Eliminating Rabies in Estonia

The compulsory vaccination of pets, the recommended vaccination of farm animals in grazing areas and the extermination of stray animals did not succeed in eliminating rabies in Estonia because the virus was maintained in two main wildlife reservoirs, foxes and raccoon dogs. These two species became a priority target therefore in order to control rabies. Supported by the European Community, successive oral vaccination (OV) campaigns were conducted twice a year using Rabigen® SAG2 baits, beginning in autumn 2005 in North Estonia. They were then extended to the whole territory from spring 2006. Following the vaccination campaigns, the incidence of rabies cases dramatically decreased, with 266 cases in 2005, 114 in 2006, four in 2007 and three in 2008. Since March 2008, no rabies cases have been detected in Estonia other than three cases reported in summer 2009 and one case in January 2011, all in areas close to the South-Eastern border with Russia. The bait uptake was satisfactory, with tetracycline positivity rates ranging from 85% to 93% in foxes and from 82% to 88% in raccoon dogs. Immunisation rates evaluated by ELISA ranged from 34% to 55% in foxes and from 38% to 55% in raccoon dogs. The rabies situation in Estonia was compared to that of the other two Baltic States, Latvia and Lithuania. Despite regular OV campaigns conducted throughout their territory since 2006, and an improvement in the epidemiological situation, rabies has still not been eradicated in these countries. An analysis of the number of baits distributed and the funding allocated by the European Commission showed that the strategy for rabies control is more cost-effective in Estonia than in Latvia and Lithuania

Correction to: Oral vaccination of dogs: a well-studied and undervalued tool for achieving human and dog rabies elimination

The original article [1] contained an error in the Author details paragraph. “5Neglected Zoonotic Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland” should be replaced by “5Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland”

Oral vaccination of dogs: a well-studied and undervalued tool for achieving human and dog rabies elimination

Abstract The mass vaccination of dogs is a proven tool for rabies prevention. Besides parenteral delivery of inactivated vaccines, over the past several decades, several self-replicating biologics, including modified-live, attenuated and recombinant viruses, have been evaluated for the oral vaccination of dogs against rabies. Vaccines are included within an attractive bait for oral consumption by free-ranging dogs. Due to the high affinity between dogs and humans, such biologics intended for oral vaccination of dogs (OVD) need to be efficacious as well as safe. Baits should be preferentially attractive to dogs and not to non-target species. Although many different types have been evaluated successfully, no universal bait has been identified to date. Moreover, high bait acceptance does not necessarily mean that vaccine efficacy and programmatic success is predictable. The use of OVD in the laboratory and field has demonstrated the safety and utility of this technology. Within a One Health context, OVD should be considered as part of a holistic plan for the global elimination of canine rabies

MOESM2 of Oral vaccination of dogs: a well-studied and undervalued tool for achieving human and dog rabies elimination

Additional file 2. Attractiveness studies. This table contains compiled information summarizing attractiveness data on oral rabies vaccines for dogs studies

Overview of the cost of OV in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 2006 to 2011.

a<p>: between (y) and (y−1).</p>b<p>: 1 OV campaign.</p>c<p>: 75% of EC funding.</p>d<p>: It is assumed that the effect of OV is observable at year y+1. This ratio corresponds to the EC funding from 2006 to 2009/newly uninfected area from 2007 to 2010.</p><p>(M): Mean value.</p><p>This table shows the number of baits used, the funding allocated for rabies prevention by the European Commission (EC) “approving annual and multi-annual programmes and the financial contribution”, the area vaccinated, the uninfected and newly uninfected areas and the type of vaccine used. Different ratios were calculated : Number of baits distributed from 2006–2011 per country per vaccinated area in km². EC funding over the 2006–2010 period/newly uninfected areas in the country in km².</p

Tetracycline positivity and seroconversion in foxes and raccoon dogs (200–2010).

<p>The graphs are by age group (adult/juvenile).</p