The 1995-2000 ORV program in Lithuania wildlife

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of rabies oral vaccination program (ORV) on rabies distribution in wildlife in Lithuania. From 1995 to 2000 on a territory of 10,000 km(2) in 27 out of 44 districts in Lithuania, 950,000 doses of oral vaccines SAG-1, Lysvulpen, Rabifox were distributed (15-25 baits/km(2)). The total cost of the rabies prevention campaign in wildlife was 746,731 euro, wherein 685,760 euro constituted vaccine costs (28.3 euro/km(2)) and 60,971 euro distribution costs. In 1995-2000 period 189 (59 positive) samples for oral tetracycline markers (OTS) and 138 (75 positive) fox sera samples for IFA were investigated. This comprised 0.023% (OTS) and 0.017% (IFA) of all ORV baits distributed in that period. Before ORV was established, 204 cases of rabies (70 cases in foxes and 25 in raccoon dogs) had been registered in wildlife from 1993 to 1997. In 2000-2003 (after ORV program) had been completed, 2568 cases of rabies in wildlife were registered (678 cases in foxes and 665 - in racoon dogs), respectively. The results demonstrated that the ORV program in Lithuania was unsuccessful. In the 3 years after vaccinations, an 8.2 fold increase of rabies cases among foxes and 22.3 fold increase of cases among raccoon dog population were registered. The future of such oral vaccinations of wildlife in Lithuania may be seriously questioned. It is necessary to prepare a scientifically grounded long term ORV program in the entire territory of Lithuania.