Conclusion

Our analyses were informative, and we propose that these methods can potentially be applied as tools for monitoring the efficacy of the RHDV strains in the field, as well as for other viruses in natural contexts. However, this study highlights potential complexities in parameter interpretation. To the best of our knowledge, we indicated possible explanations for our parameter estimates, but we warn the users of such methods that the interpretations of their results may not be straightforward. We recommend further research to better evaluate biases caused by the spatial distribution and intensity of sampling, and the robustness of these models to improper assumptions and incorrect parameterisation, which are all likely to occur when there is limited knowledge as commonly occurs in the fields of wildlife and invasive species research.