AERIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ONRAB^® BAITS AS A TACTIC TO CONTROL RABIES IN RACCOONS AND STRIPED SKUNKS IN ONTARIO, CANADA

Abstract

ABSTRACT:During August 2006 and 2007, baits containing oral rabies vaccine, live adenovirus vector, known as ONRABH, were aerially distributed in SW Ontario, Canada. Bait acceptance during 2006 was 62 and 74% in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in areas baited at 150 baits/km 2 and 75 and 77% in plots baited at 300 baits/km 2 . During 2007, bait acceptance for raccoons ranged between 59% and 80%, and 83% and 87%, in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Bait acceptance by skunks varied among plots (5-24%). Rabies virus-specific seroconversion during 2006 averaged 66 and 81% in raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km 2 , respectively. During 2007, seroconversion by raccoons was 76 and 84% in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Seroconversion by skunks varied among plots (17-51%). Vaccine efficacy, as judged by the percentage of animals that consumed a bait and seroconverted, averaged 79 and 87% during 2006 for raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km 2 , respectively, and 81 and 90% in areas baited during 2007 at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Because tetracycline marking was poor in skunks, an estimate of vaccine efficacy was not possible. Aerial distribution of ONRABH vaccine baits seems to be a feasible tactic for controlling rabies in skunks and raccoons.

SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAIT (ONRAB) IN THE FIRST US FIELD TRIAL IN RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR)

“…The significant relationship between TTCC and RVNA adds confidence that antibody prevalence was, in large part, attributable to ONRAB bait consumption (Johnston and Voight 1982;Rupprecht et al 1987;Rosatte et al 2009b). That TTCC was not closer to unity than 48 of 122 for antibody-positive raccoons may be largely a function of using first premolar teeth for biomarker detection.…”

“…The Ultralite bait and live AdRG1.3, constituting ONRAB, have been described (Rosatte et al 2009b). The matrix contained 100 mg of tetracycline hydrochloride (TTCC) biomarker (Rosatte et al 2009b).…”

“…The Ultralite bait and live AdRG1.3, constituting ONRAB, have been described (Rosatte et al 2009b). The matrix contained 100 mg of tetracycline hydrochloride (TTCC) biomarker (Rosatte et al 2009b). There were 77,447 ONRAB baits aerially distributed along parallel flight lines at 750-m intervals at 75 baits/km 2 ; 1,580 ONRAB baits were distributed at the same bait density by ground means near and within towns where aerial baiting was deemed unsafe.…”

“…A live, recombinant human adenovirus-rabies glycoprotein vaccine (AdRG1.3; Charlton et al 1992), designated Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB; Artemis Technologies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; Fig. 1), was selected on the basis of 1) its use along the US-Canada border without untoward events and success in reducing and eliminating raccoon rabies (Rosatte et al 2009b;Mainguy et al 2012); 2) lack of timely access to other vaccines for field testing; 3) absence of reported rabid striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) infected with the raccoon rabies virus variant in Ontario since 2004 and Quebec since 2009 (D. Donovan and J. Mainguy pers. comm.…”

Bait Matrix Flavor Preference by Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in Puerto Rico: Implications for Oral Rabies Vaccination

“…The body of the blister pack is an elongated oval with dimensions of 30x14x10 mm and a rectangular lip extending to 40x20 mm (Rosatte et al 2009). Approximately 75 -80% of the external coating is composed of food-grade partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, Microbond ® wax, stearine and vegetable oil.…”