Myxomatosis is a disease caused by the Myxoma virus, a poxvirus in the Leporipoxvirus genus. It naturally infects tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) in South and Central America and brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani) in North America, causing only mild symptoms in these species. However, it can lead to severe and often fatal diseases in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), which are commonly kept as pets and raised for food.
This disease illustrates the consequences of a virus jumping from an adapted host to a naive one, making it a significant subject of study. In the 1950s, the virus was intentionally introduced in Australia, France, and Chile to control wild European rabbit populations.
