Potential Food Item Distractions during Raccoon ORV Baiting Campaigns on Cape Cod, Massachusetts:  Would You Like Fries With That?

Bjorklund, Brian M.; Thomas, Howard H.; Palmiotto, Peter A.; Algeo, Timothy P.; Slate, Dennis; Chipman, Richard B.; Chandler, Monte D.; Wilda, Donald J.

doi:10.5070/v423110497

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…A number of unquantifiable factors could account for differences between Massachusetts and Florida results, such as raccoon and opossum population density differences, weather, and food item competition in the surrounding landscape [ 21 ]. An obvious limitation in this assessment was the lack of complete certainty that a visit resulted in actual bait access or uptake.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress towards Bait Station Integration into Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs in the United States: Field Trials in Massachusetts and Florida

et al. 2017

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress towards Bait Station Integration into Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs in the United States: Field Trials in Massachusetts and Florida

et al. 2017

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“…In addition to the goal of rabies elimination for Cape Cod, the CCORVP presented an unparalleled opportunity for research into rabies epizootiology, vector ecology, and control strategies. Some of these projects to date have included a) an assessment of potential raccoon activity and abundance in pitch pine/scrub oak habitat through density surveys, track station visitation (Algeo et al 2004) and automatic camera-based indexing efforts; b) estimates of relative raccoon densities in highly developed coastal communities; c) an assessment of the utility of bait stations for ORV bait distribution to raccoons in highly developed areas; d) an investigation into the relative importance of competing raccoon food items during ORV baiting campaigns (Bjorklund et al 2008); e) tests of the relative performance of different bait formats in terms of vehicle-based distribution characteristics; and f) enhanced rabies surveillance results, and strategy development and refinement (Bjorklund et al 2006).…”

Section: Cape Cod-based Research In Support Of Rabies Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomy of the Cape Cod Oral Rabies Vaccination Program

Algeo¹,

Chipman²,

Bjorklund³

et al. 2008

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Rabies remains a globally significant zoonotic disease, but rabies control is achievable under certain circumstances.Canine rabies has been eliminated from the U.S.; however, approximately 55,000 humans die annually worldwide from the disease. In the U.S., economic losses continue to be substantial and the risk to humans and domestic animals has not been eliminated. As an example of the complexity of rabies management, we describe a local rabies control program and efforts to restore Cape Cod, MA to terrestrial rabies-free status, after a 2004 oral rabies vaccination (ORV) barrier breach following 10 years of rabies-free status. The emergence of raccoon rabies in southeastern New England in 1992 prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to begin an ORV program to reduce the occurrence of carnivore rabies in an area directly adjacent to the Cape Cod Canal. In 2001, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services began full-time collaboration on the Cape Cod Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (CCORVP) as part of national wildlife rabies control efforts. The primary objective of the CCORVP was to use ORV in tandem with the physical barrier created by the Canal to prevent the spread of rabies to peninsular Cape Cod, a heavily-populated tourist destination southeast of Boston. After an increase in rabies cases within the traditional Cape Cod ORV zone, ORV bait distribution efforts were modified to reduce the risk of rabies spread onto the Cape. In spite of these modifications, raccoon rabies was detected for the first time on peninsular Cape Cod in March 2004. A trap-vaccinate-release campaign, removal of suspect raccoons and skunks, and expanded ORV efforts were unsuccessful in preventing the spread of the virus. Rabies surveillance became the priority of the Cape Cod Rabies Task Force. In 2006, rabies was finally detected at the eastern extremity of the peninsula. In this paper, we summarize ORV efforts, explore possible causes for the spread of raccoon rabies onto the Cape, summarize several small-scale Cape Cod rabies research projects, and suggest a 5-year plan for future Cape Cod rabies controls efforts.

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Potential Food Item Distractions during Raccoon ORV Baiting Campaigns on Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Would You Like Fries With That?

Cited by 2 publications

References 5 publications

Progress towards Bait Station Integration into Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs in the United States: Field Trials in Massachusetts and Florida

Progress towards Bait Station Integration into Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs in the United States: Field Trials in Massachusetts and Florida

Anatomy of the Cape Cod Oral Rabies Vaccination Program

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