
101
00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:58.639
studied until years after the accident,
and that was partly because the Russian government
102
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.919
wouldn't let anyone in. Even after
the xon Valdis, the effects of that
103
00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:09.799
spill on wildlife weren't totally appreciated for
years after the spill. It takes several
104
00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:16.600
generations to see what lasting damage has
been done. The Xon Valdis didn't take
105
00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:20.320
quite as long as Chernobyl, but
it still took several years to determine which
106
00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:26.480
species would bounce back and how long
it would take. They also had to
107
00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:31.639
figure out what long term damage was
done to the food chain. We'll have
108
00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:37.320
to see what Ohio breaks. That
will depend on how the railroad handles it.
109
00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.240
So far, they've been rather combative
when people come in to do any
110
00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.399
research on the environment. They don't
want the world to know how badly they
111
00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:52.759
screwed up. My last thanks go
out to those who just rode in to
112
00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.440
say how much they're enjoying the Who's
Who outside of the Zoo season. Some
113
00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:01.679
of you asked if this would be
the only season an addressing wildlife, and
114
00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.399
the answer to that is no.
At some point I'll do a who's Who
115
00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:11.159
outside of the zoo too. There's
a lot to talk about when we delve
116
00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:18.240
into wildlife conservation and the environment.
With that, let's get into rabbit hammorrhagic
117
00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:26.559
disease. Will begin as usual with
ideology and pathology. Rabbits, hairs,
118
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:33.399
and pikas belong to an order of
animals called lagomorphs or order Lagomorpha. Rabbits
119
00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:39.639
and hairs belong to the family Leporidae, and pikas belong to the family Ochotanidae.
120
00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:45.240
While rabbits and hairs have long ears, a short tail, and very
121
00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:50.559
strong hind limbs that give them that
characteristic bounding motion, pikas are smaller.
122
00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:56.480
They have shorter, rounded ears and
no external tail to speak of, and
123
00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:00.759
they also have smaller hind limbs that
give them more of a scam bring motion.
124
00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:07.480
Lagomorphs are small to medium sized herbivores
that tend to live underground. At
125
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.519
one time, they were included in
the order Rhodentia, since both orders possess
126
00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:18.120
a set of incisors that grow throughout
their lives. However, lagomorphs also have
127
00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:22.200
a second pair of incisors that are
set directly behind the growing pair in the
128
00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:30.440
upper jaw. This trait is specific
to lagomorphs. Now, thanks to species
129
00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:35.159
gene coating, we know that these
two orders have very distinct and separate evolutionary
130
00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:41.080
histories. A right, so we're
back to talking about poop for a minute.
131
00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.720
I know, I promised that I
wasn't going to mention poop for a
132
00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:52.159
while after the restaurant rogue season,
but lagomorphs have a definite poop trait that
133
00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:58.679
defines them. They produce two kinds
of feces, the solid round droppings that
134
00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:05.440
we all know is rabbit poob and
softer, grease like pellets. This is
135
00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:11.279
important to the survival of the order
because the softer feces hold up to five
136
00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.159
times the vitamin content of the hard
feces. These feces are produced in the
137
00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:22.799
secum and are re ingested so that
the animal can get all the nutrients out
138
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:28.840
of the food they eat. The
double digestion process allows the feces to be
139
00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:33.320
passed through the system twice so that
they can get every bit of the vitamins
140
00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:39.720
and minerals out of their food.
Of course, rabbits reproduce like well rabbits.
141
00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:46.639
Many species have several large litters per
year, but there are some species
142
00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.919
that only reproduce once a year and
have very small litters. Rabbits are not
143
00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.080
great moms. They leave their young
for most of the day, only coming
144
00:12:56.120 --> 00:13:01.120
back to nurse once or twice for
a really short time, but their milk
145
00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:07.519
is among the richest of any mammal, and their young grow quickly. They
146
00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:13.759
generally wean in about a month Rabbits
play an important role in the food chain
147
00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:20.080
their food. The average life expectancy
of a wild rabbit is about nine months.
148
00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.879
There are about twenty nine species of
piica. These animals are found in
149
00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:33.480
the mountains of western North America and
Asia. The two species of North American
150
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:39.480
pikas and several of the Asian species
live in rocky habitat so they don't burrow.
151
00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.600
Like rabbits and hairs, there are
around thirty species of hair and twenty
152
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:48.840
eight species of rabbit, and they
exist worldwide. Now that we know what
153
00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:54.960
we're dealing with, let's talk about
the disease that's specific to lagomorphs. Rabbit
154
00:13:54.080 --> 00:14:01.399
hemorrhagic disease virus. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease
virus is a highly infectious and fatal disease
155
00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:09.240
of the European rabbit. It belongs
to the lagovirus genus in the Callissaveridae family
156
00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:15.600
of viruses. It is a non
enveloped, icosahedral, single stranded positive sense
157
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:22.639
RNA virus. The virus capsid is
comprised of ninety dimers of a single capsid
158
00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:30.200
subunit VP sixty protein. The VP
sixty protein has three domains, an N
159
00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:37.440
terminal arm the NTA a shell s
that forms a scaffold which protects the viral
160
00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:45.159
RNA, and a flexible protruding domain
P at the capsid surface, which contain
161
00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:52.559
the determinants for virus host receptor interactions
and antigenic diversity. The P domain can
162
00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:58.480
be further divided into P one and
P two subdomains, and the P two
163
00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:05.039
subdomain is located at the outermost surface
exposed region of the viral capsid. In
164
00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:11.320
two thousand and ten, a new
RHDV related virus with a distinctive pathogenic profile
165
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:18.799
was found in France. This virus
is known as RHDV two or rhdvb,
166
00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:26.120
and it has rapidly spread throughout domestic
and wild rabbit populations in Italy, Spain,
167
00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:33.519
Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Azores. There are
168
00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:41.039
several non pathogenic Callisa viruses that are
genetically related, but they're also relatively distant
169
00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:48.039
from RHDV. The mortality rate of
RHDV is anywhere between eighty to one hundred
170
00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:52.440
percent. Rabbits are not susceptible to
the virus from birth. They become more
171
00:15:52.519 --> 00:16:00.000
susceptible as they get older. Susceptibility
begins around five or six weeks and steadily
172
00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:03.799
increases to the eighth or ninth week
of life when they are fully susceptible.
173
00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:08.960
This virus can live for weeks outside
of the host and is spread very easily
174
00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:15.799
by the fecal, oral, nasal, conjunctival, and parental routes. Animals
175
00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:21.559
who come to graze where infected animals
have been grazing will generally get the disease.
176
00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:29.440
It is also spread by vectors such
as fleas flies and mosquitoes. Because
177
00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:33.919
the virus is resistant to environmental inactivation, fomites are important in the spread of
178
00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:41.559
the disease. It also survives for
long periods in infected carcasses. Domestic rabbits
179
00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:47.960
can get it from hutches where infected
rabbits have previously been housed, and most
180
00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:53.279
disinfectants won't even touch it. There
are three clinical syndromes seen in RHDV.
181
00:16:55.320 --> 00:17:02.320
The paracute form is characterized by sudden
death with no clinical symp The acute form
182
00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:08.960
is characterized by anorexia and depression,
followed by neurological signs respiratory distress, ocular
183
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:18.759
hemorrhage and epistaxis, lymphopenia, and
abnormalities and coagulation are also present in these
184
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:23.359
animals. In the subacute form,
similar signs may be present, but they're
185
00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:32.359
considerably milder and most of these rabbits
will survive. Hepatic necrosis is consistent through
186
00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:41.200
the animals that die, and most
experienced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and thrombosis. One
187
00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:45.839
study found that liver cell death is
induced upon infection and is due to apoptosis.
188
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:53.000
This program cell death mainly affects hypotocytes, but macrophages and endothelial cells have
189
00:17:53.160 --> 00:18:03.480
also presented hallmarks of apoptosis. Hypotocyte
apoptosis produced extensive parenchymal destruction that caused the
190
00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:10.799
lethal, acute fulminant hepatitis that is
so characteristic of the disease. It's postulated
191
00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:15.359
that apoptosis and RhD may be the
determining factor in the development of d C.
192
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.839
Let's take a minute to hear from
our sponsors, then I'll be back
193
00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:25.599
to talk about the history of the
disease. Are you a true crime advocate?
194
00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:32.079
Are you passionate about uncovering the truth
and bringing justice to victims? Do
195
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.039
you love the paranormal and spooky tales? Then you don't want to miss the
196
00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:42.319
True Crime and Paranormal Podcast Festival in
Austin, Texas. It'll be going on
197
00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:48.920
from August twenty fifth to the twenty
seventh in twenty twenty three. This festival
198
00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:55.759
features panel discussions, workshops, live
podcasts, all focusing on ethics and advocacy
199
00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:02.519
in the true crime sphere. Get
your tickets now at www dot Truecrime Podcast
200
00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:08.000
Festival dot com and join us in
Austin for an unforgettable experience. Don't miss
201
00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:12.839
out on the chance to connect with
other advocates and take your passion for truecrime
202
00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:19.200
and paranormal to the next level.
Use Code Consequences at checkout for fifteen percent
203
00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:26.279
off the ticket price. That's Truecrime
Podcast Festival dot com with promo Code Consequences
204
00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:33.160
at checkout for fifteen percent off the
ticket price. Special guests will include Julie
205
00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:37.920
Murray, Terranewell, and Call your
Landry to name a few. I'll be
206
00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:44.559
there representing another podcast that I'm involved
with, True Consequences. Come by and
207
00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:52.400
meet Eric Carter Landin and I We
would love to meet you. Our HD
208
00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:59.200
was first reported in China in nineteen
eighty four in the Jane Shue province after
209
00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:04.599
a group of commercially bread and gorah
rabbits had been imported from Germany. It's
210
00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.799
thought that the disease may have started
in Germany and been imported to China,
211
00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:15.319
but there were never any reports of
RhD before nineteen eighty four, so it's
212
00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:22.920
a chicken and egg story. No
one really knows which came first. However,
213
00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.640
in less than a year, the
virus had killed one hundred and forty
214
00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:32.880
million domestic rabbits in China and had
spread over an area of fifty thousand square
215
00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:38.920
kilometers. Korea was the next country
to report the disease after importing rabbit fur
216
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:47.079
from China. Italy saw its first
outbreak in nineteen eighty six. Then it
217
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:53.559
spread to the rest of Europe and
became endemic in several countries. European rabbits
218
00:20:53.559 --> 00:21:00.960
originated in the Iberian Peninsula and they
are a key species in the ecosystem,
219
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:06.759
but after the first outbreaks in Spain
and Portugal in nineteen eighty eight and nineteen
220
00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:14.079
eighty nine, respectively, there was
a severe reduction in wild populations. North
221
00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:21.160
Africa began to experience RhD outbreaks and
domestic populations around the same time. In
222
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:26.200
nineteen eighty eight, Mexico became the
first country in the Americas to undergo an
223
00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:33.039
outbreak of RhD after importing rabbit products
from China. Mexico is the only country
224
00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:38.240
to have somehow eradicated the disease,
though the last outbreak there occurred in nineteen
225
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:45.720
ninety two. It's worth noting that
the successful eradication may have been due to
226
00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:52.359
the absence of natural populations of wild
European rabbits in that country. North America
227
00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:57.559
wouldn't report an outbreak until two thousand
and it has only reported a few outbreaks
228
00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:04.240
since the US RhD is considered a
foreign disease and it is reportable to the
229
00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:11.240
USDA should an outbreak occur. The
virus finally made its way to distant regions
230
00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:18.920
and was eventually reported in Cuba,
Uruguay, and Reunion Island. In Australia
231
00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:25.440
and New Zealand, where rabbits are
considered to be agricultural pests and major threats
232
00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:30.839
to the endemic wildlife, flora and
fauna, RhD was considered an agent for
233
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:38.599
rabbit control. These countries used biological
warfare against rabbit populations. If you have
234
00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:44.079
a subscription to the show you'll get
to hear the episode on the House that
235
00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:49.119
Jack built. That episode explains what
happens when feral species are introduced into an
236
00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:55.200
area and how they take over.
It also addresses the efforts that governments and
237
00:22:55.319 --> 00:23:00.359
locals make to get rid of those
populations. It's a good episode. If
238
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:07.480
you haven't subscribed, you should okay
shameless plug over. Research efforts began in
239
00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:11.920
New Zealand and Australia to harness a
strain of the disease and use it as
240
00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:19.319
biocontrol against rabbits. In nineteen ninety
one, r HDV check Reference strain was
241
00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:27.519
used to assess the efficacy and host
specificity of the disease. After the Australian
242
00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:33.680
authorities approved the use of the strain, it was released in the Wardang Island
243
00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:41.559
in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Despite strict quarantine measures, the virus made
244
00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:45.839
its way to the mainland in nineteen
ninety five. Possibly it was carried by
245
00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:51.240
insects or maybe the wind. In
less than two years, it had become
246
00:23:51.440 --> 00:24:00.319
endemic across Southern Australia at a rate
of fifty kilometers per week. Areas experienced
247
00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:07.319
a ninety five percent reduction in rabbit
populations, particularly in the more arid climates.
248
00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:15.319
After careful consideration of the pros and
cons of introducing RDHV to the country,
249
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:22.319
New Zealand decided against it. That
didn't stop local landowners from illegally introducing
250
00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:26.839
the virus to the country, though, after studying the carcasses of dead animals,
251
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.799
the strain looked a whole lot like
the check strain that had been introduced
252
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:37.400
to Australia. This gave rise to
the suspicion that the virus could have been
253
00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:44.480
illegally imported from Australia. One of
the challenges in identifying and naming the virus
254
00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:51.440
came from the fact that it can't
be grown in culture. Researchers suspected several
255
00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:57.279
different viruses, picornovirus, parvovirus,
and parvo like virus. It was finally
256
00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:03.799
assessed in nineteen ninety as a member
of the calisa Veridae family. The first
257
00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:10.759
complete genome sequence was obtained in nineteen
ninety one, and this revealed that RHDV
258
00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:18.039
was very similar to other callissa Veridae
viruses that were nonpathogenic, But it wasn't
259
00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:25.319
until nineteen ninety seven that the first
phylogenic analysis of RHDV isolates using different locations
260
00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:30.039
and spanning the years from nineteen eighty
seven to nineteen ninety five was performed.
261
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:37.480
All the available information was included in
the study and this led to the identification
262
00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:44.400
of three major branches and supported a
high degree of homology between samples. It
263
00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:49.000
also showed that there were clusters of
RHDV strains that correlated closer with the year
264
00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:56.759
of isolation, rather than the areas
that they were collected from. Lagal and
265
00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:02.519
his team found this same pattern among
French isolates and further assigned the isolates into
266
00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:08.799
three chronologically established geno groups G one, G two, and G three.
267
00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:14.640
It was later found that France G
one and G two had disappeared and three
268
00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:21.519
new subgroups had appeared. G four
had mutated from G three. G five
269
00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:29.720
and G six were both independent subgroups. G six corresponded to the first antigenic
270
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:34.839
variant of RHDV, which had been
previously detective by Capucci and his team.
271
00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:45.640
This has since been designated as RhD
V. A vaccine research soon began and
272
00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:52.920
by using monoclonal antibody one H eight, protection could be conferred to experimentally infected
273
00:26:52.000 --> 00:27:00.279
rabbits. So There is a vaccine
against RHDVA, which is the most common
274
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:06.079
type of RHDV. But as we
know, viruses mutate to evade host immunity,
275
00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:15.319
and it's no different with RhD RHDVB
is resistant to the current vaccines and
276
00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:22.000
so it can evade prophylactic measures.
The realization that it kills quickly and without
277
00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:29.960
warning makes it much harder to control. That said, passive immunity can work
278
00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:36.920
in an emergency. Inoculation is achieved
by using hyperimmune anti serum from rabbits who
279
00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:44.519
exhibit very mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. This is not a long term solution
280
00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:48.400
though, As I've discussed in the
past, herd immunity can only be attained
281
00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:56.559
by vaccination. There is no therapy
in place for animals with RHDV. Prevention
282
00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:02.119
and control are the best bets when
it comes to animal survival. If they
283
00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:06.680
don't get it, they can't die
from it. Since there is still no
284
00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:11.079
way to culture this virus, vaccines
are produced from the tissue suspensions of experimentally
285
00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:18.240
infected rabbits, then the virus is
inactivated. Research is ongoing to find a
286
00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:22.799
safer vaccine using recombinant DNA where the
VP sixty protein is produced in E.
287
00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:30.119
Coli, insect cultured cells, yeast
plants, insect larvae, and recombinant animal
288
00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:37.880
derived viruses. Most of these experiments
have been successful, but proper disposal of
289
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:44.920
unused vaccine and dirty needles is concerning. While the vaccines are using recombinants and
290
00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:49.920
inactivated virus proteins, there is no
guarantee that without proper disposal in place,
291
00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:59.319
that virus couldn't find another host and
become pathogenic. Vaccination and biocontainment are possible
292
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:03.920
in commercial rabbit trees, but none
of this is practical when we're talking about
293
00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:08.200
wild rabbits. The stress of catching
these animals alone may increase mortality, and
294
00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:12.960
since the immunity from the vaccines wanes
in a year, the treatment would have
295
00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:21.440
to be performed again and again as
we speak. Researchers are exploring vaccine delivery
296
00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:26.480
systems that would be more logistically sound
in wild populations. If the vaccine could
297
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:30.880
be spread over large swaths of land
where the rabbits could either ingest them or
298
00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:37.440
breathe them in, that would be
the perfect solution, but then we still
299
00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:44.000
have the problem of the vaccine being
unstable. Though I didn't run onto anything,
300
00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:48.119
indicating that they were ongoing studies with
mRNA That would be the best solution
301
00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:55.880
to the problem. Research is currently
being done using RHDV as a cancer and
302
00:29:56.039 --> 00:30:03.359
pathogen treatment in humans. Using genetic
engineering, r hdv VLP have been shown
303
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:10.440
to efficiently incorporate antigens that might present
to immune cells and to elicit an adequate
304
00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:17.960
cell mediated and humoral immune response.
If this works, it could be easily
305
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:22.400
reproduced. It would be very inexpensive, and since it's coming from a non
306
00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:32.079
human virus, they're not susceptible to
pre existing neutralizing antibodies. Rabbits are an
307
00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:37.400
important part of the ecosystems that they
inhabit. Without them, many prey animals
308
00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:42.640
wouldn't survive. This disease could kill
off a necessary food source for coyotes,
309
00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:48.319
hawks, eagles, bears, and
other prey animals. Then we have to
310
00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:53.839
wonder if this virus will jump.
It hasn't yet, but it's a fairly
311
00:30:53.960 --> 00:31:00.799
fast mutator, so it could.
That would be disastrous for any animal that
312
00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:08.880
depends on the rabbit as a food
source, including people. Okay, that's
313
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:15.839
rabbit hammorrhagic disease. Scary stuff.
There was a tweet directed at me from
314
00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:22.400
my friend Anne at Unsolved Virginia.
Apparently several cases of Powassan virus have been
315
00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.799
found in Maine this year. This
is a nasty virus that causes encephalopathy,
316
00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:33.960
and well, there's no vaccine nor
treatment. Ticks seem to be everywhere,
317
00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:40.720
so they're hard to avoid. Dat
is a double edged sword. It works
318
00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:44.240
to keep the blood suckers away,
but the long term may be questionable.
319
00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:49.079
Powassan virus is carried by ticks and
is a rare disease that occurs mostly in
320
00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:56.759
the northeast US, Canada and eastern
Russia. I'll be talking a lot about
321
00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:00.440
vector borne diseases in a future season. Maybe will tune that up for season
322
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.559
eight. All I can say is
that the coming plague isn't going to be
323
00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:09.640
vector born. It's going to be
something that's passed as easily as the common
324
00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:17.359
cold. Thanks for giving me the
heads up on pouassan, and so many
325
00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:22.319
of you contacted me this time.
I really appreciate all of you emailing,
326
00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:28.160
facebooking, tweeting, and well those
who know me are texting and calling.
327
00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:34.480
So I'm grateful for all of you. If you would like to contact me.
328
00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.200
Please feel free to reach out to
me on the socials, or you
329
00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:42.799
can drop me a line at Jackie
at cause of death one hundred secs dot
330
00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:49.119
net. You can also leave a
message on my website at www. Cause
331
00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:53.039
of Death one hundred secs dot net. Take a look at the show notes
332
00:32:53.079 --> 00:33:00.400
where you'll find this month's sponsor.
I do love True Leaf Market. Arted
333
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:05.880
seeds for twenty four different plants and
every single one of them has sprouted.
334
00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:09.880
They look great now. If I
can leave them until the third leaf then
335
00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:15.240
replant, I'll be fine. Really, go check out true Leaf Market.
336
00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:22.559
I have never been so successful.
Head on over to the Patreon page and
337
00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:27.680
sign up for ad free content,
bonus content, and other goodies. You
338
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:34.200
can also subscribe on Apple Subscriptions for
ad free and bonus content. Don't forget
339
00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:38.720
to rate, review and subscribe on
your favorite podcast platform. Those charts really
340
00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:44.640
do mean a lot, and every
download, every subscription, every review,
341
00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:50.799
and every share counts. Thank you
all again, and I'll see you in
342
00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:55.000
two weeks when I'll be talking about
bats disease and the environment. Until then,
343
00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:00.000
get out and enjoy the outdoors,
but avoid the those vectors.
1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.600
During March of twenty twenty, I
did what so many of us did during
2
00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:09.640
that time. I took up a
new hobby. I decided that I was
3
00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:15.560
going to propagate plants. I bought
all kinds of seeds. I had the
4
00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.039
idea that I could grow any kind
of herb that I wanted, and I
5
00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.559
would be able to use these herbs
to do everything from infusing oils to throwing
6
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:31.079
them on some amazingly tasty meals.
Well, I failed miserably. I had
7
00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:35.000
no idea what I was doing,
and most of my plants died. I
8
00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.119
didn't know how to start them correctly, I didn't know how to cut them
9
00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:43.719
correctly. So there I was with
a bunch of empty pots, starting over
10
00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:49.719
and over again, and failing every
time. Then I found true Leaf Market.
11
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.119
True Leaf offers seed packets, grow
kits, and even planters for roughly
12
00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:00.840
the same price that I was paying
at the local stores. Seed packets started
13
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:06.159
about two forty nine and organic seeds
start at two ninety nine. For the
14
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:11.480
last fifty years, true Leaf Market
has offered a huge selection of non GMO
15
00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.879
seeds, including vegetables, grains,
flowers, cover crops, specialty seeds,
16
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:23.680
sprouting and microgreen seeds, and of
course my favorite herbs. They offer heirlooms,
17
00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:30.000
organics, and hybrids of all kinds
too. With super fast shipping and
18
00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:34.599
free shipping on orders over seventy five
dollars, you can't go wrong. No
19
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.239
matter whether you're an in home gardener
with grow lights and raised garden beds in
20
00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.959
the living room or a bulk wholesaler, True Leaf Market is the place to
21
00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.879
look for all your seed needs.
Remember all those past failures that I had,
22
00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:53.760
well, True Leaf Market has my
back with growing supplies and starter kits.
23
00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:57.879
Plus they have a ton of how
two PDFs that I can download to
24
00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:04.000
my computer with all the info I
need to be successful with my herb garden.
25
00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:09.039
I'm already more successful than I have
ever been. I want you to
26
00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:14.759
succeed in your gardening ventures too,
so I'm teaming up with true Leaf through
27
00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:20.479
June thirtieth to offer you ten dollars
off any order of fifty dollars or more
28
00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:27.919
when you use promo code cod ten. Go to www dot true leafmarket dot
29
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:32.240
com and use the promo code cod
ten for ten dollars off any order of
30
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:38.840
fifty dollars or more, and don't
forget You'll also get free shipping on orders
31
00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:44.879
of over seventy five dollars. This
offer is only available through June thirtieth,
32
00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:50.080
so get your seeds today and have
a great gardening season. My name is
33
00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:55.000
Keely and I host a true grimin
paranormal podcast called Missy Mysteries. Missy Mysteries
34
00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:00.840
takes a special focus on unsolved cases. I'm missing Person's Case. All of
35
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.919
my truecrime episodes are made and hopes
to raise awareness and bring justice to those
36
00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:08.639
who need it most. Most of
these episodes are made in partnership or made
37
00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:15.159
with the families of the victims and
missing people. But the podcast isn't always
38
00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:21.120
true crime. Sometimes I bring spooky
content like countings, aliens, and cryptics
39
00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.879
such as the original story of the
Conjuring House, The Life of Edin lur
40
00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:29.719
and Warren and Mothman. Truecrime and
paranormal even cross at times to make two
41
00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:34.639
part episodes like The Bobby Mackey Music
World, The Lizzie Bordenhouse, and The
42
00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:39.080
Veliska Acts Murder House. Missy Mysteries
is ready to be binge listened to with
43
00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:44.960
over fifty episodes anywhere you get your
podcasts. I cannot wait to keep you
44
00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:52.599
company whenever and wherever you like to
listen to your podcast. Hi, this
45
00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:58.599
is Kelly and this is Jenna.
We're the hosts of ODFN. That's why
46
00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:02.400
from Murder. Each week we discuss
a true crime murder case and intertwine our
47
00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:06.719
unique sense of dark humor. Each
episode relates to a word starting with the
48
00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:12.639
letter D. The stories we tell
are serious and true. Our opinions are
49
00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:15.639
not. But be warned we don't
hold back on the details of the case
50
00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:21.040
or our inappropriate comments and colorful language. Join us every Monday on your favorite
51
00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:26.759
podcast provider for a new episode of
ODFM. You're on a full ride scholarship
52
00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:31.240
to Hell Dark Cast Network. Come
on over to the dark Side. We're
53
00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:45.160
really nice people once you get past
the true crime and scary science. Hello,
54
00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.920
and welcome to Cause of Death.
One hundred seconds to midnight. I'm
55
00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:56.839
your host, Jackie Moranti. I
want to begin this episode by thanking all
56
00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:01.879
of my long time and new listeners
for stick with this podcast. You are
57
00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:08.600
the reason that I pour over pages
and pages of white papers and government documents
58
00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:14.600
so that every two weeks I can
tell you about another disease or another disaster
59
00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:18.759
that plagues the earth. It's because
of you that I made it to number
60
00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:25.800
fifty five on the Apple Podcast charts
for Life Sciences in the US. I've
61
00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.680
also stayed at number one on the
Good Pods Life Sciences and Indie Life Sciences
62
00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:35.040
charts for several weeks now. And
if that wasn't enough, I've hit the
63
00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:42.560
top five percent in the Listen Notes
charts. All these things mean that the
64
00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:47.160
podcast will be easier to find for
other listeners. Every chart I make,
65
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:53.959
every subscription, every review, they
all count toward making this podcast the first
66
00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:58.120
thing that comes up when people look
up cause of death in their podcast player.
67
00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.519
It's a big deal, and if
it weren't for all of you,
68
00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:06.839
I'd just be talking to myself.
So thank you so much for supporting this
69
00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:12.439
project. If you're new to the
pod, I'm going to ask that you
70
00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:15.120
don't give up on it. It's
a little technical in the beginning, but
71
00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:18.720
I promise by the time we get
to the history part of the episode,
72
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:24.759
everything will seem a lot clearer.
I also want to say that this is
73
00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:29.360
not as depressing as it seems.
I won't give your rose colored glasses,
74
00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.639
but I will try to give you
a greater understanding of the things that can
75
00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:38.639
be done to bring us back from
the brink. I had a couple of
76
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:44.800
listener emails after the last show.
My friend and mentor Eric had some very
77
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.360
kind words for me. I even
got a little misty over this. I
78
00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.839
love that I can have you research
all the stuff that I have questions about.
79
00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.639
I might have to wait a few
months, but you get there,
80
00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:05.199
and I'm grateful. I'm also pissed
off about the deregulation of trains. Thanks
81
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.079
so much, Eric, I appreciate
those words, especially coming from you.
82
00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:15.399
Eric has one of the best true
crime podcasts around. It's called True Consequences.
83
00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.600
I do quite a bit of research
and writing for that show. So
84
00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:25.000
if you love this one and you
love true crime, go listen to Eric
85
00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:29.920
and you'll hear more of my research. In writing in those episodes, Jessica
86
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.959
wrote, are you sure that the
railroads are totally under their own control?
87
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:39.879
No one oversees them. There is
no federal agency telling them what they can
88
00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:46.920
and can't do. Okay, Jessica. Nothing pisses me off more than finding
89
00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:54.399
out that any entity governs themselves.
That's a golden invitation for corruption. But
90
00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:00.720
the railroad has been self governed since
the first tracks were laid. That information
91
00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.800
is out there for anyone who looks
for it, and also it's in the
92
00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:09.600
show notes of the last episode.
Dominic asked, why is it taking so
93
00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:16.120
long to figure out how these disasters
are affecting ecosystems? Does it really take
94
00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:20.839
forty years to find out what happened
at Chernobyl? How can they not know
95
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:26.160
what happened to the larger wildlife in
Ohio, Okay? So Chernobyl is a
96
00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.240
strange beast. Remember, Russia didn't
immediately tell the rest of the world that
97
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:37.120
there was a problem. They tried
to hide the whole incident and clean it
98
00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:43.360
up on their own. Then the
area around that plant for miles was contaminated,
99
00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:46.000
and no one knew whether it was
safe to go into that area or
100
00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:52.240
not. People still don't live in
the sea easy. The immediate effects weren't
101
00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:58.639
studied until years after the accident,
and that was partly because the Russian government
102
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.919
wouldn't let anyone in. Even after
the xon Valdis, the effects of that
103
00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:09.799
spill on wildlife weren't totally appreciated for
years after the spill. It takes several
104
00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:16.600
generations to see what lasting damage has
been done. The Xon Valdis didn't take
105
00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:20.320
quite as long as Chernobyl, but
it still took several years to determine which
106
00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:26.480
species would bounce back and how long
it would take. They also had to
107
00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:31.639
figure out what long term damage was
done to the food chain. We'll have
108
00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:37.320
to see what Ohio breaks. That
will depend on how the railroad handles it.
109
00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.240
So far, they've been rather combative
when people come in to do any
110
00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.399
research on the environment. They don't
want the world to know how badly they
111
00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:52.759
screwed up. My last thanks go
out to those who just rode in to
112
00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.440
say how much they're enjoying the Who's
Who outside of the Zoo season. Some
113
00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:01.679
of you asked if this would be
the only season an addressing wildlife, and
114
00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.399
the answer to that is no.
At some point I'll do a who's Who
115
00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:11.159
outside of the zoo too. There's
a lot to talk about when we delve
116
00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:18.240
into wildlife conservation and the environment.
With that, let's get into rabbit hammorrhagic
117
00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:26.559
disease. Will begin as usual with
ideology and pathology. Rabbits, hairs,
118
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:33.399
and pikas belong to an order of
animals called lagomorphs or order Lagomorpha. Rabbits
119
00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:39.639
and hairs belong to the family Leporidae, and pikas belong to the family Ochotanidae.
120
00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:45.240
While rabbits and hairs have long ears, a short tail, and very
121
00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:50.559
strong hind limbs that give them that
characteristic bounding motion, pikas are smaller.
122
00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:56.480
They have shorter, rounded ears and
no external tail to speak of, and
123
00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:00.759
they also have smaller hind limbs that
give them more of a scam bring motion.
124
00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:07.480
Lagomorphs are small to medium sized herbivores
that tend to live underground. At
125
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.519
one time, they were included in
the order Rhodentia, since both orders possess
126
00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:18.120
a set of incisors that grow throughout
their lives. However, lagomorphs also have
127
00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:22.200
a second pair of incisors that are
set directly behind the growing pair in the
128
00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:30.440
upper jaw. This trait is specific
to lagomorphs. Now, thanks to species
129
00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:35.159
gene coating, we know that these
two orders have very distinct and separate evolutionary
130
00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:41.080
histories. A right, so we're
back to talking about poop for a minute.
131
00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.720
I know, I promised that I
wasn't going to mention poop for a
132
00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:52.159
while after the restaurant rogue season,
but lagomorphs have a definite poop trait that
133
00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:58.679
defines them. They produce two kinds
of feces, the solid round droppings that
134
00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:05.440
we all know is rabbit poob and
softer, grease like pellets. This is
135
00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:11.279
important to the survival of the order
because the softer feces hold up to five
136
00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.159
times the vitamin content of the hard
feces. These feces are produced in the
137
00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:22.799
secum and are re ingested so that
the animal can get all the nutrients out
138
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:28.840
of the food they eat. The
double digestion process allows the feces to be
139
00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:33.320
passed through the system twice so that
they can get every bit of the vitamins
140
00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:39.720
and minerals out of their food.
Of course, rabbits reproduce like well rabbits.
141
00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:46.639
Many species have several large litters per
year, but there are some species
142
00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.919
that only reproduce once a year and
have very small litters. Rabbits are not
143
00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.080
great moms. They leave their young
for most of the day, only coming
144
00:12:56.120 --> 00:13:01.120
back to nurse once or twice for
a really short time, but their milk
145
00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:07.519
is among the richest of any mammal, and their young grow quickly. They
146
00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:13.759
generally wean in about a month Rabbits
play an important role in the food chain
147
00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:20.080
their food. The average life expectancy
of a wild rabbit is about nine months.
148
00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.879
There are about twenty nine species of
piica. These animals are found in
149
00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:33.480
the mountains of western North America and
Asia. The two species of North American
150
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:39.480
pikas and several of the Asian species
live in rocky habitat so they don't burrow.
151
00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.600
Like rabbits and hairs, there are
around thirty species of hair and twenty
152
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:48.840
eight species of rabbit, and they
exist worldwide. Now that we know what
153
00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:54.960
we're dealing with, let's talk about
the disease that's specific to lagomorphs. Rabbit
154
00:13:54.080 --> 00:14:01.399
hemorrhagic disease virus. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease
virus is a highly infectious and fatal disease
155
00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:09.240
of the European rabbit. It belongs
to the lagovirus genus in the Callissaveridae family
156
00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:15.600
of viruses. It is a non
enveloped, icosahedral, single stranded positive sense
157
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:22.639
RNA virus. The virus capsid is
comprised of ninety dimers of a single capsid
158
00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:30.200
subunit VP sixty protein. The VP
sixty protein has three domains, an N
159
00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:37.440
terminal arm the NTA a shell s
that forms a scaffold which protects the viral
160
00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:45.159
RNA, and a flexible protruding domain
P at the capsid surface, which contain
161
00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:52.559
the determinants for virus host receptor interactions
and antigenic diversity. The P domain can
162
00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:58.480
be further divided into P one and
P two subdomains, and the P two
163
00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:05.039
subdomain is located at the outermost surface
exposed region of the viral capsid. In
164
00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:11.320
two thousand and ten, a new
RHDV related virus with a distinctive pathogenic profile
165
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:18.799
was found in France. This virus
is known as RHDV two or rhdvb,
166
00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:26.120
and it has rapidly spread throughout domestic
and wild rabbit populations in Italy, Spain,
167
00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:33.519
Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Azores. There are
168
00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:41.039
several non pathogenic Callisa viruses that are
genetically related, but they're also relatively distant
169
00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:48.039
from RHDV. The mortality rate of
RHDV is anywhere between eighty to one hundred
170
00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:52.440
percent. Rabbits are not susceptible to
the virus from birth. They become more
171
00:15:52.519 --> 00:16:00.000
susceptible as they get older. Susceptibility
begins around five or six weeks and steadily
172
00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:03.799
increases to the eighth or ninth week
of life when they are fully susceptible.
173
00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:08.960
This virus can live for weeks outside
of the host and is spread very easily
174
00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:15.799
by the fecal, oral, nasal, conjunctival, and parental routes. Animals
175
00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:21.559
who come to graze where infected animals
have been grazing will generally get the disease.
176
00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:29.440
It is also spread by vectors such
as fleas flies and mosquitoes. Because
177
00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:33.919
the virus is resistant to environmental inactivation, fomites are important in the spread of
178
00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:41.559
the disease. It also survives for
long periods in infected carcasses. Domestic rabbits
179
00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:47.960
can get it from hutches where infected
rabbits have previously been housed, and most
180
00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:53.279
disinfectants won't even touch it. There
are three clinical syndromes seen in RHDV.
181
00:16:55.320 --> 00:17:02.320
The paracute form is characterized by sudden
death with no clinical symp The acute form
182
00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:08.960
is characterized by anorexia and depression,
followed by neurological signs respiratory distress, ocular
183
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:18.759
hemorrhage and epistaxis, lymphopenia, and
abnormalities and coagulation are also present in these
184
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:23.359
animals. In the subacute form,
similar signs may be present, but they're
185
00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:32.359
considerably milder and most of these rabbits
will survive. Hepatic necrosis is consistent through
186
00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:41.200
the animals that die, and most
experienced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and thrombosis. One
187
00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:45.839
study found that liver cell death is
induced upon infection and is due to apoptosis.
188
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:53.000
This program cell death mainly affects hypotocytes, but macrophages and endothelial cells have
189
00:17:53.160 --> 00:18:03.480
also presented hallmarks of apoptosis. Hypotocyte
apoptosis produced extensive parenchymal destruction that caused the
190
00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:10.799
lethal, acute fulminant hepatitis that is
so characteristic of the disease. It's postulated
191
00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:15.359
that apoptosis and RhD may be the
determining factor in the development of d C.
192
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.839
Let's take a minute to hear from
our sponsors, then I'll be back
193
00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:25.599
to talk about the history of the
disease. Are you a true crime advocate?
194
00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:32.079
Are you passionate about uncovering the truth
and bringing justice to victims? Do
195
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.039
you love the paranormal and spooky tales? Then you don't want to miss the
196
00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:42.319
True Crime and Paranormal Podcast Festival in
Austin, Texas. It'll be going on
197
00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:48.920
from August twenty fifth to the twenty
seventh in twenty twenty three. This festival
198
00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:55.759
features panel discussions, workshops, live
podcasts, all focusing on ethics and advocacy
199
00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:02.519
in the true crime sphere. Get
your tickets now at www dot Truecrime Podcast
200
00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:08.000
Festival dot com and join us in
Austin for an unforgettable experience. Don't miss
201
00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:12.839
out on the chance to connect with
other advocates and take your passion for truecrime
202
00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:19.200
and paranormal to the next level.
Use Code Consequences at checkout for fifteen percent
203
00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:26.279
off the ticket price. That's Truecrime
Podcast Festival dot com with promo Code Consequences
204
00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:33.160
at checkout for fifteen percent off the
ticket price. Special guests will include Julie
205
00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:37.920
Murray, Terranewell, and Call your
Landry to name a few. I'll be
206
00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:44.559
there representing another podcast that I'm involved
with, True Consequences. Come by and
207
00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:52.400
meet Eric Carter Landin and I We
would love to meet you. Our HD
208
00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:59.200
was first reported in China in nineteen
eighty four in the Jane Shue province after
209
00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:04.599
a group of commercially bread and gorah
rabbits had been imported from Germany. It's
210
00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.799
thought that the disease may have started
in Germany and been imported to China,
211
00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:15.319
but there were never any reports of
RhD before nineteen eighty four, so it's
212
00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:22.920
a chicken and egg story. No
one really knows which came first. However,
213
00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.640
in less than a year, the
virus had killed one hundred and forty
214
00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:32.880
million domestic rabbits in China and had
spread over an area of fifty thousand square
215
00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:38.920
kilometers. Korea was the next country
to report the disease after importing rabbit fur
216
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:47.079
from China. Italy saw its first
outbreak in nineteen eighty six. Then it
217
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:53.559
spread to the rest of Europe and
became endemic in several countries. European rabbits
218
00:20:53.559 --> 00:21:00.960
originated in the Iberian Peninsula and they
are a key species in the ecosystem,
219
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:06.759
but after the first outbreaks in Spain
and Portugal in nineteen eighty eight and nineteen
220
00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:14.079
eighty nine, respectively, there was
a severe reduction in wild populations. North
221
00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:21.160
Africa began to experience RhD outbreaks and
domestic populations around the same time. In
222
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:26.200
nineteen eighty eight, Mexico became the
first country in the Americas to undergo an
223
00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:33.039
outbreak of RhD after importing rabbit products
from China. Mexico is the only country
224
00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:38.240
to have somehow eradicated the disease,
though the last outbreak there occurred in nineteen
225
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:45.720
ninety two. It's worth noting that
the successful eradication may have been due to
226
00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:52.359
the absence of natural populations of wild
European rabbits in that country. North America
227
00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:57.559
wouldn't report an outbreak until two thousand
and it has only reported a few outbreaks
228
00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:04.240
since the US RhD is considered a
foreign disease and it is reportable to the
229
00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:11.240
USDA should an outbreak occur. The
virus finally made its way to distant regions
230
00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:18.920
and was eventually reported in Cuba,
Uruguay, and Reunion Island. In Australia
231
00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:25.440
and New Zealand, where rabbits are
considered to be agricultural pests and major threats
232
00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:30.839
to the endemic wildlife, flora and
fauna, RhD was considered an agent for
233
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:38.599
rabbit control. These countries used biological
warfare against rabbit populations. If you have
234
00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:44.079
a subscription to the show you'll get
to hear the episode on the House that
235
00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:49.119
Jack built. That episode explains what
happens when feral species are introduced into an
236
00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:55.200
area and how they take over.
It also addresses the efforts that governments and
237
00:22:55.319 --> 00:23:00.359
locals make to get rid of those
populations. It's a good episode. If
238
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:07.480
you haven't subscribed, you should okay
shameless plug over. Research efforts began in
239
00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:11.920
New Zealand and Australia to harness a
strain of the disease and use it as
240
00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:19.319
biocontrol against rabbits. In nineteen ninety
one, r HDV check Reference strain was
241
00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:27.519
used to assess the efficacy and host
specificity of the disease. After the Australian
242
00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:33.680
authorities approved the use of the strain, it was released in the Wardang Island
243
00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:41.559
in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Despite strict quarantine measures, the virus made
244
00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:45.839
its way to the mainland in nineteen
ninety five. Possibly it was carried by
245
00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:51.240
insects or maybe the wind. In
less than two years, it had become
246
00:23:51.440 --> 00:24:00.319
endemic across Southern Australia at a rate
of fifty kilometers per week. Areas experienced
247
00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:07.319
a ninety five percent reduction in rabbit
populations, particularly in the more arid climates.
248
00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:15.319
After careful consideration of the pros and
cons of introducing RDHV to the country,
249
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:22.319
New Zealand decided against it. That
didn't stop local landowners from illegally introducing
250
00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:26.839
the virus to the country, though, after studying the carcasses of dead animals,
251
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.799
the strain looked a whole lot like
the check strain that had been introduced
252
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:37.400
to Australia. This gave rise to
the suspicion that the virus could have been
253
00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:44.480
illegally imported from Australia. One of
the challenges in identifying and naming the virus
254
00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:51.440
came from the fact that it can't
be grown in culture. Researchers suspected several
255
00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:57.279
different viruses, picornovirus, parvovirus,
and parvo like virus. It was finally
256
00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:03.799
assessed in nineteen ninety as a member
of the calisa Veridae family. The first
257
00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:10.759
complete genome sequence was obtained in nineteen
ninety one, and this revealed that RHDV
258
00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:18.039
was very similar to other callissa Veridae
viruses that were nonpathogenic, But it wasn't
259
00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:25.319
until nineteen ninety seven that the first
phylogenic analysis of RHDV isolates using different locations
260
00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:30.039
and spanning the years from nineteen eighty
seven to nineteen ninety five was performed.
261
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:37.480
All the available information was included in
the study and this led to the identification
262
00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:44.400
of three major branches and supported a
high degree of homology between samples. It
263
00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:49.000
also showed that there were clusters of
RHDV strains that correlated closer with the year
264
00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:56.759
of isolation, rather than the areas
that they were collected from. Lagal and
265
00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:02.519
his team found this same pattern among
French isolates and further assigned the isolates into
266
00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:08.799
three chronologically established geno groups G one, G two, and G three.
267
00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:14.640
It was later found that France G
one and G two had disappeared and three
268
00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:21.519
new subgroups had appeared. G four
had mutated from G three. G five
269
00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:29.720
and G six were both independent subgroups. G six corresponded to the first antigenic
270
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:34.839
variant of RHDV, which had been
previously detective by Capucci and his team.
271
00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:45.640
This has since been designated as RhD
V. A vaccine research soon began and
272
00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:52.920
by using monoclonal antibody one H eight, protection could be conferred to experimentally infected
273
00:26:52.000 --> 00:27:00.279
rabbits. So There is a vaccine
against RHDVA, which is the most common
274
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:06.079
type of RHDV. But as we
know, viruses mutate to evade host immunity,
275
00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:15.319
and it's no different with RhD RHDVB
is resistant to the current vaccines and
276
00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:22.000
so it can evade prophylactic measures.
The realization that it kills quickly and without
277
00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:29.960
warning makes it much harder to control. That said, passive immunity can work
278
00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:36.920
in an emergency. Inoculation is achieved
by using hyperimmune anti serum from rabbits who
279
00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:44.519
exhibit very mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. This is not a long term solution
280
00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:48.400
though, As I've discussed in the
past, herd immunity can only be attained
281
00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:56.559
by vaccination. There is no therapy
in place for animals with RHDV. Prevention
282
00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:02.119
and control are the best bets when
it comes to animal survival. If they
283
00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:06.680
don't get it, they can't die
from it. Since there is still no
284
00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:11.079
way to culture this virus, vaccines
are produced from the tissue suspensions of experimentally
285
00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:18.240
infected rabbits, then the virus is
inactivated. Research is ongoing to find a
286
00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:22.799
safer vaccine using recombinant DNA where the
VP sixty protein is produced in E.
287
00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:30.119
Coli, insect cultured cells, yeast
plants, insect larvae, and recombinant animal
288
00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:37.880
derived viruses. Most of these experiments
have been successful, but proper disposal of
289
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:44.920
unused vaccine and dirty needles is concerning. While the vaccines are using recombinants and
290
00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:49.920
inactivated virus proteins, there is no
guarantee that without proper disposal in place,
291
00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:59.319
that virus couldn't find another host and
become pathogenic. Vaccination and biocontainment are possible
292
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:03.920
in commercial rabbit trees, but none
of this is practical when we're talking about
293
00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:08.200
wild rabbits. The stress of catching
these animals alone may increase mortality, and
294
00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:12.960
since the immunity from the vaccines wanes
in a year, the treatment would have
295
00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:21.440
to be performed again and again as
we speak. Researchers are exploring vaccine delivery
296
00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:26.480
systems that would be more logistically sound
in wild populations. If the vaccine could
297
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:30.880
be spread over large swaths of land
where the rabbits could either ingest them or
298
00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:37.440
breathe them in, that would be
the perfect solution, but then we still
299
00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:44.000
have the problem of the vaccine being
unstable. Though I didn't run onto anything,
300
00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:48.119
indicating that they were ongoing studies with
mRNA That would be the best solution
301
00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:55.880
to the problem. Research is currently
being done using RHDV as a cancer and
302
00:29:56.039 --> 00:30:03.359
pathogen treatment in humans. Using genetic
engineering, r hdv VLP have been shown
303
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:10.440
to efficiently incorporate antigens that might present
to immune cells and to elicit an adequate
304
00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:17.960
cell mediated and humoral immune response.
If this works, it could be easily
305
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:22.400
reproduced. It would be very inexpensive, and since it's coming from a non
306
00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:32.079
human virus, they're not susceptible to
pre existing neutralizing antibodies. Rabbits are an
307
00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:37.400
important part of the ecosystems that they
inhabit. Without them, many prey animals
308
00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:42.640
wouldn't survive. This disease could kill
off a necessary food source for coyotes,
309
00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:48.319
hawks, eagles, bears, and
other prey animals. Then we have to
310
00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:53.839
wonder if this virus will jump.
It hasn't yet, but it's a fairly
311
00:30:53.960 --> 00:31:00.799
fast mutator, so it could.
That would be disastrous for any animal that
312
00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:08.880
depends on the rabbit as a food
source, including people. Okay, that's
313
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:15.839
rabbit hammorrhagic disease. Scary stuff.
There was a tweet directed at me from
314
00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:22.400
my friend Anne at Unsolved Virginia.
Apparently several cases of Powassan virus have been
315
00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.799
found in Maine this year. This
is a nasty virus that causes encephalopathy,
316
00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:33.960
and well, there's no vaccine nor
treatment. Ticks seem to be everywhere,
317
00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:40.720
so they're hard to avoid. Dat
is a double edged sword. It works
318
00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:44.240
to keep the blood suckers away,
but the long term may be questionable.
319
00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:49.079
Powassan virus is carried by ticks and
is a rare disease that occurs mostly in
320
00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:56.759
the northeast US, Canada and eastern
Russia. I'll be talking a lot about
321
00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:00.440
vector borne diseases in a future season. Maybe will tune that up for season
322
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.559
eight. All I can say is
that the coming plague isn't going to be
323
00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:09.640
vector born. It's going to be
something that's passed as easily as the common
324
00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:17.359
cold. Thanks for giving me the
heads up on pouassan, and so many
325
00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:22.319
of you contacted me this time.
I really appreciate all of you emailing,
326
00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:28.160
facebooking, tweeting, and well those
who know me are texting and calling.
327
00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:34.480
So I'm grateful for all of you. If you would like to contact me.
328
00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.200
Please feel free to reach out to
me on the socials, or you
329
00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:42.799
can drop me a line at Jackie
at cause of death one hundred secs dot
330
00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:49.119
net. You can also leave a
message on my website at www. Cause
331
00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:53.039
of Death one hundred secs dot net. Take a look at the show notes
332
00:32:53.079 --> 00:33:00.400
where you'll find this month's sponsor.
I do love True Leaf Market. Arted
333
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:05.880
seeds for twenty four different plants and
every single one of them has sprouted.
334
00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:09.880
They look great now. If I
can leave them until the third leaf then
335
00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:15.240
replant, I'll be fine. Really, go check out true Leaf Market.
336
00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:22.559
I have never been so successful.
Head on over to the Patreon page and
337
00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:27.680
sign up for ad free content,
bonus content, and other goodies. You
338
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:34.200
can also subscribe on Apple Subscriptions for
ad free and bonus content. Don't forget
339
00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:38.720
to rate, review and subscribe on
your favorite podcast platform. Those charts really
340
00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:44.640
do mean a lot, and every
download, every subscription, every review,
341
00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:50.799
and every share counts. Thank you
all again, and I'll see you in
342
00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:55.000
two weeks when I'll be talking about
bats disease and the environment. Until then,
343
00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:00.000
get out and enjoy the outdoors,
but avoid the those vectors.















