Dataset Information

Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016.

ABSTRACT: Since the 1990s, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used successfully to halt the westward spread of the raccoon rabies virus (RV) variant from the eastern continental USA. Elimination of raccoon RV from the eastern USA has proven challenging across targeted raccoon (Procyon lotor) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) populations impacted by raccoon RV. Field trial evaluations of the Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) were initiated to expand ORV products available to meet the rabies management goal of raccoon RV elimination. This study describes the continuation of a 2011 trial in West Virginia. Our objective was to evaluate raccoon and skunk response to ORV occurring in West Virginia for an additional two years (2012-2013) at 75 baits/km² followed by three years (2014-2016) of evaluation at 300 baits/km². We measured the change in rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) seroprevalence in targeted wildlife populations by comparing levels pre- and post-ORV during each year of study. The increase in bait density from 75/km² to 300/km² corresponded to an increase in average post-ORV seroprevalence for raccoon and skunk populations. Raccoon population RVNA levels increased from 53% (300/565, 95% CI: 50-57%) to 82.0% (596/727, 95% CI: 79-85%) during this study, and skunk population RVNA levels increased from 11% (8/72, 95% CI: 6-20%) to 39% (51/130, 95% CI: 31-48%). The RVNA seroprevalence pre-ORV demonstrated an increasing trend across study years for both bait densities and species, indicating that multiple years of ORV may be necessary to achieve and maintain RVNA seroprevalence in target wildlife populations for the control and elimination of raccoon RV in the eastern USA.

SUBMITTER: Johnson SR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7912576 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016.

Johnson Shylo R SR Slate Dennis D Nelson Kathleen M KM Davis Amy J AJ Mills Samual A SA Forbes John T JT VerCauteren Kurt C KC Gilbert Amy T AT Chipman Richard B RB

Viruses 20210122 2

Since the 1990s, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used successfully to halt the westward spread of the raccoon rabies virus (RV) variant from the eastern continental USA. Elimination of raccoon RV from the eastern USA has proven challenging across targeted raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) and striped skunk (<i>Mephitis mephitis</i>) populations impacted by raccoon RV. Field trial evaluations of the Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) were initiated to expand ORV products available to meet th ...[more]

PMID: 33499059

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Project description:Recent spillback events of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals has raised concerns about it becoming endemic in wildlife. A sylvatic cycle of SARS-CoV-2 could present multiple opportunities for repeated spillback into human populations and other susceptible wildlife. Based on their taxonomy and natural history, two native North American wildlife species -the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the raccoon (Procyon lotor) -represent a high likelihood of susceptibility and ecological opportunity of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. Eight skunks and raccoons were each intranasally inoculated with one of two doses of the virus (103 PFU and 105 PFU) and housed in pairs. To evaluate direct transmission, a naïve animal was added to each inoculated pair 48 h post-inoculation. Four control animals of each species were handled like the experimental groups. At predetermined intervals, we collected nasal and rectal swabs to quantify virus shed via virus isolation and detect viral RNA via rRT-PCR and blood for serum neutralization. Lastly, animals were euthanized at staggered intervals to describe disease progression through histopathology and immunohistochemistry. No animals developed clinical disease. All intranasally inoculated animals seroconverted, suggesting both species are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The highest titers in skunks and raccoons were 1:128 and 1:64, respectively. Low quantities of virus were isolated from 2/8 inoculated skunks for up to day 5 post-inoculation, however no virus was isolated from inoculated raccoons or direct contacts of either species. Neither species had gross lesions, but recovering mild chronic pneumonia consistent with viral insult was recorded histologically in 5/8 inoculated skunks. Unlike another SARS-CoV-2 infection trial in these species, we detected neutralizing antibodies in inoculated raccoons; thus, future wildlife serologic surveillance results must be interpreted with caution. Due to the inability to isolate virus from raccoons, the lack of evidence of direct transmission between both species, and low amount of virus shed by skunks, it seems unlikely for SARS-CoV-2 to become established in raccoon and skunk populations and for virus to spillback into humans. Continued outbreaks in non-domestic species, wild and captive, highlight that additional research on the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife, especially musteloidea, and of conservation concern, is needed.

Project description:Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) densely populate the human-animal interface of suburbia throughout North America. Skunks share that habitat with numerous related mesocarnivores, where increased contact, competition for shared food and water sources and other stressors contribute to increased exposure and susceptibility to viral infection. The recently identified skunk amdoparvovirus (SKAV) has been detected at high prevalence in skunks and occasionally in mink, but its distribution in North America is unknown. To understand the impact of SKAV in striped skunks and the risk posed to related species, we investigated the geographic distribution of SKAV, analysed its genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics and evaluated viral distribution in tissues of infected animals to identify possible mechanisms of transmission. SKAV was detected in 72.5% (37/51) skunks and was present at high rates at all locations tested across North America. Analysis of the complete genomic sequence of 29 strains showed a clear geographic segregation, frequent recombination and marked differences in the evolutionary dynamics of the major structural (VP2) and non-structural (NS1) proteins. NS1 was characterized by a higher variability and a higher percentage of positively selected codons. This could indicate that antibody-mediated enhancement of infection occurs in SKAV, an infection strategy that may be conserved across amdoparvoviruses. Finally, in situ hybridization revealed virus in epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and skin, indicating that viral transmission could occur via oronasal, faecal and/or urinary secretions, as well as from skin and hair. The endemicity of SKAV over large geographic distances and its high genetic diversity suggest a long-term virus-host association. Persistent shedding and high environmental stability likely contribute to efficient viral spread, simultaneously offering opportunities for cross-species transmission with consequent risk to sympatric species, including domestic animals and wildlife.

Dataset Information

Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016.

Publications

Serological Responses of Raccoons and Striped Skunks to Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait in West Virginia during 2012-2016.

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