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Wilson AG, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Wilson S, Pierce KN, McGregor GF, González C, Luszcz TMJ. Assessing the extent and public health impact of bat predation by domestic animals using data from a rabies passive surveillance program. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000357. [PMID: 36962180 PMCID: PMC10021327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Domestic animals can serve as consequential conveyors of zoonotic pathogens across wildlife-human interfaces. Still, there has been little study on how different domestic species and their behaviors influence the zoonotic risk to humans. In this study, we examined patterns of bat encounters with domestic animals that resulted in submission for testing at the rabies laboratories of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during 2014-2020. Our goals were specifically to examine how the number of bats submitted and the number of rabies positive bats varied by the type of domestic animal exposure and whether domestic cats were indoor or free-roaming. The CFIA reported 6258 bat submissions for rabies testing, of which 41.5% and 8.7% had encounter histories with cats and dogs, respectively. A much smaller fraction of bat submissions (0.3%) had exposure to other domestic animals, and 49.5% had no domestic animal exposure. For the bat submissions related to cats, and where lifestyle was noted, 91.1% were associated with free-roaming cats and 8.9% with indoor cats. Model results indicated the probability of a rabies-positive bat was the highest with a history of dog association (20.2%), followed by bats with no animal exposure (16.7%), free-roaming cats (6.9%), cats with unspecified histories (6.0%) and the lowest probability associated with non-free-roaming (indoor) cats (3.8%). Although there was lower rabies prevalence in bats associated with cats compared to dogs, the 4.8 fold higher number of cat-bat interactions cumulatively leads to a greater overall rabies exposure risk to humans from any free-roaming outdoor cats. This study suggests that free-roaming owned cats may have an underappreciated role in cryptic rabies exposures in humans and as a significant predator of bats. Preventing free-roaming in cats is a cost-effective and underutilized public health recommendation for rabies prevention that also synergistically reduces the health burden of other feline-associated zoonotic diseases and promotes feline welfare and wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy G Wilson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine Fehlner-Gardiner
- Centre of Expertise for Rabies, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott Wilson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karra N Pierce
- Wildlife Center of Virginia, Waynesboro, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Glenna F McGregor
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catalina González
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tanya M J Luszcz
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
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Novak S, Yakobson B, Sorek S, Morgan L, Tal S, Nivy R, King R, Jaebker L, Eckery DC, Raz T. Short Term Safety, Immunogenicity, and Reproductive Effects of Combined Vaccination With Anti-GnRH (Gonacon) and Rabies Vaccines in Female Feral Cats. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:650291. [PMID: 34041290 PMCID: PMC8141635 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Overpopulation of free-roaming cats is a major problem leading to negative impacts on animal health and welfare, public nuisance, transmission of zoonotic diseases, and well-documented harm to wildlife. Surgical sterilization had failed to provide a practical solution to free-roaming cats' overpopulation under field conditions; therefore, efficient and safe non-surgical immunocontraception methods are aspired. Rabies is a deadly virus that may infect people and animals. However, the safety and efficacy of combined vaccination with anti-GnRH and rabies vaccines in feral cats, which often suffer from disrupted health conditions and experienced high stress level, has never been studied. Therefore, our objective was to examine the short-term safety and efficacy of anti-GnRH vaccine (Gonacon), in combination with rabies vaccine in female feral cats. Mature feral female cats were captured and divided into the following groups: (I) GonaconX1-Rabies: queens vaccinated with both Gonacon and rabies (n = 5); (II) GonaconX2-Rabies: queens vaccinated twice with Gonacon (3 weeks apart) and with Rabies (n = 4); (III) OVx-Rabies: queens ovariohysterectomized and vaccinated with rabies (n = 4); (IV) Intact-Rabies: queens vaccinated against rabies and remained intact (n = 3). Comprehensive veterinary examinations and blood tests were performed every 2 weeks for 14 weeks. Data were analyzed by Repeated-Measures-ANOVA or Fisher-Exact-Test. There were neither systemic nor local adverse reactions at the vaccination sites. Blood count (PCV, TS, RBC, HGB, HCT, WBC) and chemistry (Total protein, Total globulin, Albumin, Urea, Creatinine, Creatine kinase, Bilirubin, GGT, ALT, AST) analyses revealed no differences among groups. There were no differences in serum rabies antibodies titers among groups, and queens kept a protective titer (>0.5 IU/mL) starting at 2–4 weeks after vaccination. Anti-GnRH antibodies were detected in all Gonacon-vaccinated queens, excluding one queen (GonaconX2-Rabies group). Anti-müllerian hormone serum concentrations reduced significantly after ovariohysterectomy, as well as gradually following vaccination with Gonacon, but it remained high in intact queens. Evaluation of vaginal cytology and ovarian histology suggested that reproductive cyclicity was suppressed in Gonacon-vaccinated queens. Our results support the conclusion that in the short term, the combined vaccination with Gonacon and rabies is safe and effective in female feral cats. However, further long-term studies are warranted to test this immunologic regimen in feral cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiri Novak
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Boris Yakobson
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Rishon Lezion, Israel
| | - Shir Sorek
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Liat Morgan
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Smadar Tal
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ran Nivy
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Roni King
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lauren Jaebker
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Douglas C Eckery
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Tal Raz
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Brunt S, Solomon H, Brown K, Davis A. Feline and Canine Rabies in New York State, USA. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030450. [PMID: 33802123 PMCID: PMC7998993 DOI: 10.3390/v13030450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In New York State, domestic animals are no longer considered rabies vector species, but given their ubiquity with humans, rabies cases in dogs and cats often result in multiple individuals requiring post-exposure prophylaxis. For over a decade, the New York State rabies laboratory has variant-typed these domestic animals to aid in epidemiological investigations, determine exposures, and generate demographic data. We produced a data set that outlined vaccination status, ownership, and rabies results. Our data demonstrate that a large percentage of felines submitted for rabies testing were not vaccinated or did not have a current rabies vaccination, while canines were largely vaccinated. Despite massive vaccination campaigns, free clinics, and education, these companion animals still occasionally contract rabies. Barring translocation events, we note that rabies-positive cats and dogs in New York State have exclusively contracted a raccoon variant. While the United States has made tremendous strides in reducing its rabies burden, we hope these data will encourage responsible pet ownership including rabies vaccinations to reduce unnecessary animal mortality, long quarantines, and post-exposure prophylaxis in humans.
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Hernandez SM, Loyd KAT, Newton AN, Gallagher M'C, Carswell BL, Abernathy KJ. Activity patterns and interspecific interactions of free-roaming, domestic cats in managed Trap-Neuter-Return colonies. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Möstl K, Addie DD, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Frymus T, Gruffydd-Jones T, Hartmann K, Hosie MJ, Lloret A, Lutz H, Marsilio F, Pennisi MG, Radford AD, Thiry E, Truyen U, Horzinek MC. Something old, something new: Update of the 2009 and 2013 ABCD guidelines on prevention and management of feline infectious diseases. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17:570-82. [PMID: 26101308 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x15588448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OVERVIEW The ABCD has published 34 guidelines in two Special Issues of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS): the first in July 2009 (Volume 11, Issue 7, pages 527-620) and the second in July 2013 (Volume 15, Issue 7, pages 528-652). The present article contains updates and new information on 18 of these (17 disease guidelines and one special article 'Prevention of infectious diseases in cat shelters'). For detailed information, readers are referred to the guidelines published in the above-mentioned JFMS Special Issues.
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