Myxomatosis is a viral disease that affects rabbits:
* Highly contagious: It's spread through insect bites (like fleas and mosquitoes) and direct contact.
* Causes severe symptoms: Including swelling, skin lesions, blindness, and ultimately death.
Foxes are opportunistic predators:
* They typically prey on healthy rabbits, as they offer the most nutrition.
* They are known to scavenge: Meaning they'll eat dead or diseased animals if necessary, especially when food is scarce.
So, the answer is complicated:
* Some studies suggest: Foxes may avoid diseased rabbits due to the foul smell and weakened state. However, this isn't always the case.
* Others suggest: Foxes might eat diseased rabbits, particularly when healthy prey is scarce. This exposes them to the virus, potentially becoming carriers, but doesn't necessarily make them sick themselves.
The impact of foxes on myxomatosis:
* Foxes can play a role in spreading the disease: By consuming infected rabbits and carrying fleas that transmit the virus.
* However, their overall impact on the disease is complex and not fully understood. It depends on factors like rabbit population density, fox population density, and availability of other prey.
In conclusion: While foxes may avoid diseased rabbits in some cases, it's not certain. They may eat infected rabbits depending on circumstances, potentially playing a role in disease transmission. Further research is needed to understand the exact relationship between foxes and myxomatosis.