Abstract
Bait stations for distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits are designed for rabies management in highly-developed areas where traditional distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits may be difficult. As part of national efforts to contain and eliminate the raccoon (Procyon lotor) variant of the rabies virus (raccoon rabies) in the eastern United States, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services program, distributed vaccine baits by bait stations experimentally and operationally in Massachusetts during 2006-present, and in Florida during 2009–2015. In Massachusetts, a rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) response of 42.1% for raccoons captured in areas baited with high density bait stations during 2011–2015 was achieved, compared with 46.2% in areas baited by hand, suggesting the continuation of this as a strategy for the oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program there, and for similar locations. Non-target competition for vaccine baits is problematic, regardless of distribution method. In Massachusetts, bait station visitation rates for targeted raccoons and non-target opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were similar (1.18:1) during 2006–2009 (p > 0.05). Bait station modifications for reducing non-target uptake were tested, and in Massachusetts, reduced non-target bait access was achieved with two design alternatives (p < 0.001). However, no difference was noted between the control and these two alternative designs in Florida. Due to ongoing trials of new vaccines and baits, the bait station performance of an adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine bait, ONRAB® bait (Artemis Technologies, Guelph, ON, Canada) and a vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine bait, RABORAL V-RG®bait (Merial Limited, Athens, GA, USA), was compared. While uptake of the ONRAB bait was greater in Massachusetts (p < 0.001) in this limited trial, both types performed equally well in Florida. Since bait station tampering or theft as well as potential human bait contacts has been problematic, performance of camouflaged versus unpainted white bait stations was analyzed in terms of internal temperatures and maintaining a stable bait storage environment. In Massachusetts, camouflaged bait station interiors did not reach higher average temperatures than plain white bait stations in partially- or fully-shaded locations, while in Florida, camouflaged bait stations were significantly warmer in light exposure categories (p < 0.05). As ORV operations expand into more heavily-urbanized areas, bait stations will be increasingly important for vaccine bait distribution, and continued refinements in the strategy will be key to that success.
Highlights
Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) is an effective and socially acceptable strategy for wildlife rabies management [1]
Integrating bait stations into rabies control efforts on Cape Cod has led to similar sero-conversion rates and wildlife rabies management performance compared to traditional hand-baiting alone
It was discovered that ONRAB vaccine baits were removed at a faster rate by target and non-target species when compared to RABORAL V-RG
Summary
Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) is an effective and socially acceptable strategy for wildlife rabies management [1]. In 2001, WS began full-time collaboration on the Cape Cod Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (CCORV) with Tufts University and other cooperators as part of national wildlife rabies control efforts (Figure 1). Rabies surveillance on Cape Cod became a high priority [10,11], with the aim of delineating the epizootic front to begin ORV and define priority areas for trap-vaccinate-release efforts to prevent further spread. From 2006 through the spring of 2010, twice-yearly ORV treatments from Yarmouth to Provincetown were conducted using fishmeal polymer (FMP) block baits and coated sachet baits containing RABORAL V-RG® vaccine (a vaccinia rabies glycoprotein recombinant oral vaccine; Merial Limited, Athens, GA, USA) distributed by hand from vehicles and on foot to reduce the enzootic area. TThheePPoollkkCCoouunnttyy,, FFlloorriiddaa ssttuuddyy ssiittee wwaass sseelleecctteedd dduuee ttoo iittss mmiixx ooff wwooooddeedd aarreeaass,, wweettllaannddss,, aanndd uurrbbaanniizzeedd oorr mmooddeerraatteellyy--ddeevveellooppeedd aarreeaass. AAcchhiieevviinngg rraabbiieess ccoonnttrrooll iinn ccoommmmuunniittiieess lliikkee tthheessee wwiillll ppllaayy aann eesssseennttiiaall rroollee iinn tthhee eelliimmiinnaattiioonn ooff rraaccccoooonn rraabbiieess iinn tthhee UU..SS
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