Abstract
Simple SummaryWe analyzed signs occurring among domestic and wild terrestrial animal species with raccoon rabies variant virus in Massachusetts, 1992–2010. While aggression is a useful predictor of rabies among wild animals, combinations of other signs such as ataxia, disorientation, and salivation are useful predictors of rabies among domestic animals.We analyzed signs occurring among domestic and wild terrestrial animal species infected with raccoon rabies variant virus (RRV) in Massachusetts, 1992–2010. The clinical sign of aggression was significantly associated with rabid stray cats (odds ratio, OR = 2.3) and RRV affected major wild terrestrial animal species individually, which included raccoons (OR = 2.8), skunks (OR = 8.0), gray foxes (OR = 21.3), red foxes (OR = 10.4), woodchucks (OR = 4.7) and coyotes (OR = 27.6). While aggression is a useful predictor of rabies among wild animals, combinations of other signs such as ataxia, disorientation, and salivation are useful predictors of rabies among domestic animals. Pets reported with multiple clinical signs had significantly higher rabies positive testing result than those reported with single clinical sign (p < 0.001). The result suggested the importance of avoiding aggressive terrestrial wild animals and giving additional attention to pets with multiple clinical signs.
Highlights
The introduction of raccoon rabies variant (RRV) in Massachusetts in September 1992, resulted in an enormous and sustained increase in rabies cases among terrestrial animals [1]
A total of 54,919 testable specimens from terrestrial animal species were submitted to State Laboratory Institute (SLI) for rabies diagnostic testing between 1992 and 2010 inclusive, including 40,148 (73.1%) specimens from the nine predominant terrestrial animal species
All were attributed to rabies variant virus (RRV) infections, except for one imported dog infected with a mongoose strain of rabies virus
Summary
The introduction of raccoon rabies variant (RRV) in Massachusetts in September 1992, resulted in an enormous and sustained increase in rabies cases among terrestrial animals [1]. While this dramatic shift in the incidence and epidemiology of animal rabies in MA has been well-characterized, questions remain regarding clinical features among individual animal species infected with the new virus variant. Understanding the behaviors of individual rabid animal species may be useful in assessing the risk of disease in symptomatic animals, domestic animals. We examine 19 years of rabies surveillance data to describe the frequency of various reported presenting signs among affected animal species
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