Myxomatosis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myxoma virus |
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| Myxoma virus (transmission electron microscope) | |
Virus classification  |
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| (unranked): | Virus |
| Family: | Poxviridae |
| Genus: | Leporipoxvirus |
| Species: |
Myxoma virus
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Myxomatosis is a disease caused by Myxoma virus, a poxvirus in the genus Leporipoxvirus. The natural hosts are tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) in South and Central America, and brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani) in North America. The myxoma virus causes only a mild disease in these species, but causes a severe and usually fatal disease in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Myxomatosis is an excellent example of what occurs when a virus jumps from a species adapted to it to a naive host, and has been extensively studied for this reason. The virus was intentionally introduced in Australia, France, and Chile in the 1950s to control wild European rabbit populations.
Images for kids
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Rabbits around a waterhole in the myxomatosis trial site on Wardang Island, Australia in 1938
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Releasing the myxoma virus in Australia
See also
In Spanish: Mixomatosis para niños
