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1 April 2009 AERIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ONRAB® BAITS AS A TACTIC TO CONTROL RABIES IN RACCOONS AND STRIPED SKUNKS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
R. C. Rosatte, D. Donovan, J. C. Davies, M. Allan, P. Bachmann, B. Stevenson, K. Sobey, L. Brown, A. Silver, K. Bennett, T. Buchanan, L. Bruce, M. Gibson, A. Beresford, A. Beath, C. Fehlner-Gardiner, K. Lawson
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Abstract

During August 2006 and 2007, baits containing oral rabies vaccine, live adenovirus vector, known as ONRAB®, were aerially distributed in SW Ontario, Canada. Bait acceptance during 2006 was 62 and 74% in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in areas baited at 150 baits/km2 and 75 and 77% in plots baited at 300 baits/km2. During 2007, bait acceptance for raccoons ranged between 59% and 80%, and 83% and 87%, in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km2, respectively. Bait acceptance by skunks varied among plots (5–24%). Rabies virus-specific seroconversion during 2006 averaged 66 and 81% in raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km2, respectively. During 2007, seroconversion by raccoons was 76 and 84% in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km2, respectively. Seroconversion by skunks varied among plots (17–51%). Vaccine efficacy, as judged by the percentage of animals that consumed a bait and seroconverted, averaged 79 and 87% during 2006 for raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km2, respectively, and 81 and 90% in areas baited during 2007 at 75 and 400 baits/km2, respectively. Because tetracycline marking was poor in skunks, an estimate of vaccine efficacy was not possible. Aerial distribution of ONRAB® vaccine baits seems to be a feasible tactic for controlling rabies in skunks and raccoons.

Rosatte, Donovan, Davies, Allan, Bachmann, Stevenson, Sobey, Brown, Silver, Bennett, Buchanan, Bruce, Gibson, Beresford, Beath, Fehlner-Gardiner, and Lawson: AERIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ONRAB® BAITS AS A TACTIC TO CONTROL RABIES IN RACCOONS AND STRIPED SKUNKS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
R. C. Rosatte, D. Donovan, J. C. Davies, M. Allan, P. Bachmann, B. Stevenson, K. Sobey, L. Brown, A. Silver, K. Bennett, T. Buchanan, L. Bruce, M. Gibson, A. Beresford, A. Beath, C. Fehlner-Gardiner, and K. Lawson "AERIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ONRAB® BAITS AS A TACTIC TO CONTROL RABIES IN RACCOONS AND STRIPED SKUNKS IN ONTARIO, CANADA," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 45(2), 363-374, (1 April 2009). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-45.2.363
Received: 26 September 2007; Published: 1 April 2009
KEYWORDS
Mephitis mephitis
Ontario
oral rabies vaccination
Procyon lotor
rabies
raccoon
striped skunk
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