Elimination of Rabies in Dogs and Its Return in Wild Animals
Author Information
Author(s): Velasco-Villa Andrés, Reeder Serena A., Orciari Lillian A., Yager Pamela A., Franka Richard, Blanton Jesse D., Zuckero Letha, Hunt Patrick, Oertli Ernest H., Robinson Laura E., Rupprecht Charles E.
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hypothesis
Is domestic dog rabies no longer enzootic to the United States, and what are the implications for wild carnivores?
Conclusion
Domestic dog rabies is no longer enzootic in the United States, but independent rabies enzootics have emerged in wild terrestrial carnivores.
Supporting Evidence
- Rabies virus is maintained by various mammal species, including dogs.
- Canine rabies was eliminated in the U.S. by the 1970s due to vaccination efforts.
- Independent rabies enzootics are now established in wild carnivores like skunks and gray foxes.
- Dog rabies epizootics have been characterized by multiple geographic lineages.
- Global migration and social factors continue to promote rabies transmission.
Takeaway
This study found that rabies from dogs is no longer a problem in the U.S., but now wild animals like skunks and foxes are getting rabies from other sources.
Methodology
The study involved sequencing 228 rabies virus samples and conducting phylogenetic analyses.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on rabies in the U.S. and may not fully represent global rabies dynamics.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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