title: Control of terrestrial animal rabies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, after oral vaccination of raccoons (1998-2007).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) project conducted from 1998 through 2007 in Anne Arundel County, Md, for the control of rabies in terrestrial animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of surveillance data (1997 through 2007).
  
  
  METHODS
  Free-ranging raccoons (Procyon lotor) and other terrestrial mammals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant virus oral rabies vaccine-bait units were distributed annually by aircraft and ground teams targeting free-ranging raccoons. Approximately 2 to 4 weeks following the vaccine-bait placement, raccoons were live trapped, sedated, processed, and then released. Serologic samples were tested for the presence of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs). Bait acceptance was estimated by analysis of tetracycline biomarking of sampled teeth. Rabies incidence was determined by the passive identification of rabid terrestrial animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of rabies in terrestrial animals decreased 92% between 1997 (the year prior to the start of the ORV project) and 2007. The mean RVNA prevalence across all years was 33% among trapped raccoons in areas baited with a fish meal polymer bait type, whereas the mean bait acceptance was 30%. Adult raccoons had a seropositivity rate twice that of juvenile raccoons, whereas the bait acceptance rate between adults and juveniles did not differ significantly. For areas baited with a coated sachet bait, adults and juveniles had the same seroprevalence. Juveniles had better seroprevalence when the annual campaign started in September and October, compared with August.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ORV project contributed to a significant decrease in annual incidence of terrestrial animal rabies in Anne Arundel County, Md, during the 10-year project period. For fish meal polymer baits, juvenile raccoons accessed bait at the same rate as adult raccoons but had a significantly lower prevalence of RVNAs. For coated sachet baits, seroprevalence was the same in both age groups. The time of year the bait distribution occurred and the bait type used may be partial explanations for the difference in RVNA seroprevalence between adults and juvenile raccoons.
authors.affiliation: Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA. hdjhorma@aacounty.org
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Horman
authors.forename: Kyle V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: E Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Burja
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fey
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Frances B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011821:Raccoons
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines