Rabies and Canine Distemper Virus Epidemics in the Red Fox Population of Northern Italy (2006–2010)

Abstract

Since 2006 the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in north-eastern Italy has experienced an epidemic of canine distemper virus (CDV). Additionally, in 2008, after a thirteen-year absence from Italy, fox rabies was re-introduced in the Udine province at the national border with Slovenia. Disease intervention strategies are being developed and implemented to control rabies in this area and minimise risk to human health. Here we present empirical data and the epidemiological picture relating to these epidemics in the period 2006–2010. Of important significance for epidemiological studies of wild animals, basic mathematical models are developed to exploit information collected from the surveillance program on dead and/or living animals in order to assess the incidence of infection. These models are also used to estimate the rate of transmission of both diseases and the rate of vaccination, while correcting for a bias in early collection of CDV samples. We found that the rate of rabies transmission was roughly twice that of CDV, with an estimated effective contact between infected and susceptible fox leading to a new infection occurring once every 3 days for rabies, and once a week for CDV. We also inferred that during the early stage of the CDV epidemic, a bias in the monitoring protocol resulted in a positive sample being almost 10 times more likely to be collected than a negative sample. We estimated the rate of intake of oral vaccine at 0.006 per day, allowing us to estimate that roughly 68% of the foxes would be immunised. This was confirmed by field observations. Finally we discuss the implications for the eco-epidemiological dynamics of both epidemics in relation to control measures.

Faecal virome of red foxes from peri-urban areas

“…Future studies should investigate whether a new circovirus is main pathogen or act in co-infection with an unknown agent. We did not detected other prevalent canine viruses such as canine parvovirus 2, canine enteric coronavirus, canine rotavirus and canine distemper which is reported in both domestic and wild carnivores in many European countries [1].…”

“…Populations of the red fox are well established in peri-urban and urban areas, so they represent a potential reservoir of viruses that transmit from wildlife to humans or domestic animals. Foxes and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) often share the same viral pathogens such as canine parvovirus 2, canine enteric coronavirus, rotavirus and canine distemper [1]. The most important is rabies, which was endemic in Croatia since 1977, but today almost eradicated thanks to the ongoing vaccination campaigns using oral rabies vaccine to target the red fox population in Croatia [2].…”

Update on oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies

“…Other medium-sized carnivores, such as badgers (Meles meles), may play a role in the epidemiology of the disease because in certain areas this species may have frequent contact with foxes and raccoon dogs, and has been shown to become frequently infected during epidemics (Westerling, 1991;Nyberg et al, 1992;Nouvellet et al, 2013).…”

Application of xenogeneic anti‐canine distemper virus antibodies in treatment of canine distemper puppies

“…Despite the availability of effective vaccines, CD outbreaks have recently been reported in Europe (Origgi et al . 2012, Thomas 2012, Nouvellet et al . 2013, North America (Schumaker et al .…”