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. 2021 Jul 15;15(7):e0009536.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009536. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020

A Springer Browne  1   2 , Hannah M Cranford  2 , Clint N Morgan  3 , James A Ellison  3 , Are Berentsen  4 , Nicholas Wiese  5 , Alexandra Medley  1 , John Rossow  1 , Leanne Jankelunas  6 , Alan S McKinley  7 , Claudia D Lombard  8 , Nicole F Angeli  9 , Thomas Kelley  10 , Jennifer Valiulus  11 , Bethany Bradford  12 , Valicia J Burke-France  2 , Cosme J Harrison  2 , Irene Guendel  2 , Marissa Taylor  2 , Gerard L Blanchard  7 , Jeffrey B Doty  3 , David J Worthington  10 , David Horner  10 , Keith R Garcia  7 , Joseph Roth  2 , Brett R Ellis  2 , Kristine M Bisgard  13 , Ryan Wallace  3 , Esther M Ellis  2
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Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020

A Springer Browne et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The location of the United States Virgin Islands in the Caribbean region, with the three islands St. Croix (STX), St. John (STJ), and St. Thomas labeled.
Map base layers were obtained from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlankMap-Caribbean.svg and https://catalog.data.gov/de/dataset/tiger-line-shapefile-2017-state-united-states-virgin-islands-current-estate-state-based-shapefi.
Fig 2
Fig 2. USVI mongoose sampling regions (n = 10) for determination of rabies freedom, with contiguous forest regions highlighted.
This figure was adapted from Chakroff, Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture [16].
Fig 3
Fig 3. Location and number of small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) sampled (n = 312) for rabies antibody and antigen—United States Virgin Islands, 2019–2020.
All mongoose serum and brain samples tested negative for rabies antibody by using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test, and rabies antigen by using the direct fluorescent antibody test, respectively. Map base layer was obtained from https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5ae3f8ede4b0e2c2dd320df8.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Mongoose (n = 312) weight (grams) comparisons by sex and island*—United States Virgin Islands, 2019–2020, including St. Croix (STX), St. John (STJ), and St. Thomas (STT).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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