SYLVATIC RABIES IN RUSSIA WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PERSPECTIVES OF ORAL

VACCINATION OF WILD CARNIVORES

A. Botvinkin, D. Bankovsky, G. Safonov

Irkutsk State Medical University Pokrov plan of biologics, Russia

The areas of different risk of human rabiesThe areas of different risk of human rabies in Russia and former Soviet Union in Russia and former Soviet Union ( (retrospective retrospective

analysis)analysis)

Animal rabies in RussiaAnimal rabies in Russia((official statistic data)official statistic data)

Animal rabies in Russia (1996-2005)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

case

s

wild animals

all animal

Wildlife rabies in RussiaWildlife rabies in Russia(2000-2005, Kchadartsev et al., 2006)(2000-2005, Kchadartsev et al., 2006)

Wild animals Wild animals consisted of~40% consisted of~40% of total casesof total cases

Case number Case number increased in 4.3 increased in 4.3 times in 2000-2005times in 2000-2005

56 regions of 56 regions of Russia (from 72) Russia (from 72) reported about reported about wildlife rabies wildlife rabies

34% of all human 34% of all human rabies cases were rabies cases were connected with wild connected with wild animals: animals:

- foxes 17.4% - foxes 17.4%

- wolves 9.8%- wolves 9.8%

- raccoon dogs - raccoon dogs 5.4%5.4%

- badgers 1.1% - badgers 1.1%

Oral rabies vaccination and Oral rabies vaccination and wildlife rabies in Russiawildlife rabies in Russia

Large scale ORV Large scale ORV started in 1998 started in 1998 (Avilov et al., 2002)(Avilov et al., 2002)

ORV is continuing ORV is continuing till nowtill now

Why we have no Why we have no positive results?positive results?

Rabies among wild animals

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

case

s

The main objective problems The main objective problems on the way of oral rabies on the way of oral rabies

vaccination in Russiavaccination in Russia

Very wide rabies affected territoryVery wide rabies affected territory Different target speciesDifferent target species Limited effect of water natural Limited effect of water natural

barriers in winter timebarriers in winter time

Natural reservoir and vectorsNatural reservoir and vectors of rabies virus in Russia of rabies virus in Russia

Red fox (Red fox (Vulpes vulpesVulpes vulpes)) Raccoon dog (Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes Nyctereutes

procyonoidesprocyonoides)) Polar fox (Polar fox (Alopex lagopusAlopex lagopus)) Steppe fox (Steppe fox (Vulpes corsacVulpes corsac)) Wolf (Wolf (Canis lupusCanis lupus)) Jackal (Jackal (Canis auriusCanis aurius)) Badger (Badger (Meles melesMeles meles))

Rabies-enzootic territories in Russia are fragmented. Four areas are

delineated by epidemiological and molecular data:

(1) center and north-west of the European part of Russia (red fox and raccoon dog are the main virus reservoirs);

(2) south-eastern Europe and south of Western Siberia (rabies is maintained predominantly by the red and corsac foxes);

(3) south of the Far East (raccoon dog); (4) arctic and subarctic area (arctic fox).

Different host species (text)Different host species (text) and different strains of rabies virus and different strains of rabies virus

(color)(color)

The main subjective problems The main subjective problems on the way of ORV in Russiaon the way of ORV in Russia

Absence of long-term national Absence of long-term national management plan with stable management plan with stable financial supportfinancial support

Wrong general goal and strategy of Wrong general goal and strategy of oral vaccine distributionoral vaccine distribution

Absence of interdisciplinary Absence of interdisciplinary managment teammanagment team

General approaches at the General approaches at the beginning of ORV in Russia beginning of ORV in Russia

Uniform distribution of oral vaccine Uniform distribution of oral vaccine between rabies affected between rabies affected administrative regions (30-60 th. administrative regions (30-60 th. doses to each region per year)doses to each region per year)

Main goals – reduction of case number Main goals – reduction of case number eradication of rabies in some districts eradication of rabies in some districts or regions within affected territoryor regions within affected territory

Oral rabies vaccination in Russia in 1998 -Oral rabies vaccination in Russia in 1998 -2000: 2000: ”Lysvulpen” & “Sinrab” (25-29 regions each year)”Lysvulpen” & “Sinrab” (25-29 regions each year) (Avilov et al., 2002; Kuzmin et (Avilov et al., 2002; Kuzmin et al.,2002)al.,2002)

What we have to do?What we have to do?

To change a goals:To change a goals: General goal – reduction of rabies General goal – reduction of rabies

affected territory step by stepaffected territory step by step

To select main target species and To select main target species and territoriesterritories

Possible approaches for of Possible approaches for of ORV ORV

i) barrier application ORV along the i) barrier application ORV along the western borders of Russia on the base western borders of Russia on the base of international cooperationof international cooperation

ii) barrier application for strengthening ii) barrier application for strengthening of of

natural barriersnatural barriers

iii) elimination of specific rabies virus iii) elimination of specific rabies virus strain in Russian Far East strain in Russian Far East

Perspectives of oral rabies Perspectives of oral rabies vaccinationsvaccinations

of wild carnivores in Russia of wild carnivores in Russia

History of wildlife rabies.History of wildlife rabies. Human rabies after red fox, badger and raccoon Human rabies after red fox, badger and raccoon

dog bites in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.dog bites in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Raccoon dog is a host of original RV strains Raccoon dog is a host of original RV strains in Far East of Asia and target species for in Far East of Asia and target species for

ORVORV

Natural habitat of raccoon dog Natural habitat of raccoon dog in Far East of Eurasiain Far East of Eurasia

The nearest tasksThe nearest tasks

Optimization of managementOptimization of management Concentration of the resourcesConcentration of the resources International cooperation International cooperation

Are you vaccinated?Are you vaccinated?