RABIES ERADICATION RABIES ERADICATION PROGRAMME IN ESTONIA BY PROGRAMME IN ESTONIA BY

MEANS OF ORAL VACCINATION MEANS OF ORAL VACCINATION OF WILDLIFE: FIRST RESULTSOF WILDLIFE: FIRST RESULTS

Marjana LaineMarjana LaineVeterinary and Food Board of EstoniaVeterinary and Food Board of Estonia

28/05/2007 Paris28/05/2007 Parismarjana.laine@vet.agri.eemarjana.laine@vet.agri.ee

Epidemiological dataEpidemiological data► Rabies is a great concern for a many Rabies is a great concern for a many

decades. From 1968 sylvatic rabies spread decades. From 1968 sylvatic rabies spread over total territory of Estonia.over total territory of Estonia.

► As a rule ~ 150 – 300 cases occurred usually As a rule ~ 150 – 300 cases occurred usually per year. The peak was in 2003 – 813 per year. The peak was in 2003 – 813 positive rabies cases. positive rabies cases.

► Target species: fox and raccoon dog. The Target species: fox and raccoon dog. The relative importance of raccoon dogs as relative importance of raccoon dogs as reservoir animals compared with foxes has reservoir animals compared with foxes has risen since 2002. In 2006 53% of all cases risen since 2002. In 2006 53% of all cases were rabid raccoon dogs.were rabid raccoon dogs.

► Last human case was in 1986Last human case was in 1986► Compulsory vaccination of dogs and cats Compulsory vaccination of dogs and cats

19531953

History of oral vaccinationHistory of oral vaccination- First large scale OV was conducted in First large scale OV was conducted in

Oct-Nov 2005 (Bait drop area 25 800 Oct-Nov 2005 (Bait drop area 25 800 kmkm22, from west to the eastern border), from west to the eastern border)

- 2006 twice, in spring (Apr- May) and 2006 twice, in spring (Apr- May) and autumn (Sept-Oct), on total territory of autumn (Sept-Oct), on total territory of Estonia (2 x 45 227 kmEstonia (2 x 45 227 km22))

Vaccination strategyVaccination strategy

►Baiting density: 20 baits/kmBaiting density: 20 baits/km22

►Vaccine baits used: Rabigen SAG2Vaccine baits used: Rabigen SAG2►Distribution: fixed-wing planes, Distribution: fixed-wing planes,

technicians for bait dropping from the technicians for bait dropping from the aircraftaircraft

►No manual distributionNo manual distribution►Distance between dropping lines 600 Distance between dropping lines 600

metersmeters►Refrigerated lorries in airfieldsRefrigerated lorries in airfields

Efficacy control of OV Efficacy control of OV campaignscampaigns

Bait up take control:Bait up take control:Tetracycline assessmentTetracycline assessment- Samples were collected by the members of Samples were collected by the members of

Estonian Hunters AssociationEstonian Hunters AssociationRabies incidenceRabies incidence - All animals with rabies suspicious were All animals with rabies suspicious were

sent to the laboratory for testingsent to the laboratory for testingLaboratory testingLaboratory testingTests for rabies diagnosis and tetracycline Tests for rabies diagnosis and tetracycline

assessment were performed by the assessment were performed by the Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory.Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory.

Results of biomarker detection after campaigns Results of biomarker detection after campaigns in 2005 and 2006 in 2005 and 2006

20052005► Collection time: Collection time:

November 2005 - November 2005 - March 2006March 2006

► Hunting area: 25 Hunting area: 25 800 km2 800 km2

► Number of Number of samples in total samples in total collected:1746,collected:1746,

(1046 fox, 700 (1046 fox, 700 raccoon dog)raccoon dog)

20062006► Collection time: Collection time:

July 2006 - March July 2006 - March 20072007

► Hunting area: 45 Hunting area: 45 227 km2227 km2

► Number of Number of samples in total samples in total collected: 2889collected: 2889

(1343 fox, 1546 (1343 fox, 1546 raccoon dog)raccoon dog)

Tetracycline assessment results of Tetracycline assessment results of campaign 2005campaign 2005

Estonia 2005/2006Estonia 2005/2006 Total (Total (fox and raccoon dogsfox and raccoon dogs))DistrictDistrict PositivePositive NegativeNegative Total Total Positive%Positive%

HARJUMAAHARJUMAA 176176 7171 247247 7171HIIUMAAHIIUMAA 6161 1010 7171 8686IDA-VIRUMAAIDA-VIRUMAA 114114 2828 142142 8080JÕGEVAMAAJÕGEVAMAA 3232 3535 6767 4848JÄRVAMAAJÄRVAMAA 9393 5656 149149 6262LÄÄNEMAALÄÄNEMAA 159159 3636 195195 8282LÄÄNE-VIRUMAALÄÄNE-VIRUMAA 179179 5454 233233 7777PÄRNUMAAPÄRNUMAA 118118 5959 177177 6767RAPLAMAARAPLAMAA 184184 4949 233233 7979SAAREMAASAAREMAA 167167 6565 232232 7272

TotalTotal 12831283 463463 17461746 7373

Tetracycline asessment results of the Tetracycline asessment results of the campaign 2005 campaign 2005

►In 73% of investigated samples In 73% of investigated samples tetracycline lines were detectedtetracycline lines were detected

►Bait consumption rate in total Bait consumption rate in total vaccinated area observed was vaccinated area observed was between 48% - 86%between 48% - 86%The results were moderate in The results were moderate in districts which territory only partly districts which territory only partly felt under vaccination areafelt under vaccination area

►Consumption rate among foxes and Consumption rate among foxes and raccoon dogs was quite similar, raccoon dogs was quite similar, respectively 74% and 73%respectively 74% and 73%

Tetracycline asessment results of the Tetracycline asessment results of the campaign 2006campaign 2006

Estonia 2006/2007Estonia 2006/2007 Total (fox and raccoon dog)Total (fox and raccoon dog)DistrictDistrict PositivePositive NegativeNegative Total Total Positive%Positive%

HARJUMAAHARJUMAA 206206 4343 249249 8383HIIUMAAHIIUMAA 7575 77 8282 9191IDA-VIRUMAAIDA-VIRUMAA 174174 2121 195195 8989JÕGEVAMAAJÕGEVAMAA 145145 3939 184184 7979JÄRVAMAAJÄRVAMAA 9696 2525 121121 7979LÄÄNEMAALÄÄNEMAA 143143 1818 161161 8989LÄÄNE-VIRUMAALÄÄNE-VIRUMAA 162162 2424 186186 8787PÕLVAMAAPÕLVAMAA 145145 2828 173173 8484PÄRNUMAAPÄRNUMAA 326326 3838 364364 9090RAPLAMAARAPLAMAA 154154 1212 166166 9393SAAREMAASAAREMAA 184184 1919 203203 9191TARTUMAATARTUMAA 207207 3636 243243 8585VALGAMAAVALGAMAA 8989 1414 103103 8686VILJANDIMAAVILJANDIMAA 223223 5353 276276 8181VÕRUMAAVÕRUMAA 134134 4949 183183 7373

TotalTotal 24632463 426426 28892889 8585

Tetracycline assessment results of the Tetracycline assessment results of the campaigns of year 2006campaigns of year 2006

►The average bait consumption level The average bait consumption level was ~ 85% (2005 ~ 73%)was ~ 85% (2005 ~ 73%)

►Range of bait uptake by districts was Range of bait uptake by districts was 73 – 91%, better results were gained 73 – 91%, better results were gained in districts vaccinated already in 2005 in districts vaccinated already in 2005

►The consumption among target The consumption among target species was similar: foxes 87% and species was similar: foxes 87% and raccoon dogs 84%raccoon dogs 84%

Rabies incidence before and after vaccination Rabies incidence before and after vaccination campaignscampaigns

► After autumn campaign 2005 the number of cases decreased After autumn campaign 2005 the number of cases decreased considerably in vaccinated area: 16 % of positive cases were considerably in vaccinated area: 16 % of positive cases were diagnosed in this regiondiagnosed in this region

► Due to double vaccination in 2006 the number of positive Due to double vaccination in 2006 the number of positive animals dropped dramatically.animals dropped dramatically.

Comaparative data of rabies incidence in vaccination and non-vaccination area 2005 -

2006

020406080

100

Jan- May2005

Jan - May2006

June -Dec2005

June-Dec2006

Cases

Tim

e pe

riod

Vaccination-areaNon-vaccination area

Rabies cases 01.01.06-31.05.06Rabies cases 01.01.06-31.05.06

Positive cases in 2006 (01.06. -31.12.06)Positive cases in 2006 (01.06. -31.12.06)

ConclusionsConclusions►The 3 first campaigns have given The 3 first campaigns have given

desired resultsdesired results►Number of positive cases decreased Number of positive cases decreased

remarkably (2005 – 266 cases, 2006 – remarkably (2005 – 266 cases, 2006 – 114 cases).114 cases).

►For the end of April only one positive For the end of April only one positive case was diagnosed in this yearcase was diagnosed in this year

►The results of bait consumption until The results of bait consumption until now have shown that both target now have shown that both target species consumed the bait willingly species consumed the bait willingly

Thank you for attention!Thank you for attention!