Application of control measures against viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

The first outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) of rabbits were reported from eastern Slovakia in 1987. In 1988, the infection spread throughout the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. Electron microscopy was used by the Veterinary Research Institute in Brno to diagnose the disease during the early stage of infection. At present, the regional laboratories of the veterinary investigation services use the haemagglutination and the direct immunofluorescence tests as the principal methods to demonstrate the causal agent. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques have been developed to demonstrate VHD virus, while the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used to detect antibodies. Diagnostic kits, allowing a wide use of these methods, are now available commercially. Two types of inactivate vaccines were developed and produced in 1988 and 1989. VHD is controlled by vaccination of exposed rabbit colonies. This is accompanied by other preventive and protective measures, directed by district veterinary officers following instructions from federal authorities.