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Browne AS, Cranford HM, Morgan CN, Ellison JA, Berentsen A, Wiese N, Medley A, Rossow J, Jankelunas L, McKinley AS, Lombard CD, Angeli NF, Kelley T, Valiulus J, Bradford B, Burke-France VJ, Harrison CJ, Guendel I, Taylor M, Blanchard GL, Doty JB, Worthington DJ, Horner D, Garcia KR, Roth J, Ellis BR, Bisgard KM, Wallace R, Ellis EM. Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009536. [PMID: 34264951 PMCID: PMC8282080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free. Mongooses in the Caribbean region are known to carry rabies and infect and kill humans with the deadly virus. While many countries in the Caribbean region assume they are rabies-free, there is a lack of scientifically based surveillance. We prospectively designed a statistically valid study to determine that mongoose populations in the US Virgin Islands are rabies-free and pose no risk of transmission to human or animal populations. We are pursuing further surveillance efforts to establish rabies freedom in all wildlife and domestic animal population in the US Virgin Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Springer Browne
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Hannah M. Cranford
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Clint N. Morgan
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - James A. Ellison
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Are Berentsen
- National Wildlife Research Center, APHIS Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Wiese
- Laboratory Leadership Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Medley
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John Rossow
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Leanne Jankelunas
- Epidemiology Elective Program, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alan S. McKinley
- Carribbean District, APHIS Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Claudia D. Lombard
- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Fredericksted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Nicole F. Angeli
- US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Fredericksted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Thomas Kelley
- National Park Service, St. John, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Valiulus
- St. Croix Environmental Association, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Bethany Bradford
- US Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, Kingshill, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Valicia J. Burke-France
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Cosme J. Harrison
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Irene Guendel
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Marissa Taylor
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Gerard L. Blanchard
- Carribbean District, APHIS Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey B. Doty
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - David Horner
- National Park Service, St. John, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Keith R. Garcia
- Carribbean District, APHIS Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Joseph Roth
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Brett R. Ellis
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Kristine M. Bisgard
- Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ryan Wallace
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Esther M. Ellis
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, United States of America
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