2003 Rabies Annual Summary
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Director, Rabies Laboratory
Richard Raczkowski:
Asst. Director, Rabies Laboratory
518-869-4527
Please contact us (518-869-4527) for data tables and image maps in an alternate format.
- Introduction
- Rabies in Wildlife
- Rabies in Domestic Animals
- 2003 Raccoon Rabies Map (GIF 40K)
- 2003 Bat Rabies Map (GIF 37K)
- 2003 Rabies Incidence Map (PDF 131K)
- Additional 2003 Rabies Data
Introduction
In the year 2003 the New York State Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory tested 8236 animals. The New York City Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory tested 566 animals. The 429 animals diagnosed rabid in 2003 was 20% less than the average yearly total for the five years ending in 2002, and 42% fewer than the number in 2002 (732). A large decrease in 2003 terrestrial rabies cases was responsible for this observed change. Rabies cases in terrestrial animals in 2003 was 49% (297/577) fewer than the previous year and a 61% decrease (297/771) over the annual average for the previous five years. Forty of the fifty seven counties in New York State (excluding NY city) had fewer rabid terrestrial animals, eight counties saw an increase and nine counties saw no change in terrestrial rabies cases, as compared to the previous year. The 198 rabid raccoons in 2003 was the smallest number diagnosed in New York State since 1990, the first year that the raccoon epizootic entered the state. However, the disease remains enzootic in the vast majority of the counties in New York State. In 2003 the disease was confirmed in raccoons in 43 of the 62 counties, including Bronx County. The reduction in diagnosed terrestrial cases can in part be explained by a reduction in the submission of raccoons. The 562 raccoons tested for rabies in 2003 is the lowest number tested since 1989 and only 39% of the yearly average for the decade ending in 2003. This may, in some part, be the result of other county mandates accumulating in recent years (SARS, WNV, biodefense initiatives). Additionally, new Federal hazardous material shipping regulation were enacted early in 2003 that required the redesign of shipping containers used for the submission of rabies specimens. These new containers replaced a very familiar shipping procedure that was in place for over 30 years.
Rabies in Wildlife
Over 50 species of mammals were submitted for rabies diagnosis in 2003. Wild species accounted for 66.5% of all animals tested. The Wadsworth Center rabies laboratory examined animals from every county in New York, including 24 animals from New York City. For the sixth straight year, bats comprised the single largest taxa of animals tested. The 4015 bats tested in 2003 is the second highest yearly total, surpassed only by the 4564 bats tested in the year 2000, and represents 49% of the total specimens tested for the year of 2003. This is evidently following national guidelines requiring increased testing of bats suspected of being in contact with humans. Of the 4015 bats tested for rabies, 42% had some reported contact with either a human or a domestic animal. Most of the remaining bats were found inside a human dwelling and posed a potential exposure to rabies for the inhabitants. The 90 bats found rabid in 2003 represent 2.2% of all bats tested this year. The laboratory also examined 1669 cats (20.2% of all animals tested), 827 dogs (10%), 562 raccoons (6.8%), 260 skunks (3.2%) 109 bovines, 108 foxes, 103 deer and 43 horses. For the first time since 1989 the number of dogs tested exceeded the number of raccoons. Among all animals tested in 2003 the rabies-positivity rate was 5.1%.
Rabid wildlife accounts for 91% (386) of the total rabies cases this year. This consisted of 195 raccoons (50.5% of all rabid wildlife), 90 bats (23.3%), 74 skunks ( 19.1%), 16 grey foxes (4.1%), 4 woodchucks, 3 red foxes, 2 bobcats, 2 deer, 1 coyote, 1 otter and 1 black bear. The bear was a one year old male black bear from Orange County. It was found in a YMCA campground and was exhibiting neurological symptoms. The bear was euthanized by gunshot. There were no known animal or human exposures. Antigenic typing of the virus by a panel of monoclonal antibodies identified the virus strain as raccoon virus. There were three raccoons and three skunks diagnosed positive by the New York City Department of Health; all six animals were reported from Bronx County.
Rabies in Domestic Animals
Rabies infection was identified in 35 domestic animals in 2003, including 27 cats, 3 bovines, 2 goats, 1 dog, 1 horse and 1 guinea pig. The rabid guinea pig is an unusually rare occurrence. The guinea pig was a pet of a resident of Madison County. While being allowed to exercise in a backyard during daylight hours the rodent was attacked by a raccoon. The owner heard the pet squeal and as she approached, the raccoon ran off. There were no visible wounds on the pet. Twenty six days later the owner was bitten on the clavicle while holding the pet. Because rabies was originally not suspected, an additional eight days elapsed before the pet was euthanized and submitted for testing. The positive diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of the virus in cell culture and antigenic typing. The variant was identified as the raccoon strain of rabies virus. Further analysis of the distribution of rabies virus in the organs of the guinea pig revealed extensive proliferation of the virus into many areas of the body, including the salivary glands. The owner received rabies prophylaxis.
(New York City data provided by Dr. Igbal Poshni, Director, Virus Laboratory, New York City Department of Health)