Implementation and monitoring of oral rabies vaccination of foxes in Kosovo between 2010 and 2013—An international and intersectorial effort

Yakobson, B.; Goga, Izedin; Freuling, Conrad Martin; Fooks, Anthony R.; Gjinovci, Valdet; Hulaj, Beqe; Horton, Daniel L.; Johnson, Nicholas; Muhaxhiri, Jeton; Recica, Ilir; David, Dan; O’Flaherty, Richard; Taylor, Nick; Wilsmore, Tony; Müller, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.07.009

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Since 2010, multiannual ORV programmes for eliminating fox rabies have been launched in six Western Balkan countries, starting in Kosovo and Serbia in 2010, and followed by FYROM, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina in 2011, then Albania in 2013 (Yakobson et al, 2014). Since 2010, multiannual ORV programmes for eliminating fox rabies have been launched in six Western Balkan countries, starting in Kosovo and Serbia in 2010, and followed by FYROM, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina in 2011, then Albania in 2013 (Yakobson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2002, an oral vaccination campaign was realised by aerially distributing 20 000 baits in the north of Vojvodina, in an area of 500 km², near the Hungarian border. The implementation of ORV has been monitored by FAT (Yakobson et al, 2014). In 2010, the Veterinary Directorate started a multiannual project of ORV of foxes and other wild carnivores, in support of a long-term programme of elimination of rabies in Serbia, co-funded by the EU (financed by IPA).…”

Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The EU has provided technical assistance and supplies for the elimination, monitoring and control of rabies in several pre-accession countries through pre-accession (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)) funds. Since 2010, multiannual ORV programmes for eliminating fox rabies have been launched in six Western Balkan countries, starting in Kosovo and Serbia in 2010, and followed by FYROM, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina in 2011, then Albania in 2013 (Yakobson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies

2015

EFS2

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An assessment of a report issued by the European Commission in 2002 is presented about the oral vaccination of foxes against rabies, as well as additional topics such as the rabies aetiology and its occurrence in Europe, the target species for oral vaccination, i.e. foxes and raccoon dogs, the oral vaccines available and their thermostability, rabies surveillance and monitoring, and the recent international guidelines for rabies surveillance are discussed. Foxes are the only known reservoir for rabies in Europe, and raccoon dogs are important transmitters, while other carnivores play a less important epidemiological role. The demographic expansion of raccoon dogs and their movements after hibernation are risk factors for rabies recurrence. The combined densities of foxes and raccoon dogs, which often share the same habitats, could allow rabies epizootics to persist. The epidemiological role and the pathogenesis of rabies in raccoon dogs and other carnivores must still be clarified. Four vaccines are authorised in the EU and their effectiveness is proven to successfully contribute to rabies elimination. Experimental and field evidence shows that climatic and weather conditions may impact on bait casings and vaccine stability. Data on the stability of vaccine baits under different field conditions should be provided. It is recommended that bait should keep its integrity at the release point. Because of bait stability issues, the season most appropriate for implementing oral rabies vaccination or a heat-stable vaccine should be considered. Rabies surveillance and monitoring of vaccination, based on assessment of bait uptake and seroconversion in host species, are important tools for the evaluation and adjustment of vaccination campaigns, although alternatives to tetracyclines as biomarkers should be developed. Oral immunisation by vaccine baits has proven to be successful in eliminating terrestrial wildlife rabies, but long-term strategy, temporal continuity of vaccination and cross-border cooperation are needed and recommended. Acknowledgements:The Panel wishes to thank Florence Cliquet, Paola De Benedictis, Kaarina Kauhala, Edvīns Oļševskis, Liisa Sihvonen (Chair) and Marcin Smreczak for the preparatory work on this scientific output, the hearing expert Thomas Müller and EFSA staff members Alessandro Broglia and Marianne Carson for the support provided to this scientific output. Suggested citation: EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare), 2015. Scientific opinion -Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies.

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Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Balkan Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies

2015

EFS2

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“…), a DOI of at least six months is required for licensure, which is in line with the vaccination schedule as recommended by the EU; i.e., two oral vaccination campaigns per year (Spring, Autumn) [54]. However, to achieve cost-effective prevention of reintroduction of rabies from bordering areas, vaccination once per year as has been practiced by Turkey, Kosovo, and Finland [55,56,57] would be helpful. For this purpose, a DOI of at least 12 months needs to be confirmed using experimental data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Immunogenicity and Efficacy of the Oral Rabies Virus Vaccine Strain SPBN GASGAS in Foxes

Freuling

Kamp

Günther

et al. 2019

Viruses

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: To evaluate the long-term immunogenicity of the live-attenuated, oral rabies vaccine SPBN GASGAS in a full good clinical practice (GCP) compliant study, forty-six (46) healthy, seronegative red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were allocated to two treatment groups: group 1 (n = 31) received a vaccine bait containing 1.7 ml of the vaccine of minimum potency (106.6 FFU/mL) and group 2 (n = 15) received a placebo-bait. In total, 29 animals of group 1 and 14 animals of group 2 were challenged at 12 months post-vaccination with a fox rabies virus isolate (103.0 MICLD50/mL). While 90% of the animals offered a vaccine bait resisted the challenge, only one animal (7%) of the controls survived. All animals that had seroconverted following vaccination survived the challenge infection at 12 months post-vaccination. Rabies specific antibodies could be detected as early as 14 days post-vaccination. Based on the kinetics of the antibody response to SPBN GASGAS as measured in ELISA and RFFIT, the animals maintained stable antibody titres during the 12-month pre-challenge observation period at a high level. The results indicate that successful vaccination using the oral route with this new rabies virus vaccine strain confers long-term duration of immunity beyond one year, meeting the same requirements as for licensure as laid down by the European Pharmacopoeia.

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“…Studies in Europe and North America have described that bait uptake can range between 40 and 80% 15 . In a two year vaccination campaign in Kosovo, average bait uptake was 55.7% 16 , while it was 70% in Greece after one vaccination campaign 17 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Factors influencing the success of aerial rabies vaccination of foxes

Henning

Giorgi

Magalhães

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Sylvatic rabies has been eradicated from most of Central Europe, but cases still occur in the Balkans. Oral rabies vaccination of foxes is an effective method for controlling the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of aerial vaccination campaigns conducted in Montenegro by identifying ecological, environmental and climatic factors that influenced the prevalence of antibodies to the rabies vaccine. To monitor the bait uptake and the serological responses to vaccination, foxes were shot by hunters. Of 175 shot foxes, 142 foxes (81.1%) had consumed baits. Of these only a total of 81 (57.0%) tested positive for rabies vaccine antibodies, possibly, due to the delayed uptake of bait in which the rabies vaccine was already inactivated. We found that low vaccination responses were associated with high fox density and bait delivery in open areas. In high fox density habitat, bait uptake might be delayed as other food and prey options for foxes are abundant. Similarly, delayed bait uptake probably occurred in open areas as such areas are less frequently used by foxes. The findings of this study suggest that efficacy of oral rabies vaccination by aerial delivery is associated with landscape features.

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Implementation and monitoring of oral rabies vaccination of foxes in Kosovo between 2010 and 2013—An international and intersectorial effort

Cited by 17 publications

References 22 publications

Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies

Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies

Long-Term Immunogenicity and Efficacy of the Oral Rabies Virus Vaccine Strain SPBN GASGAS in Foxes

Factors influencing the success of aerial rabies vaccination of foxes

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