Longitudinal analysis of raccoon rabies in West Virginia, 2000-2015: a preliminary investigation.

K Bert Plants,Jeffrey Wimsatt,Sarah Knox,Sijin Wen

doi:10.7717/peerj.4574

K Bert Plants, Jeffrey Wimsatt + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4574

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Journal: PeerJ	Publication Date: Apr 4, 2018
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: West Virginia University, Morgantown High School

Abstract

Animal borne rabies virus is a source of infection in humans, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the primary terrestrial reservoir in West Virginia (WV). To assess the behavior and status of raccoon variant rabies virus (RRV) cases in WV, a longitudinal analysis for the period 2000–2015 was performed, using data provided by the state Bureau of Public Health. The analytic approach used was negative binomial regression, with exclusion of those counties that had not experienced RRV cases in the study period, and with further examination of those counties where oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits had been distributed as compared with non-ORV counties. These analyses indicated that there had been a reduction in numbers of RRV positive animals over the study period, predominantly due to a decrease in raccoon infections. Non-raccoon hosts did not appear to have a similar decline, however. The rates of decline for the ORV zone were found to be significantly greater as compared to the non-ORV area. The study was limited by the lack of data for season or point location of animal collection, and by lack of surveillance effort data. Even so, this study has implications for the preventive measures currently being implemented, including expanded vaccination effort in domestic animals. Spatial analyses of RRV and further examination of the virus in non-raccoon hosts are warranted.

Highlights

Rabies lyssavirus causes an almost invariably fatal infection in any mammal, including humans
There were 1,464 raccoon variant rabies virus (RRV) positive animals during the study period, from 2000–2015. These were comprised of 962 raccoons, 391 nondomestic non-raccoons (NDNR) and 111 domestic animals
This study demonstrates that numbers of RRV positive animals declined significantly over the study period in those areas of the state of West Virginia (WV) where RRV is enzootic, in the primary viral reservoir host, raccoons

Summary

Introduction

Rabies lyssavirus causes an almost invariably fatal infection in any mammal, including humans. Rabies virus induced fatal encephalomyelitis is endemic throughout the Americas, with higher numbers of human deaths in Mexico, Central America and South America (Hampson et al, 2015). Over the past 100 years, the host distribution of rabies virus and risk of human exposure in the United States have changed dramatically because of coordinated vaccination efforts in domestic animals, especially dogs and cats (Hampson et al, 2015). Rabies virus kills thousands of people each year worldwide, human deaths.

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