Orally administered miltefosine appears to be an effective treatment for Indian visceral leishmaniasis.

The province of Ontario (Canada) reported more laboratory confirmed rabid animals than any other state or province in Canada or the USA from 1958-91, with the exception of 1960-62. More than 95% of those cases occurred in the southern 10% of Ontario (approximately 100,000 km2), the region with the highest human population density and greatest agricultural activity. Rabies posed an expensive threat to human health and significant costs to the agricultural economy. The rabies variant originated in arctic foxes: the main vector in southern Ontario was the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), with lesser involvement of the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources began a 5 yr experiment in 1989 to eliminate terrestrial rabies from a approximately 30,000 km2 study area in the eastern end of southern Ontario. Baits containing oral rabies vaccine were dropped annually in the study area at a density of 20 baits/km2 from 1989-95. That continued 2 yr beyond the original 5 yr plan. The experiment was successful in eliminating the arctic fox variant of rabies from the whole area. In the 1980's, an average of 235 rabid foxes per year were reported in the study area. None have been reported since 1993. Cases of fox rabies in other species also disappeared. In 1995, the last bovine and companion animal cases were reported and in 1996 the last rabid skunk occurred. Only bat variants of rabies were present until 1999, when the raccoon variant entered from New York (USA). The success of this experiment led to an expansion of the program to all of southern Ontario in 1994. Persistence of terrestrial rabies, and ease of elimination, appeared to vary geographically, and probably over time. Ecological factors which enhance or reduce the long term survival of rabies in wild foxes are poorly understood.

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A total of 54 Indian patients with visceral leishmaniasis were treated with oral miltefosine, 50 mg given twice daily, for 14 days (18 patients; group A), 21 days (18; group B), or 28 days (18; group C). Cure was achieved in 89% of group A, 100% of group B, and 100% of group C. Adverse reactions were self-limited and primarily mild. The 21-day miltefosine regimen combines high-level efficacy, convenient dosing, and a relatively short duration.

ABSTRACT:During August 2006 and 2007, baits containing oral rabies vaccine, live adenovirus vector, known as ONRABH, were aerially distributed in SW Ontario, Canada. Bait acceptance during 2006 was 62 and 74% in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in areas baited at 150 baits/km 2 and 75 and 77% in plots baited at 300 baits/km 2 . During 2007, bait acceptance for raccoons ranged between 59% and 80%, and 83% and 87%, in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Bait acceptance by skunks varied among plots (5-24%). Rabies virus-specific seroconversion during 2006 averaged 66 and 81% in raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km 2 , respectively. During 2007, seroconversion by raccoons was 76 and 84% in areas baited at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Seroconversion by skunks varied among plots (17-51%). Vaccine efficacy, as judged by the percentage of animals that consumed a bait and seroconverted, averaged 79 and 87% during 2006 for raccoons in areas baited at 150 and 300 baits/km 2 , respectively, and 81 and 90% in areas baited during 2007 at 75 and 400 baits/km 2 , respectively. Because tetracycline marking was poor in skunks, an estimate of vaccine efficacy was not possible. Aerial distribution of ONRABH vaccine baits seems to be a feasible tactic for controlling rabies in skunks and raccoons.