Rabies in translocated raccoons

Abstract

Two raccoons imported from Florida by a North Carolina hunting club were diagnosed as having rabies by fluorescent antibody testing of brain tissue. Although dead on arrival in North Carolina, they could have infected other raccoons in the same shipment which had already been released into the wild. Raccoon rabies has become increasingly important in recent years, but this is the first documented report of rabies presence in hunter-purchased interstate shipments.