Evaluation of the first oral rabies vaccination campaign of the red foxes in Greece. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Korou, Laskarina-Maria; Tasioudi, Konstantia E.; Tzani, Myrsini; Konstantinidis, Athanasios; Plevraki, Aikaterini; Iliadou, Peristera; Kostoglou, Petroula; Kaimaras, Dimitrios; Doudounakis, Spyridon; Mangana-Vougiouka, Olga
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 34:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: EURL European Union Reference Laboratory for rabies -- NRL National Reference Laboratory for Rabies (NRL) in animals, which is the Virology Laboratory of Athens Veterinary Center of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food -- DZ Department of Zoonoses, Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food -- FAT direct fluorescent antibody test -- FYROM Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia -- ORV oral rabies vaccination -- RFFIT Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test -- Hellenic CDC Hellenic Center for Disease Control; Oral vaccination -- Foxes -- Antibodies -- Tetracycline -- Rabies -- Greece; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.11.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Abstract: Following the late 2012 recurrence of rabies in wild foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) in central and north-western Greece, the first oral fox vaccination campaign co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Greek state budget, was implemented. Initially, it involved 24 regional units of the Greek territory during the period October–December 2013. Vaccine-baits were aerially distributed by fixed-wing aircrafts. Vaccines were scattered along parallel flight paths 500 m apart in order to optimize aerial missions and achieve homogeneous distribution. A geographical information system was used to objectively evaluate bait distribution. This system identified areas of inadequate bait density that would require additional flights. A total number of 1, 504, 821 baits were distributed covering an area of 54, 584.29 km 2 . To assess the effectiveness of oral vaccination campaign a monitoring program was introduced, which entailed examination of serum samples and canine teeth derived from red foxes collected in the field. The laboratory analysis revealed 60% seropositivity and detection of tetracycline biomarker in 70% of the foxes tested.