Adverse reactions from consumption of oral rabies vaccine baits in dogs in Finland.

Tiina Nokireki,Tuija Gadd,Martti Nevalainen,Liisa Sihvonen

doi:10.1186/s13028-016-0234-3

Abstract

BackgroundOral rabies vaccination of wildlife has effectively reduced the incidence of rabies in wildlife and has led to the elimination of rabies in large areas of Europe. The safety of oral rabies vaccines has been assessed in both target (red fox and raccoon dog) and several non-target species.Case presentationSince 2011, the competent authority in Finland has received a few reports of dogs experiencing adverse reactions that have been assumed to be caused by the consumption of baits containing oral rabies vaccine. The dogs usually exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, inappetence, constipation or diarrhoea) or behavioral symptoms (restlessness, listlessness and unwillingness to continue hunting).ConclusionsNevertheless, these adverse reactions are transient and non-life threatening. Even though the adverse reactions are unpleasant to individual dogs and their owners, the benefits of oral rabies vaccination clearly outweigh the risks.

Highlights

Oral rabies vaccination of wildlife has effectively reduced the incidence of rabies in wildlife and has led to the elimination of rabies in large areas of Europe
Even though the adverse reactions are unpleasant to individual dogs and their owners, the benefits of oral rabies vaccination clearly outweigh the risks
Rabies virus (RABV) emerged in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Kaliningrad area at the beginning of the 1940s and spread within a few decades across Central and Western Europe [1]

Summary

Introduction

Even though the adverse reactions are unpleasant to individual dogs and their owners, the benefits of oral rabies vaccination clearly outweigh the risks. In 2011, after the Russian federation authorities informed about rabies cases in Karelia, Finland extended the vaccination zone from about 5000 km2 to 10,000 km2 by both widening the zone and extending it more north. Since this vaccine presentation contains tetracycline as a biomarker and traces of gentamycin, occasional hypersensitivity reactions may be observed in domestic animals that have ingested the bait containing oral rabies vaccine [9].

Results

Conclusion