Prevalence of tetracycline and rabies virus antibody in raccoons, skunks, and foxes following aerial distribution of V-RG baits to control raccoon rabies in Ontario, Canada

J Wildl Dis. 2008 Oct;44(4):946-64. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-44.4.946.

Abstract

More than 3.6 million baits containing a recombinant vaccinia virus-rabies glycoprotein (V-RG) oral rabies vaccine were aerially or hand-distributed during 1999-2006 in an approximate 4,000-9,000 km(2) area of eastern Ontario, Canada, as part of a multitactic approach to control the raccoon variant of rabies. The efficacy of the program was assessed through the collection and testing of > 6,900 animals for bait acceptance and rabies virus-specific antibodies. Raccoon acceptance of rabies vaccine baits was significantly greater (71-83% ) in areas baited at a density of 150 baits/km(2) compared to areas baited at 75 baits/km(2) (26-58% ), and more raccoons consumed vaccine baits in areas baited with a flight line spacing of 0.75 km (45.3% [321/708]) than with a spacing of 1.5 km (33.8% [108/320]). In addition, greater numbers of raccoons consumed vaccine baits during a drop in September (52.7% [213/404]) as opposed to a June bait drop (34.6% [216/624]). Seropositivity rates for raccoons ranged between 7% and 28% in areas baited at 75/km(2) and 10% to 27% in areas baited at 150/km(2) with statistical differences varying among years and treatments. The last case of raccoon-variant rabies reported in Ontario was in September 2005. The control of raccoon rabies in Ontario has resulted in an estimated $6M to $10 M Cdn annual savings in rabies-associated costs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Female
  • Foxes / virology*
  • Male
  • Mephitidae / virology*
  • Ontario / epidemiology
  • Population Density
  • Rabies / epidemiology
  • Rabies / prevention & control
  • Rabies / veterinary*
  • Rabies Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Rabies virus / immunology
  • Raccoons / virology*
  • Seasons
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Tetracycline / administration & dosage
  • Tetracycline / blood
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Biomarkers
  • Rabies Vaccines
  • Tetracycline