Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2007

SUMMARY: During 2007, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 7,258 cases of rabies in animals and 1 case in a human to the CDC, representing a 4.6% increase from the 6,940 cases in animals and 3 cases in humans reported in 2006. Approximately 93% of the cases were in wildlife, and 7% were in domestic animals. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,659 raccoons (36.6%), 1,973 bats (27.2%), 1,478 skunks (20.4%), 489 foxes (6.7%), 274 cats (3.8%), 93 dogs (1.3%), and 57 cattle (0.8%). Compared with numbers of reported cases in 2006, cases in 2007 increased among dogs, bats, foxes, and skunks while decreases were reported among cattle, cats, and skunks. Increases in numbers of rabid raccoons during 2007 were reported by 11 of the 20 eastern states where raccoon rabies was enzootic, and reported cases increased by 1.7% overall, compared with 2006. On a national level, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2007 decreased by 1.1% from the number reported in 2006. Texas reported the greatest number (n = 362) of rabid skunks and the greatest overall state total of animal rabies cases (969). No cases of rabies associated with the dog/coyote rabies virus variant were reported. The United States remains free of dog-to-dog transmission of canine rabies virus variants. The total number of cases of rabies reported nationally in foxes increased 14.5%, compared with 2006. Increases in the number of reported rabid foxes were attributable to greater numbers of foxes reported with the Arctic fox rabies virus variant in Alaska, the Texas gray fox rabies virus variant in Texas, and the raccoon rabies virus variant in Virginia. The 1,973 cases of rabies reported in bats represented a 16.6% increase over numbers reported in 2006. Cases of rabies in dogs and in sheep and goats increased 17.7% and 18.2%, respectively, whereas cases reported in cattle, cats, and horses and mules decreased 30.5%, 13.8%, and 20.8%, respectively. In Puerto Rico, reported cases of rabies in mongooses decreased 51.5%, and rabies in domestic animals, presumably attributable to spillover infection from mongooses, increased 25%. One human rabies case was reported from Minnesota during 2007. Although typing of the rabies virus variant in this case was not possible, an investigation of this case indicated a bat as the most likely source of exposure.     

Safety and immunogenicity of a vaccine bait containing ERA strain of attenuated rabies virus.

Ninety percent of foxes fed commercial ERA vaccine in a specially designed bait developed rabies serum neutralizing antibodies. The vaccine bait did not cause clinical signs of rabies when consumed by foxes, raccoons, skunks, dogs, cats, cattle and monkeys. When presented, in the laboratory, to wild rodents of the species Microtus, Mus musculus and Peromyscus, the vaccine baits caused vaccine-induced rabies only in Mus musculus. Laboratory mice of the CD-1 and CLL strain were susceptible to vaccine-induced rabies; however, studies showed that transmission of virus to other animals did not occur. These studies suggest that the vaccine bait described could be useful in a rabies control program in areas where foxes and wild dogs are the principal vectors.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2006

During 2006, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,940 cases of rabies in animals and 3 cases in humans to the CDC, representing an 8.2% increase from the 6,417 cases in animals and 1 case in a human reported in 2005. Approximately 92% of the cases were in wildlife, and 8% were in domestic animals. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,615 raccoons (37.7%), 1,692 bats (24.4%), 1,494 skunks (21.5%), 427 foxes (6.2%), 318 cats (4.6%), 82 cattle (1.2%), and 79 dogs (1.1%). Compared with numbers of reported cases in 2005, cases in 2006 increased among all groups except cattle. Increases in numbers of rabid raccoons during 2006 were reported by 11 of the 20 eastern states where raccoon rabies was enzootic, and reported cases increased by 3.2% overall, compared with 2005. On a national level, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2006 increased by 6.1% from the number reported in 2005. Once again, Texas reported the greatest number (n = 351) of rabid skunks and the greatest overall state total of animal rabies cases (889). No cases of rabies associated with the dog/coyote rabies virus variant were reported. The last identified case of this canine rabies virus variant was identified in March 2004, along the US/Mexico border. With 2006 marking the second year of no apparent transmission of the dog/coyote variant, these findings from surveillance data support the contention that the canine rabies virus variant is no longer in circulation in the United States. Total number of cases of rabies reported nationally in foxes increased 13.6%, compared with 2005. Increases in the number of reported rabid foxes were attributable to greater numbers of foxes reported with the Arctic fox rabies virus variant in Alaska, the Texas gray fox rabies virus variant in Texas, and the raccoon rabies virus variant in Virginia. The 1,692 cases of rabies reported in bats represented a 14.5% increase, compared with numbers reported in 2005, making bats the second most reported rabid animal behind raccoons. Cases of rabies in cats, dogs, horses and mules, and sheep and goats increased 18.2%, 3.9%, 12.8%, and 22.2%, respectively, whereas cases reported in cattle decreased 11.8%. In Puerto Rico, reported cases of rabies in mongooses increased 9.2%, and rabies in domestic animals, presumably attributable to spillover infection from mongooses, increased 20%. Three cases of human rabies were reported from Texas, Indiana, and California during 2006. The cases in Indiana and Texas were attributed to bat rabies virus variants, whereas the case in California was attributed to an exposure to a dog in the Philippines.     

Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Hungarian red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

In the present study we have investigated the seroprevalence to the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in 337 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from 16 out of 19 counties in Hungary. The foxes were originally collected within a National vaccination program against rabies. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in as many as 228 (68%) of the foxes using a commercial direct agglutination test (DAT). In an indirect iscom ELISA, five foxes (1.5%) were positive for antibodies against N. caninum. The high prevalence of foxes positive for T. gondii might be explained by the widespread occurrence of the parasite in the diet of foxes. As a contrast, latent infections of N. caninum among red foxes in Hungary are much less common.     

A Conceptual Model for the Impact of Climate Change on Fox Rabies in Alaska, 1980–2010

The direct and interactive effects of climate change on host species and infectious disease dynamics are likely to initially manifest\ at latitudinal extremes. As such, Alaska represents a region in the United States for introspection on climate change and disease. Rabies is enzootic among arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) throughout the northern polar region. In Alaska, arctic and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are reservoirs for rabies, with most domestic animal and wildlife cases reported from northern and western coastal Alaska. Based on passive surveillance, a pronounced seasonal trend in rabid foxes occurs in Alaska, with a peak in winter and spring. This study describes climatic factors that may be associated with reported cyclic rabies occurrence. Based upon probabilistic modelling, a stronger seasonal effect in reported fox rabies cases appears at higher latitudes in Alaska, and rabies in arctic foxes appear disproportionately affected by climatic factors in comparison with red foxes. As temperatures continue a warming trend, a decrease in reported rabid arctic foxes may be expected. The overall epidemiology of rabies in Alaska is likely to shift to increased viral transmission among red foxes as the primary reservoir in the region. Information on fox and lemming demographics, in addition to enhanced rabies surveillance among foxes at finer geographic scales, will be critical to develop more comprehensive models for rabies virus transmission in the region.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2000.

During 2000, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported 7,364 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 5 cases in human beings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase of 4.3% from 7,067 cases in nonhuman animals reported in 1999. Ninety-three percent (6,855 cases) were in wild animals, whereas 6.9% (509 cases) were in domestic species (compared wth 91.5% in wild animals and 8.5% in domestic species in 1999). Compared with cases reported in 1999, the number of cases reported in 2000 increased among bats, dogs, foxes, skunks, and sheep/goats and decreased among cats, cattle, horses/mules, raccoons, and swine. The relative contributions of the major groups of animals were as follows: raccoons (37.7%; 2,778 cases), skunks (30.2%; 2,223), bats (16.8%; 1,240), foxes (6.2%; 453), cats (3.4%; 249), dogs (1.6%; 114), and cattle (1.1%; 83). Ten of the 19 states where the raccoon-associated variant of the rabies virus has been enzootic reported increases in the numbers of cases of rabies during 2000. Among those states that have engaged in extensive wildlife rabies control programs, no cases of rabies associated with the epizootic of rabies in raccoons (or in any other terrestrial species) were reported in Ohio, compared with 6 cases reported in 1999. No rabies cases associated with the dog/coyote variant (compared with 10 cases in 1999, including 5 in dogs) were reported in Texas, and cases associated with the gray fox variant of the virus decreased (58 cases in 2000, including 38 among foxes). Reports of rabid skunks exceeded those of rabid raccoons in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, states with enzootic raccoon rabies, for the fourth consecutive year. Nationally, the number of rabies cases in skunks increased by 7.1% from that reported in 1999. The greatest numerical increase in rabid skunks (550 cases in 2000, compared with 192 in 1999) was reported in Texas. The number of cases of rabies reported in bats (1,240) during 2000 increased 25.4% over the number reported during 1999 (989) and represented the greatest contribution (16.8% of the total number of rabid animals) ever recorded for this group of mammals. Cases of rabies reported in cattle (83) and cats (249) decreased by 38.5% and 10.4%, respectively, whereas cases in dogs (114) increased by 2.7% over those reported in 1999. Reported cases of rabies among horses and mules declined 20% from 65 cases in 1999 to 52 cases in 2000. Four indigenously acquired cases of rabies reported in human beings were caused by variants of the rabies virus associated with bats. One case of human rabies acquired outside the United States that resulted from a dog bite was caused by the canine variant of the rabies virus.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2005

During 2005, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,417 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being to the CDC, representing a 6.2% decrease from the 6,836 cases in nonhuman animals and 8 cases in human beings reported in 2004. Approximately 92% of the cases were in wildlife, and 8% were in domestic animals. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,534 raccoons (39.5%), 1,478 skunks (23%), 1,408 bats (21.9%), 376 foxes (5.9%), 269 cats (4.2%), 93 cattle (1.5%), and 76 dogs (1.2%). Compared with numbers of reported cases in 2004, cases in 2005 decreased among all groups, except bats, horses, and other wild animals. Decreases in numbers of rabid raccoons during 2005 were reported by 10 of the 20 eastern states in which raccoon rabies was enzootic and decreased overall by 1.2%, compared with 2004. On a national level, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2005 decreased 20.4% from the number reported in 2004. Once again, Texas reported the greatest number (n = 392) of rabid skunks and the greatest overall state total of rabies cases (741). Texas reported no cases of rabies associated with the dog/coyote rabies virus variant and only 8 cases associated with the Texas gray fox rabies virus variant (compared with 22 cases in 2004). The total number of cases of rabies reported nationally in foxes decreased 3.3%, compared with those reported in 2004. The 1,408 cases of rabies reported in bats represented a 3.5% increase over numbers reported in 2005. Cases of rabies in cats, dogs, cattle, and sheep and goats decreased 4.3%, 19.2%, 19.1%, and 10%, respectively, whereas cases reported in horses and mules increased 9.3%. In Puerto Rico, reported cases of rabies in mongooses increased 29.8%, and rabies in domestic animals decreased 37.5%. One case of human rabies was reported from Mississippi during 2005. This case was submitted by the state to the CDC's unexplained deaths project and diagnosed as rabies retrospectively.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2001

During 2001, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 7,437 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase of < 1% from 7,364 cases in nonhuman animals and 5 human cases reported in 2000. More than 93% (6,939 cases) were in wild animals, whereas 6.7% (497 cases) were in domestic species (compared with 93.0% in wild animals and 6.9% in domestic species in 2000). The number of cases reported in 2001 increased among bats, cats, skunks, rodents/lagomorphs, and swine and decreased among dogs, cattle, foxes, horses/mules, raccoons, and sheep/goats. The relative contributions of the major groups of animals were as follows: raccoons (37.2%; 2,767 cases), skunks (30.7%; 2,282), bats (17.2%; 1,281), foxes (5.9%; 437), cats (3.6%; 270), dogs (1.2%; 89), and cattle (1.1%; 82). Nine of the 19 states where the raccoon-associated variant of the rabies virus has been enzootic reported decreases in the numbers of rabid raccoons during 2001. Among states with extensive wildlife rabies control programs, Ohio reported (other than rabies in bats) 1 case of rabies in a raccoon that was associated with the epizootic of rabies in raccoons and 1 case in a bovid that was infected with a bat variant of the rabies virus, compared with no cases reported in any terrestrial animals during 2000. Texas reported 1 case associated with the dog/coyote variant of the rabies virus (compared with no cases in 2000) and 20 cases associated with the gray fox variant of the virus (a decrease of 50% from reported cases in 2000). Reports of rabid skunks in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, states with enzootic raccoon rabies, exceeded reports of rabid raccoons for the fifth consecutive year. A similar situation may soon exist in the state of Maine (32 rabid skunks and 34 rabid raccoons during 2001). Nationally, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2001 increased by 2.7% over those reported in 2000. Texas reported the greatest number of rabid skunks ever documented during a single year by any state, as well as the greatest numerical increase in rabid skunks (778 cases in 2001, compared with 550 in 2000; an increase of 228 cases, or 41.5%) and the largest overall state total of rabies cases (1,043) during 2001. Arizona reported the greatest percentage increase in rabid skunks (247.1%), representing an increase from 17 rabid skunks in 2000 to 59 in 2001. Nineteen of these cases were infected with a bat variant of the rabies virus, documenting a spillover event followed by unprecedented detection of temporal enzootic transmission of a bat variant in a terrestrial species. The number of cases of rabies reported in bats during 2001 (1,281 cases) increased 3.3% and surpassed the previous year's record (1,240 cases) as the largest number of reported cases ever recorded for this group of mammals. Cases of rabies reported in dogs (89) and cattle (82) decreased by 21.9 and 1.2%, respectively; these are the lowest numbers reported for rabid cattle and dogs since the dawn of national rabies record keeping (ca 1938). Cases in cats (270) increased by 8.4% over those reported in 2000, whereas rabies among sheep and goats declined 70%, from 10 cases in 2000 to 3 cases (goats only) in 2001. Rabies among horses and mules declined 1.9% (52 cases in 2000 to 51 cases in 2001). Reported cases of rabies in mongooses in Puerto Rico increased 18.6%, compared with the previous year (70 cases in 2001 from 59 cases in 2000), whereas cases of rabies in dogs declined 15.3% (15 to 13). One case of rabies in a human being reported by California during 2001 was the result of infection with a canine variant of the rabies virus acquired outside the United States.     

Epidemiological situation of rabies in Lithuania from 1990 to 2000

The epidemiological situation of rabies was investigated in Lithuania. Over the last decade, 2277 cases of rabies were registered among wild and domestic animals (mean number of cases per districts was 44). The highest distribution of rabies was found in the districts of Lazdijai and Utena (116 and 81 cases, respectively), and the lowest in the Svencioniai and Zarasai districts (one and eight cases, respectively). It was found that rabies among wildlife comprised 54% with the majority of cases being registered in foxes (626 cases, 27%) followed by raccoon dogs (470 cases, 21%). Within the last 3 years, cases of rabies among foxes and raccoon dogs increased significantly (three and six times, respectively), compared with the period from 1990 to 1997. Among domestic animals, 46% cases of rabies were registered, with cattle comprising 27%, and the cases among cats and dogs at 9 and 8%, respectively. During the period from 1993 to 1997 in Lithuania, 11,385 of humans were attacked by domestic and wild animals, and 21,173 humans were vaccinated against rabies for prophylactic reasons. Our survey has shown that, during the period from 1997 to 2000, the number of people attacked has increased drastically-31,348 (60%), but only 8021 (18%) of them were vaccinated.     

Safety and immunogenicity of ERA strain of rabies virus propagated in a BHK-21 cell line.

The ERA strain of rabies virus was propagated in a baby hamster kidney cell line (BHK-21/C13). The viral titer was 10(1.8) tissue culture infective doses (TCID) higher than that of commercial ERA vaccine. The ERA/BHK-21 vaccine in baits retained titers of 10(6.3) to 10(6.4), TCID when subjected to daily temperature fluctuations from 9 degrees C to 24 degrees C for 21 days. This titer, according to a dose response in laboratory foxes, was still capable of immunizing up to 100% of foxes consuming a bait. The ERA/BHK-21 vaccine, when presented in baits, produced antibodies in 80 to 100% of dogs consuming more than one bait. Duration of immunity in foxes, from feeding the ERA strain rabies virus in baits, as determined by resistance to challenge with virulent virus, was at least 48 months. The vaccine strain retained some pathogenicity for nontarget species. In tests carried out on foxes, raccoons, dogs, cats and cattle, the vaccine did not cause vaccine-induced rabies. One of 14 skunks which consumed four baits developed vaccine-induced rabies, but virus could not be isolated from the salivary glands of this animal. The vaccine, when presented in baits, caused vaccine-induced rabies in 37% of laboratory mice, 3.4% of Microtus and 2.6% of Peromyscus species. Rabies virus could not be isolated from the salivary glands of rodents with vaccine-induced rabies. It was concluded that ERA virus propagated in BHK-21/C13 cells and incorporated in an acceptable bait produced a high titer, stable, immunogenic and safe vaccine for foxes.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2004

During 2004, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,836 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 8 cases in human beings to the CDC, representing a 4.6% decrease from the 7,170 cases in nonhuman animals and 3 cases in human beings reported in 2003. Approximately 92% of the cases were in wildlife, and 8% were in domestic animals (compared with 91% and 9%, respectively, in 2003). Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,564 raccoons (37.5%), 1,856 skunks (27.1%), 1,361 bats (19.9%), 389 foxes (5.7%), 281 cats (4.1%), 115 cattle (1.7%), and 94 dogs (1.4%). Compared with the numbers of reported cases in 2003, cases in 2004 decreased among all groups, except bats, cattle, human beings, and "other domestics" (1 llama). Decreases in numbers of rabid raccoons during 2004 were reported by 12 of the 20 eastern states in which raccoon rabies was enzootic. In the East, Massachusetts reported the first cases of raccoon rabies detected beyond the Cape Cod oral rabies vaccine barrier. Along the western edge of the raccoon rabies epizootic (Ohio in the north and Tennessee in the south), cases of rabies were reported from unexpected new foci beyond oral rabies vaccine zones. On a national level, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2004 decreased by 12.1% from the number reported in 2003. Once again, Texas reported the greatest number (n = 534) of rabid skunks and the greatest overall state total of rabies cases (913). Texas reported only 1 case of rabies in a dog that was infected with the dog/coyote rabies virus variant and only 22 cases associated with theTexas gray fox rabies virus variant (compared with 61 cases in 2003). The total number of cases of rabies reported nationally in foxes and raccoons declined 14.7% and 2.7%, respectively, during 2004. The 1,361 cases of rabies reported in bats during 2004 represented a 12.3% increase over the previous year's total of 1,212 cases for this group of mammals. Cases of rabies reported in cats, dogs, horses and mules, and sheep and goats decreased 12.5%, 19.7%, 31.8%, and 16.7%, respectively, whereas cases reported in cattle increased 174%. In Puerto Rico, reported cases of rabies in mongooses decreased 4.1% and rabies in dogs (9 cases) remained unchanged from those reported in 2003. Among the 8 cases of rabies in human beings, 1 person from Oklahoma and 3 from Texas died following receipt of infected organs and tissues from an Arkansas donor. In California, a person originally from El Salvador and, in Florida, a person originally from Haiti both died of canine rabies infections acquired outside the United States. In Wisconsin, a teenager contracted rabies from a bat bite and became the first known person to survive rabies despite not having received rabies vaccine prior to symptom onset.     

Pathogenesis studies with Australian bat lyssavirus in grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the susceptibility of the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) to Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL), and to provide preliminary observations on the pathogenesis of the disease in flying foxes. PROCEDURE: Ten flying foxes were inoculated intramuscularly with ABL, and four with a bat-associated rabies virus. Inoculated animals were observed daily, and clinical samples collected every 9 to 14 days. Animals with abnormal clinical signs were euthanased, and samples collected for histological, serological, virological and immunohistological examinations. At 3 months post inoculation (PI), all survivors were euthanased, and each submitted to a similar examination. RESULTS: Three ABL-inoculated flying foxes, and two rabies-inoculated animals developed abnormal clinical signs between 15 and 24 days PI. All three ABL-inoculated animals had histological lesions consistent with a lyssavirus infection, and lyssaviral antigen was identified in the central nervous system (CNS) of each. Virus was isolated from the brain of two affected animals. Of the rabies-inoculated flying foxes, both had histological lesions and viral antigen in the CNS. Virus was recovered from the brain of only one. None of the five affected flying foxes developed anti-lyssavirus antibodies, but, by 3 months PI, five of the seven ABL-inoculated survivors, and one of the two rabies virus-inoculated survivors, had seroconverted. The dynamics of the immune responses were quite variable. CONCLUSIONS: The response of flying foxes to ABL, administered by a peripheral route of inoculation, was similar to that of bats inoculated peripherally with bat-derived rabies viruses.     

Duration of immunity in foxes vaccinated orally with ERA vaccine in a bait.

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) vaccinated orally with the ERA strain of rabies vaccine in a bait were challenged after 83 mo. Ten of 11 foxes that had seroconverted following vaccination resisted challenge with a virulent rabies virus which produced clinical signs of rabies in 6 of 6 unvaccinated foxes. Five of 11 vaccinated animals retained titers of rabies virus neutralizing antibody throughout the period. Although 6 of 11 had no detectable antibody at the time of challenge, 5 of these 6 resisted challenge and had an anamnestic response, as indicated by elevated titers of antibody when measured at day 77 postchallenge. These results show that foxes can be immunized successfully with a single oral dose of ERA vaccine, probably with protection against a lethal rabies challenge, for at least 7 y.     

Use of recombinant vaccinia-rabies virus for oral vaccination of fox cubs (Vulpes vulpes, L) against rabies

Thirteen fox cubs were orally administered 10(7.2) plaque-forming units of live vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant virus. On Day 28 post-vaccination, all but 1 cub had produced rabies virus antibodies. Twelve animals were intramuscularly inoculated with 10(3.2) mouse intracerebral LD50 of rabies virus suspension on Days 33 (5 foxes), 180 (4 foxes) or 360 (3 foxes) after vaccination. Eleven of them resisted rabies challenge. Unvaccinated foxes, either put in contact with 1 vaccinated animal or used as controls, died after challenge applied on Day 33. The absence of horizontal transmission of this vaccine strain and its innocuity to cubs were also demonstrated.     

Rabies-free status of Switzerland following 30 years of rabies in foxes

The European fox rabies epizootic starting in 1939 at the eastern border of Poland reached Switzerland on March 3, 1967. Rabies spread over large parts of the country until 1977, the year it caused three human deaths. In 1978 the first field trial world-wide for the oral immunization of foxes against rabies was conducted in Switzerland. Initially, the expansion of the vaccination area led to a rapid reduction in rabies cases. However, the 1990s were characterized by a recrudescence of rabies in spite of regular oral immunization of foxes. The last endemic case of rabies was diagnosed in 1996 after an adaptation of the vaccination strategy. A total of 17,109 rabies cases, of which 73% in foxes and 14% in domestic animals were diagnosed, leading to an estimated number of some 25,000 postexposure treatments in humans. To eliminate rabies, a total of 2.8 million baits containing a modified live virus were distributed--mostly by hand--in the field.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2011

Summary-During 2011, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,031 rabid animals and 6 human rabies cases to the CDC, representing a 1.9% decrease from the 6,153 rabid animals and 2 human cases reported in 2010. Approximately 92% of reported rabid animals were wildlife. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 1,981 raccoons (32.8%), 1,627 skunks (27.0%), 1,380 bats (22.9%), 427 foxes (7.1%), 303 cats (5.0%), 65 cattle (1.1%), and 70 dogs (1.2%). Compared with 2010, there was a substantial increase in the number of rabid skunks reported. Six cases of rabies involving humans were reported from California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina. Three cases reported from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York were determined to be a result of canine rabies virus variants acquired outside the United States.     

Ectoparasite infestations of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Hungary

A survey was carried out to investigate the ectoparasite infestations of 100 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Hungary. The overall prevalence of flea and tick infestation was high (62 and 86% with the dominance of the anthropophil Pulex irritans and Ixodes ricinus), but the number of parasites was low to moderate. Felicola vulpis was not found in the present study, and the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis was only 2%. Based on prevalence (21%), mange lesion scores, and the negative correlation between lesion scores and condition of foxes, Sarcoptes infestation should be considered as the most important parasitosis of foxes in Hungary. Besides the ecological significance of these parasites, the high overall prevalence of mange and anthropophil flea and tick infestations of foxes and the appearance of these animals in the synanthropic environment as a result of the increasing population size, may result in the increasing incidence of flea, tick and accidental mite infestation of man and domestic animals, and may enhance the transmission rate of some vector-borne diseases.     

Phylogenetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from Carnivora in Brazil

The incidence of canine rabies has been widely reported in Brazil, and new rabies virus (RV) variants, genetically similar to canine RV, have recently been isolated from foxes. In order to derive the epidemiological characteristics of Brazilian Carnivora RV, Brazilian RVs isolated from dogs, cats, and foxes were genetically analyzed. Brazilian Carnivora RV isolates were divided into 2 main lineages. The predominant lineage was found in dogs and cats, which included the Argentinean and Bolivian Carnivora RV isolates, and was extensively distributed throughout Brazil and surrounding countries. The other lineage consisted of three sublineages containing Brazilian dog and fox RV isolates, with the dog sublineages located on an internal branch of 2 fox sublineages, suggesting that RV transmission events might have occurred between foxes and dogs in the past. These results suggest that contact between dogs and wildlife has the potential to generate new rabies variants and that it is important to control RV infection cycles in both dogs and wildlife to prevent spread of rabies infection.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2003

During 2003, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 7,170 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 3 cases in human beings to the CDC. This represents a 10% decrease from the 7,967 cases in nonhuman animals and 3 cases in human beings reported in 2002. More than 91 (n = 6,556) were in wild animals, and 8.6% (614) were in domestic species (compared with 92.5% in wild animals and 74% in domestic species in 2002). The relative contributions of the major groups of animals were as follows: 2,635 raccoons (36.7%), 2,112 skunks (29.4%), 1,212 bats (16.9%), 456 foxes (6.4%), 321 cats (4.5%), 117 dogs (1.6%), and 98 cattle (1.4%). Compared with cases reported in 2002, the number of cases reported in 2003 decreased among all reporting groups with the exception of cats, dogs, equids, and swine. Ten of the 19 states with enzootic rabies in raccoons, the District of Columbia, and New York City reported decreases in the numbers of rabid raccoons during 2003. Tennessee reported 4 cases of indigenous rabies in raccoons during 2003, becoming the 20th state where rabies in raccoons is known to be enzootic. On a national level, the number of rabies cases in skunks during 2003 decreased by 13.2% from those reported in 2002. Texas again reported the greatest number (n = 620) of rabid skunks during 2003, as well as the greatest overall state total of rabies cases (909). As in 2002, Texas did not report any cases of rabies associated with the dog/coyote variant of the rabies virus, but did report 61 cases associated with the gray fox variant of the virus (compared with 65 cases in 2002).The 1,212 cases of rabies reported in bats during 2003 represented a decline of nearly 12% from the previous year's record high of 1,373 cases for this group of mammals. Cases of rabies reported in foxes.and raccoons declined 10.2% and 8.9%, respectively, during 2003. Rabies among sheep and goats decreased from 15 cases in 2002 to 12 cases in 2003, whereas cases reported in cats, dogs, and equids increased 74%, 18.2%, and 8.6%, respectively. In Puerto Rico, reported cases of rabies in mongooses and dogs decreased 26.9% and 35.7%, respectively, from those reported in 2002. Three cases of rabies in human beings were reported in California, Virginia, and Puerto Rico during 2003. The Virginia case was the first reported occurrence of rabies in a human being infected with the raccoon rabies virus variant; however, the exposure history was unknown. The California and Puerto Rico cases were the result of infections with bat and dog/mongoose rabies virus variants, respectively, and each patient had a history of a bite.     

Oral vaccination of foxes against rabies in Turkey between 2008 and 2010

Following a sustained spill-over event from dogs to foxes, fox rabies spread rapidly in the Aegean region, Turkey. In order to control the outbreak a program of oral vaccination of foxes against rabies was introduced. In the selected vaccination area three annual campaigns between 2008 and 2010 were undertaken during the winter months whereby the vaccine baits were distributed exclusively by plane using a density of 18 baits per km2. Subsequently, fox rabies cases were reported only from locations bordering the non-vaccinated areas. Hence, it was shown that fox rabies control by means of oral rabies vaccination is feasible in Turkey. However, for the progress towards the elimination of fox-mediated rabies in Turkey to be maintained, it is necessary that political and financial support is secured to extend oral vaccination where infected foxes remain.