Tighe F G, Edmonds J W, Nolan I F, Shepherd R C, Gocs A
J Hyg (Lond). 1977 Oct;79(2):209-17. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400053018.
Myxomatosis on the Western Plains is an enzootic disease in contrast with the epizootic pattern which is general in eastern Australia. The most unusual aspects are the presence of significant numbers of diseased rabbits throughout the winter and the continuously low percentage of rabbits with antibodies to myxoma virus. Climatic and topographic conditions are unsuited to the production of the high densities of mosquitoes necessary for widespread epizootics. Under these conditions the effects of less efficient methods of myxomatosis transmission are apparent. The unusual epidemiology of myxomatosis has resulted in selection for virulence of the virus similar to that which has occurred under summer epizootic conditions. All field strains are now in the mid range of virulence.
西平原地区的兔黏液瘤病是一种地方流行性疾病，这与澳大利亚东部普遍流行的 epizootic 模式形成对比。最不寻常的方面是整个冬季都有大量患病兔子，以及携带黏液瘤病毒抗体的兔子比例持续较低。气候和地形条件不利于产生广泛流行所需的高密度蚊子。在这些条件下，黏液瘤病传播效率较低的方式的影响就很明显了。黏液瘤病不同寻常的流行病学导致了病毒毒力的选择，类似于夏季流行条件下发生的情况。现在所有野外毒株的毒力都处于中等水平。
