Some Observations on Rabies in Alaska, with Special Reference to Wild Canidae

Rausch, Robert L.

doi:10.2307/3796457

Cited by 37 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Little is known about this dis-ease in arctic foxes other than it has been reported in this species by Rausch (1953). Also, it is known to be present in wolves, red fox, grizzly bears, polar bears, dogs, and caribou/reindeer in Alaska (Zarnke, 1981;Follmann et al, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Arctic foxes also have been diagnosed with canine distemper on the Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast (Rausch, 1953). Canine distemper affects wolves (Canis lupus), dogs, red foxes, grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), and polar bears (Zarnke, 1981;Follmann et al, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The large distances traveled by individual arctic foxes (e.g., as reviewed by Garrott and Eberhardt, 1987) facilitates the transmission of rabies virus by increasing contact among foxes, particularly when they congregate around food sources (Follmann et al, 1992). The variable incubation period of rabies, that may be up to 6 mo in arctic fox (Rausch, 1958), allows infected animals to survive long enough to infect other animals. Scavenging on animals that have died of the disease has been proposed as another source of infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rabies epizootics often occur as fox populations periodically increase along with populations of microtine rodents (Chapman, 1978;Kaplan, 1985). However, epizootics also may occur when fox populations are low (Rausch, 1958). Epizootics are generally geographically specific, nonsynchronous, seasonal (peaks during February), and cyclic (3 to 4 yr intervals) (Ritter, 1981;Follmann et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rabies and Canine Distemper in an Arctic Fox Population in Alaska

Ballard

Follmann

Ritter

et al. 2001

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Two oil field workers were attacked by a rabid arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in the Prudhoe Bay oil field (Alaska, USA) prompting officials to reduce the local fox population. Ninetynine foxes were killed during winter 1994. We tested foxes for prevalence of rabies and canine distemper. Exposure to rabies was detected in five of 99 foxes. Of the five, only one fox had rabies virus in neural tissue as determined by the direct fluorescent antibody test. The other four foxes had been exposed to rabies, but had apparently produced antibodies and did not have an active infection. No evidence of canine distemper was detected as determined by the absence of distemper antibodies in serum and distemper virus in neural tissue.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rabies and Canine Distemper in an Arctic Fox Population in Alaska

Ballard

Follmann

Ritter

et al. 2001

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…Very few cases of human rabies have been reported in the Arctic: none in Canada [1]; one in Greenland since 1960 [2]; and only three in Alaska, the last in 1943 [3]. A Russian report of 30-50 rabies deaths per year [2] is believed to include all deaths nationwide from arctic and other strains of the rabies virus.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of fox trappers in northern Alaska for rabies antibody

1994

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SUMMARYThe purpose of this research was to determine whether trappers in northern Alaska acquired immunity to rabies virus from non-bite exposures while trapping and skinning arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). In coastal Alaska recurring epizootics presumably provide trappers ample opportunity for contact with rabid animals. Serum neutralization analyses of blood samples collected from 26 individuals were conducted. All but three had negative rabies neutralizing antibody levels (< 0·05 I.U./ml). Two of these had previously received rabies vaccine but one individual who had trapped for about 47 years with an estimated harvest of over 3000 foxes and who had never received pre- or post-exposure rabies vaccination had a rabies serum neutralizing antibody concentration of 2·30 I.U./ml. This represents the first report of an unvaccinated person acquiring rabies virus antibody with a titre above the 0·5 I.U./ml level considered acceptable by the World Health Organization.

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