AVA Conference Melbourne 2017

Biological invasions of pest species are one of the great anthropogenic threats to global diversity. In Australia, the rabbit calicivirus and myxoma virus have been used successfully to control rabbits. Now, they are teaching us how to use koi herpesvirus (KHV) to control the invasive common carp in our waterways. The two most important requirements of a potential biocontrol virus relate to ‘safety’ and ‘efficacy’. The former is concerned with the species-specificity of the virus, and it requires extensive testing of the susceptibility of non-target species. ‘Efficacy’, on the other hand, is a product of the complex relationship between the transmissibility and the virulence of a biocontrol virus. Invariably, there is a strong selection for transmissibility, but this may be associated with a trade-off of reduced virulence. The lessons from the rabbit viruses have allowed us to predict what might happen with KHV if it were released in Australia. In turn, these findings drive our modelling work to predict the most effective use of KHV. The actual release strategy of the virus, the use of another broad-scale control program to complement the virus, and next generations of KHV: these measures are all being addressed in order to deliver a safe and effective viral biocontrol program for carp in Australia.