Battle of the Bulge: a Reemerging Epizootic of Wildlife in West Texas

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Battle of the Bulge a Re-emerging Epizootic of
Wildlife in West Texas

• Diseases in Nature 2007
• Ernest (Skip) Oertli

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Or how do plans of mice and men go astray?
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What is it all about?

• Controlling Rabies in Wildlife

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Rabies Epizootics

• 1988 emergence of two epizootics
• Coyote (Domestic Dog/Coyote)
• Gray Fox (Texas Fox)
• 1995 began rabies control program utilizing an
  oral vaccine (Coyote)
• 1996 expanded control program to include gray
  foxes

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Coyote Epizootic
21 Counties
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Gray Fox Epizootic
49 Counties
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What was happening by 1995

• Coyote
• Exceeding 100 cases annually
• Moving 45 miles North annually
• Approaching major population centers
• 2 human deaths

• Gray Fox
• Exceeding 200 cases annually
• Moving North and East
• Approaching major population centers

Statewide rabies quarantine of fox, coyote,
raccoon
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1995 Pre-Vaccine Distribution
Cases
244
244
Laboratory Confirmed Tx Fox
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1996 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
101
101
20,000 mi²
1.2 million doses
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1997 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
24
24
18,000 mi²
1.1 million doses
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1998 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
36
36
17,000 mi²
1.1 million doses
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1999 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
66
66
18,000 mi²
1.7 million doses
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2000 West Central Texas ORVP
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Cases
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58
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58
18,000 mi²
1.7 million doses
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2001 West Central Texas ORVP
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Cases
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20
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20
12,500 mi2
900,000 doses
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2002 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
65
65
18,000 mi²
1.7 million doses
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2003 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
61
61
19,000 mi²
1.8 million doses
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2004 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
22
22
18,000 mi²
1.7 million doses
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2005 West Central Texas ORVP
Cases
8
8
18,000 mi²
1.7 million doses
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Or how do plans of mice and men go astray?
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Helicopter Baiting
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Hand Baiting
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Or how do plans of mice and men go astray?
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Texas Coyote Canis latrans
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Not depicted are 171 Negative Public Health
specimens
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North American Rabies Management Plan

• Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.
• Inaugural meeting on March 27
• Explore areas of cooperation, collaboration and
  coordination
• Specific priority to border rabies projects or
  issues

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Questions?