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12 January 2024 ORAL RABIES VACCINATION OF RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) ACROSS A DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY GRADIENT IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT, USA, 2015–2017
Emily M. Beasley, Kathleen M. Nelson, Dennis Slate, Amy T. Gilbert, Frederick E. Pogmore, Richard B. Chipman, Amy J. Davis
Author Affiliations +
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.

Emily M. Beasley, Kathleen M. Nelson, Dennis Slate, Amy T. Gilbert, Frederick E. Pogmore, Richard B. Chipman, and Amy J. Davis "ORAL RABIES VACCINATION OF RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) ACROSS A DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY GRADIENT IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT, USA, 2015–2017," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 60(1), 1-13, (12 January 2024). https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-22-00117
Received: 22 August 2022; Accepted: 27 June 2023; Published: 12 January 2024
KEYWORDS
field trial
ONRAB
Procyon lotor
rabies virus
seroprevalence
urban
wildlife disease management
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