title: Evaluation of the first oral rabies vaccination campaign of the red foxes in Greece.
abstract: Following the late 2012 recurrence of rabies in wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central and north-western Greece, the first oral fox vaccination campaign co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Greek state budget, was implemented. Initially, it involved 24 regional units of the Greek territory during the period October-December 2013. Vaccine-baits were aerially distributed by fixed-wing aircrafts. Vaccines were scattered along parallel flight paths 500m apart in order to optimize aerial missions and achieve homogeneous distribution. A geographical information system was used to objectively evaluate bait distribution. This system identified areas of inadequate bait density that would require additional flights. A total number of 1,504,821 baits were distributed covering an area of 54,584.29km(2). To assess the effectiveness of oral vaccination campaign a monitoring program was introduced, which entailed examination of serum samples and canine teeth derived from red foxes collected in the field. The laboratory analysis revealed 60% seropositivity and detection of tetracycline biomarker in 70% of the foxes tested.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: koroumarilina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laskarina-Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Korou
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Diagnostics, FMD, Virological, Rickettsial and Exotic Diseases, Athens Veterinary Center, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantia E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Tasioudi
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Myrsini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzani
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Department, Regional Unit of Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konstantinidis
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Department, Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plevraki
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Diagnostics, FMD, Virological, Rickettsial and Exotic Diseases, Athens Veterinary Center, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Peristera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iliadou
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Petroula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kostoglou
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Technical Studies, Structures and Topography, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaimaras
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doudounakis
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Diagnostics, FMD, Virological, Rickettsial and Exotic Diseases, Athens Veterinary Center, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mangana-Vougiouka
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005589:Foxes; D006115:Greece; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D011819:Rabies Vaccines
keywords: Antibodies; Foxes; Greece; Oral vaccination; Rabies; Tetracycline