Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019–2020

Abstract

Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free.

A Global Perspective on Oral Vaccination of Wildlife Against Rabies

“…Similarly, rabies control in Alaska (and the broader Arctic ecosystems) has not begun and is less well understood than wildlife rabies at more populated lower latitudes, but the need is likely to be exacerbated by climate change (Kuzmin et al 2008;Kim et al 2014;Baecklund et al 2021;Elmore et al 2022). Within insular environments, rabid mongoose throughout the Caribbean, such as on Puerto Rico, pose problematic issues of relative abundance and distribution, especially under both tropical and dry forest habitat conditions (Berentsen et al 2015(Berentsen et al , 2020aSauve ´et al 2021;Browne et al 2021). Hence, the region of the Americas provides ample opportunities for future ORV engagement among a diverse population of mesocarnivores and RABV variants.…”