ABSTRACT
This paper describes a technique for the analysis of the interaction between rabies control measures and the annual turnover of a fox population. The basic conditions are deduced from data on the turnover of a steady fox population, which have been found to be representative for large parts of central Europe. These conditions, together with field data on the critical density for rabies transmission and the recovery of reduced fox populations, provide a model for the prediction and evaluation of various measures of rabies control. The method is simplified by the introduction of a semigraphical procedure using the relative density of a reduced fox population, defined as the ratio of the actual population density to that of a non-reduced population.Simulation of epidemics and control measures over consecutive population cycles shows the limited effect of population control in a rabies-free area and demonstrates the questionable impact of measures that reduce a regular fox population by less than 40%, even when such reduction is effected annually.The method is easy to apply in the field and helps in assessing a number of disease and service indicators, as well as ecological factors in the planning and evaluation of comprehensive rabies control programmes.
Subject(s)
Foxes , Population Control , Rabies/prevention & control , Animals , Europe , Population Density , Rabies/veterinarySubject(s)
Hygiene , Waste Products , Abattoirs , Animal Feed , Animal Population Groups , Animals , Humans , Zoonoses/prevention & controlABSTRACT
In two areas of the Federal Republic of Germany, 191 rabies cases in martens were investigated for the occurrence of clusters. The length of the interval between cases recorded in the same community showed an uneven distribution. Most such cases occurred at intervals of less than 6 months. No close correlation was found between such associated cases in martens and the frequency of cases in foxes. The results suggest that short chains of infection do occur in martens. Though these episodes in martens are rare and tend to cease after 3-4 months, their significance in the epidemic should be considered locally during the final stage of control operations.
Subject(s)
Carnivora , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Rabies/veterinary , Animals , Disease Outbreaks/epidemiology , Disease Reservoirs , Foxes , Germany, West , Rabies/epidemiology , Rabies/transmissionABSTRACT
The control of rabies in wildlife by reducing the fox population has led in Europe to inconsistent results, since little was known of the dynamics of the fox population and the interaction between rabies epidemics, host populations, and control measures. As part of the WHO/FAO Coordinated Research Programme on Wildlife Rabies in Europe, data on epidemics and persisting reservoirs of the disease were processed by computer. The results led to a better understanding of the mechanism of spread of the epidemic and to proposals for the improvement of rabies control in animals and the protection of man.
