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Davis AJ, Chipman RB, Nelson KM, Haley BS, Kirby JD, Ma X, Wallace RM, Gilbert AT. Evaluation of contingency actions to control the spread of raccoon rabies in Ohio and Virginia. Prev Vet Med 2024; 225:106145. [PMID: 38354432 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) variant of the rabies virus (RRV) is enzootic in the eastern United States and oral rabies vaccination (ORV) is the primary strategy to prevent and control landscape spread. Breaches of ORV management zones occasionally occur, and emergency "contingency" actions may be implemented to enhance local control. Contingency actions are an integral part of landscape-scale wildlife rabies management but can be very costly and routinely involve enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) around the index case. We investigated two contingency actions in Ohio (2017-2019 and 2018-2021) and one in Virginia (2017-2019) using a dynamic, multi-method occupancy approach to examine relationships between specific management actions and RRV occurrence, including whether ERS was sufficient around the index case. The RRV occupancy was assessed seasonally at 100-km2 grids and we examined relationships across three spatial scales (regional management zone, RRV free regions, and local contingency areas). The location of a grid relative to the ORV management zone was the strongest predictor of RRV occupancy at the regional scale. In RRV free regions, the neighbor effect and temporal variability were most important in influencing RRV occupancy. Parenteral (hand) vaccination of raccoons was important across all three contingency action areas, but more influential in the Ohio contingency action areas where more raccoons were hand vaccinated. In the Virginia contingency action area, ORV strategies were as important in reducing RRV occupancy as a hand vaccination strategy. The management action to trap, euthanize, and test (TET) raccoons was an important method to increase ERS, yet the impacts of TET on RRV occupancy are not clear. The probability of detecting additional cases of RRV was exceptionally high (>0.95) during the season the index case occurred. The probability of detecting RRV through ERS declined in the seasons following initial TET efforts but remained higher after the contingency action compared to the ERS detection probabilities prior to index case incidence. Local RRV cases were contained within one year and eliminated within 2-3 years of each contingency action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Davis
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
| | - Richard B Chipman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Kathleen M Nelson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Betsy S Haley
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Jordona D Kirby
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Xiaoyue Ma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Ryan M Wallace
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Amy T Gilbert
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
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Beasley EM, Nelson KM, Slate D, Gilbert AT, Pogmore FE, Chipman RB, Davis AJ. Oral Rabies Vaccination of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) across a Development Intensity Gradient in Burlington, Vermont, USA, 2015-2017. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:1-13. [PMID: 37972639 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Management of the raccoon rabies virus variant in North America is conducted primarily using oral rabies vaccination (ORV). When a sufficient proportion of the population is vaccinated (∼60%), rabies transmission can be eliminated. To date, ORV programs have successfully controlled and eliminated raccoon rabies in rural areas, but there has been less success in urban areas. We studied the proportions of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) in a raccoon (Procyon lotor) population during a 3-yr ORV trial in developed areas of Burlington, Vermont, US. We used a modified N-mixture model to estimate raccoon abundance, RVNA seroprevalence, and capture rates jointly to examine factors that relate to ORV success to better inform management. We found that raccoon abundance was lower in less-developed areas compared to urban centers. Raccoon RVNA seroprevalence decreased as population abundance increased; it increased as the average age of the population increased. Nontarget opossum (Didelphis virginiana) captures correlated with a decrease in raccoon RVNA seroprevalence in low-development areas, suggesting that they may be competing for baits. The target bait density across the entire study area was 150 baits/km2, but a hand baiting strategy was heavily concentrated on roads, resulting in uneven bait densities within sampling sites (0-484 baits/km2). Uneven bait distribution across the study area may explain low RVNA seroprevalence in some locations. Our results suggest that increases in bait density across the study area may improve RVNA seroprevalence and support annual ORV to account for raccoon population turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Beasley
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA
- Current affiliation: Université de Montréal, Département de Sciences Biologiques, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, Quebec H2V 0B3, Canada
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Kathleen M Nelson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Dennis Slate
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, USA
- Current affiliation: Chippewa Bay Wildlife Art and Science LLC, 1132 County Road 6, Hammond, New York 13646, USA
| | - Amy T Gilbert
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Frederick E Pogmore
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, 617 Comstock Road, Suite 9, Berlin, Vermont 05602, USA
| | - Richard B Chipman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, USA
| | - Amy J Davis
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
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Interspecific Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Competition in the Southeast United States. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
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Johnson SR, Slate D, Nelson KM, Davis AJ, Mills SA, Forbes JT, VerCauteren KC, Gilbert AT, Chipman RB. Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020157. [PMID: 33499059 PMCID: PMC7912576 DOI: 10.3390/v13020157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1990s, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used successfully to halt the westward spread of the raccoon rabies virus (RV) variant from the eastern continental USA. Elimination of raccoon RV from the eastern USA has proven challenging across targeted raccoon (Procyon lotor) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) populations impacted by raccoon RV. Field trial evaluations of the Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) were initiated to expand ORV products available to meet the rabies management goal of raccoon RV elimination. This study describes the continuation of a 2011 trial in West Virginia. Our objective was to evaluate raccoon and skunk response to ORV occurring in West Virginia for an additional two years (2012–2013) at 75 baits/km2 followed by three years (2014–2016) of evaluation at 300 baits/km2. We measured the change in rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) seroprevalence in targeted wildlife populations by comparing levels pre- and post-ORV during each year of study. The increase in bait density from 75/km2 to 300/km2 corresponded to an increase in average post-ORV seroprevalence for raccoon and skunk populations. Raccoon population RVNA levels increased from 53% (300/565, 95% CI: 50–57%) to 82.0% (596/727, 95% CI: 79–85%) during this study, and skunk population RVNA levels increased from 11% (8/72, 95% CI: 6–20%) to 39% (51/130, 95% CI: 31–48%). The RVNA seroprevalence pre-ORV demonstrated an increasing trend across study years for both bait densities and species, indicating that multiple years of ORV may be necessary to achieve and maintain RVNA seroprevalence in target wildlife populations for the control and elimination of raccoon RV in the eastern USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shylo R. Johnson
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.D.); (K.C.V.); (A.T.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Dennis Slate
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Dr., Concord, NH 03301, USA; (D.S.); (K.M.N.); (R.B.C.)
| | - Kathleen M. Nelson
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Dr., Concord, NH 03301, USA; (D.S.); (K.M.N.); (R.B.C.)
| | - Amy J. Davis
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.D.); (K.C.V.); (A.T.G.)
| | - Samual A. Mills
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, 730 Yokum St., Elkins, WV 26241, USA; (S.A.M.); (J.T.F.)
| | - John T. Forbes
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, 730 Yokum St., Elkins, WV 26241, USA; (S.A.M.); (J.T.F.)
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.D.); (K.C.V.); (A.T.G.)
| | - Amy T. Gilbert
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.D.); (K.C.V.); (A.T.G.)
| | - Richard B. Chipman
- USDA/APHIS/WS/National Rabies Management Program, 59 Chenell Dr., Concord, NH 03301, USA; (D.S.); (K.M.N.); (R.B.C.)
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Slate D, Saidy BD, Simmons A, Nelson KM, Davis A, Algeo TP, Elmore SA, Chipman RB. Rabies Management Implications Based on Raccoon Population Density Indexes. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Slate
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2 Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Brandi D. Saidy
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services 2803 Jolly Road, Suite 100 Okemos MI 48864 USA
| | - Ashlee Simmons
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2 Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Kathleen M. Nelson
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2 Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Amy Davis
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Timothy P. Algeo
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2 Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Stacey A. Elmore
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Richard B. Chipman
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2 Concord NH 03301 USA
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Placebo Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Uptake by Small Indian Mongooses ( Herpestes auropunctatus) in Southwestern Puerto Rico. J Wildl Dis 2019. [PMID: 31750771 DOI: 10.7589/2019-03-077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is a rabies reservoir in areas of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, but no rabies vaccination program targeting this host exists. We used two derivatives of iophenoxic acid (IPA) to evaluate placebo oral rabies vaccine bait uptake by mongooses in southwestern Puerto Rico. We hand-distributed baits at an application rate of 200 baits/km2 at three, 400 ha, sites during autumn 2016 and spring 2017. Each site contained 90-100 cage traps in a 100 ha central trapping area. We used ethyl-IPA as a biological marker during the autumn and methyl-IPA during the spring. We live captured mongooses for 10 consecutive days, beginning 1 wk following bait application. We obtained a serum sample from captured mongooses and analyzed the sera for ethyl- and methyl-IPA by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. During autumn 2016, 63% (55/87) mongooses sampled were positive for ethyl-IPA. In spring 2017, 69% (85/123) of mongooses were positive for methyl-IPA. Pooling seasons, accounting for recaptures between years, and disregarding marker type, 74% (133/179) unique mongooses were positive for IPA biomarker, indicating bait consumption during either the autumn, spring, or both trials. We conclude that distributing baits at an application rate of 200 baits/km2 is sufficient to reach over 60% of the target mongoose population in dry forest habitats of Puerto Rico.
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Davis AJ, Nelson KM, Kirby JD, Wallace R, Ma X, Pepin KM, Chipman RB, Gilbert AT. Rabies Surveillance Identifies Potential Risk Corridors and Enables Management Evaluation. Viruses 2019; 11:E1006. [PMID: 31683632 PMCID: PMC6893774 DOI: 10.3390/v11111006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive efforts are being made to eliminate the raccoon variant of rabies virus (RABV) from the eastern United States and Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program has implemented enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) to improve case detection across the extent of the raccoon oral rabies vaccination (ORV) management area. We evaluated ERS and public health surveillance data from 2006 to 2017 in three northeastern USA states using a dynamic occupancy modeling approach. Our objectives were to examine potential risk corridors for RABV incursion from the U.S. into Canada, evaluate the effectiveness of ORV management strategies, and identify surveillance gaps. ORV management has resulted in a decrease in RABV cases over time within vaccination zones (from occupancy ( ψ ¯ ) of 0.60 standard error (SE) = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ ¯ of 0.33 SE = 0.10 in the spring 2017). RABV cases also reduced in the enzootic area (from ψ ¯ of 0.60 SE = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ ¯ of 0.45 SE = 0.05 in the spring 2017). Although RABV occurrence was related to habitat type, greater impacts were associated with ORV and trap-vaccinate-release (TVR) campaigns, in addition to seasonal and yearly trends. Reductions in RABV occupancy were more pronounced in areas treated with Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) compared to RABORAL V-RG®. Our approach tracked changes in RABV occurrence across space and time, identified risk corridors for potential incursions into Canada, and highlighted surveillance gaps, while evaluating the impacts of management actions. Using this approach, we are able to provide guidance for future RABV management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Davis
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Nelson
- National Rabies Management Program, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Concord, NH 03301-8548, USA.
| | - Jordona D Kirby
- National Rabies Management Program, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Concord, NH 03301-8548, USA.
| | - Ryan Wallace
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Xiaoyue Ma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Kim M Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - Richard B Chipman
- National Rabies Management Program, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Concord, NH 03301-8548, USA.
| | - Amy T Gilbert
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
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Sobey KG, Jamieson SE, Walpole AA, Rosatte RC, Donovan D, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Nadin-Davis SA, Davies JC, Kyle CJ. ONRAB® oral rabies vaccine is shed from, but does not persist in, captive mammals. Vaccine 2019; 37:4310-4317. [PMID: 31248686 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
ONRAB® is a human adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine developed to control rabies in wildlife. To support licensing and widespread use of the vaccine, safety studies are needed to assess its potential residual impact on wildlife populations. We examined the persistence of the ONRAB® vaccine virus in captive rabies vector and non-target mammals. This research complements work on important rabies vector species (raccoon, striped skunk, and red fox) but also adds to previous findings with the addition of some non-target species (Virginia opossum, Norway rats, and cotton rats) and a prolonged period of post vaccination monitoring (41 days). Animals were directly inoculated orally with the vaccine and vaccine shedding was monitored using quantitative real-time PCR applied to oral and rectal swabs. ONRAB® DNA was detected in both oral and rectal swabs from 6 h to 3 days post-inoculation in most animals, followed by a resurgence of shedding between days 17 and 34 in some species. Overall, the duration over which ONRAB® DNA was detectable was shorter for non-target mammals, and by day 41, no animal had detectable DNA in either oral or rectal swabs. All target species, as well as cotton rats and laboratory-bred Norway rats, developed robust humoral immune responses as measured by competitive ELISA, with all individuals being seropositive at day 31. Similarly, opossums showed good response (89% seropositive; 8/9), whereas only one of nine wild caught Norway rats was seropositive at day 31. These results support findings of other safety studies suggesting that ONRAB® does not persist in vector and non-target mammals exposed to the vaccine. As such, we interpret these data to reflect a low risk of adverse effects to wild populations following distribution of ONRAB® to control sylvatic rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk G Sobey
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Sarah E Jamieson
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Aaron A Walpole
- Wildlife Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 300 Water Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5, Canada.
| | - Rick C Rosatte
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Dennis Donovan
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Christine Fehlner-Gardiner
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, PO Box 11300, Station H, Nepean, Ontario K2H 8P9, Canada.
| | - Susan A Nadin-Davis
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, PO Box 11300, Station H, Nepean, Ontario K2H 8P9, Canada.
| | - J Chris Davies
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Christopher J Kyle
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre, 2140 East Bank Drive, DNA Building, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.
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RACCOON ( PROCYON LOTOR) RESPONSE TO ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAITS (ONRAB) IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, NEW YORK, USA. J Wildl Dis 2019; 55:645-653. [PMID: 30620627 DOI: 10.7589/2018-09-216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns have been conducted annually in the US over the past two decades to prevent raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies, which is enzootic along the eastern region of the country from southeastern Canada to Alabama. Because raccoon rabies has been eliminated from neighboring Canadian provinces, continued detection of the variant in the US is of concern due to the potential for infected raccoons to cross the border via the St. Lawrence River. Ontario Rabies Vaccine Baits (ONRAB) containing a live, recombinant human adenovirus expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein have been under experimental use in the US since 2011. We distributed ONRAB in St. Lawrence County, New York, from 2013 to 2015 as part of field trials to evaluate serologic responses in raccoons. Prior to ONRAB distribution, rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) seroprevalence in raccoons was 45.2% (183 of 405) and increased to 57.7% (165 of 286) after 3 yr of ONRAB baiting. Postbait RVNA seroprevalence increased each year, with a lower response observed in juvenile compared with adult raccoons. The pre-ONRAB seroprevalence detected in 2013 was relatively high and was likely impacted both by elevated rabies activity in the county and the use of ORV with a different vaccine bait for 14 consecutive years prior to our study. Tetracycline biomarker prevalence increased from 1.4% prior to ONRAB baiting to 51.3% from 2013 to 2015, demonstrating bait palatability to raccoons. These data complemented related field trials conducted in West Virginia and the northeastern US.
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