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Barnés-Valldejuly O, Wurzl A, Church B. Clinical Risk Assessment and Treatment of a Man Attacked by a Rabid North American Beaver ( Castor canadensis) in the Connecticut River: Case Report. Wilderness Environ Med 2025; 36:263-266. [PMID: 40033979 DOI: 10.1177/10806032241310387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2025]
Abstract
A 46-y-old male was swimming in the Connecticut River near Hatfield, Massachusetts, when he suffered an unprovoked attack from a North American beaver (Castor canadensis). The beaver attacked the man 3 separate times, inflicting multiple bite wounds to his arms and torso, ultimately attaching itself to his arm without releasing. The patient was brought to our emergency department, where the wounds were treated, and rabies postexposure prophylaxis was begun. The beaver tested positive for rabies shortly thereafter. Here we review the case of an unprovoked attack by a beaver and clinical risk assessment for rabies, along with management including postexposure prophylaxis, tetanus immunization, and wound care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Barnés-Valldejuly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
| | - Adrianne Wurzl
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
| | - Benjamin Church
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
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Gonzales-Viera OA, Woods LW, Mete A, Fritz H, Armien AG, Lantz E, Gomez-Puerta LA, Famini D, Sherman J, Rudd JL, Camp LE, Shapiro K, Clifford DL. Postmortem Findings in Free-Ranging North American Beavers ( Castor canadensis) Reveal Potential Threats to California's Freshwater Ecosystems. Animals (Basel) 2025; 15:338. [PMID: 39943108 PMCID: PMC11816171 DOI: 10.3390/ani15030338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2025] [Accepted: 01/23/2025] [Indexed: 02/16/2025] Open
Abstract
North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are semi-aquatic rodents recognized as keystone species because they increase the diversity of freshwater ecosystems. This study aimed to characterize the mortality and pathological findings in free-ranging beavers in California and, based on these results, identify potential threats to freshwater ecosystems. This study included 18 beavers submitted for postmortem examination at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, UC Davis, between 2008 and 2024. Gross and microscopic examinations, and bacteriological, parasitological, immunohistochemical, and molecular techniques, were used as tools to diagnose the cause of death/reason for euthanasia and comorbidities in the beavers. Baylisascaris spp.-associated or -suspected encephalitis was the most prevalent (9/18, 50%) cause of mortality/reason for euthanasia, followed by bacterial infections in six individuals. In these six animals, bacterial bronchopneumonia was diagnosed in two (Staphylococcus aureus and a mix of Gram-negative and -positive bacterial infection) and Listeria monocytogenes encephalitis, bacterial myofascitis (Aeromonas bestiarum and Pasteurella multocida), bacterial encephalitis (Acinetobacter towneri), and tularemia (Francisella tularensis) were diagnosed in one beaver each. Three animals died or were euthanized due to non-infectious causes, including motor vehicle trauma, squamous cell carcinoma, and capture cardiomyopathy. Endoparasitism was the main comorbidity, including granulomatous hepatitis caused by a suspected capillarid species, cerebral toxoplasmosis, Giardia infection, gastric nematodiasis, and cecal trematodiasis. In California, beavers are exposed to various pathogens that represent threats to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Since the interspecies transmission of these pathogens occurs in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, we suggest that studying beaver health can reflect freshwater ecosystem health. This study also indicates that the translocation of beavers to new areas without consideration and/or mitigation represents a potential risk of pathogen introduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar A. Gonzales-Viera
- California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), Davis Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.W.W.); (A.M.); (H.F.); (A.G.A.)
| | - Leslie W. Woods
- California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), Davis Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.W.W.); (A.M.); (H.F.); (A.G.A.)
| | - Aslı Mete
- California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), Davis Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.W.W.); (A.M.); (H.F.); (A.G.A.)
| | - Heather Fritz
- California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), Davis Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.W.W.); (A.M.); (H.F.); (A.G.A.)
| | - Anibal G. Armien
- California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), Davis Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.W.W.); (A.M.); (H.F.); (A.G.A.)
| | - Emma Lantz
- Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USA; (E.L.); (D.L.C.)
| | - Luis A. Gomez-Puerta
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, Lima 15021, Peru;
| | | | - Jaime Sherman
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Jaime L. Rudd
- Endangered Species Recovery Program, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382, USA;
| | - Lauren E. Camp
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.E.C.); (K.S.)
| | - Karen Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (L.E.C.); (K.S.)
| | - Deana L. Clifford
- Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USA; (E.L.); (D.L.C.)
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Hareza DA, Langley R, Ma X, Wallace R, Rupprecht CE. RABIES IN RODENTS AND LAGOMORPHS IN THE USA, 2011-20. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:734-742. [PMID: 37846914 PMCID: PMC11018264 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Rabies is an acute progressive encephalitis caused by infection with rabies viruses, with reservoirs among bats and mesocarnivores, but all mammals are susceptible. Despite its distribution and abundance, cases of rabies are much less common in rodents and lagomorphs. Familiarity with current rabies prevalence data is important for informed decisions on human postexposure prophylaxis after rodent and lagomorph bites. This study is an update of rabies cases reported in rodents and lagomorphs in the US from 2011 to 2020. Rabies reports were collected passively from laboratory testing agencies in the US and Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2020. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the percent positivity of rabies cases by species. A total of 401 cases of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs were reported from 2011 to 2020. Most reported cases were in groundhogs (Marmota monax), representing >90% of cases, and the trend closely aligned with rabies in raccoons (Procyon lotor). In any given year, the percent positivity of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs was <2.5%, and the trend of percent positivity from 2011 to 2020 was stable. Groundhog and North American beaver (Castor canadensis) percent positivity was significantly higher than the rest of the rodents and lagomorphs. Most rabies cases occurred during the months of May-September. Documented cases of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs are generally rare, but with variation between species. Groundhogs and North American beavers had rabies percent positivity similar to high-risk species, such as bats and raccoons, and constituted 97% of all rodent and lagomorph positive cases. Since 1993, the trend in rabies cases in groundhogs has significantly declined. These results can be used to help inform public health officials on rodent and lagomorph prevention and control efforts, as well as rabies postexposure prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz A. Hareza
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 1830 E Monument Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Ricky Langley
- Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA
| | - Xiaoyue Ma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
| | - Ryan Wallace
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
| | - Charles E. Rupprecht
- College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, 3301 FWS Building, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
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