Abstract

Following rabies elimination in 1961, Taiwan has been considered a canine rabies-free country. In July 2013, three Formosan ferret badgers (Melogale moschata subaurantiaca) presenting to the wildlife first aid station of the Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute (TESRI) with neurologic signs, later died and were confirmed positive for rabies. In response to these cases, the Taiwanese authorities activated the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) to coordinate rabies management and to control the epidemic. From January 1, 2013 to March 14, 2014, 3,271 samples were examined including 1,624 domestic dogs, 118 domestic cats, 70 bats, 1,110 carnivores, and 349 other wild mammals. Three hundred thirty-one out of 911 ferret badgers were positive, one out of 162 Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) was positive, and one dog bitten by a rabid ferret badger was positive. Based on surveillance results, this rabies outbreak in Taiwan was restricted to ferret badgers living in rural and forested areas.

The wildlife first aid station of TESRI receives sick or injured wild animals from around Taiwan. Due to its location and interface with wildlife, including animals from areas determined to have highest rabies prevalence, retrospective reviews of the wildlife database and roadkill animals were performed as surveillance systems. Retrospective wildlife database review showed that the submission plateau of ferret badgers began in 2008, and the number of dead ferret badgers dramatically increased since 2006. The result of roadkill animal surveillance revealed five ferret badgers were confirmed of rabies; the earliest one was collected on July 10, 2010. These preliminary results indicate that the rabies had been present in Taiwan for several years prior to the 2013 epidemic.

Active and enhanced surveillance activities were also started after the outbreak to further characterize the epidemiology of rabies in Taiwan. With the enhanced surveillance, opportunistic blood samples were collected from both healthy and rabid ferret badgers. The preliminary hematology and biochemistry profiles of ferret badgers were established (Table 1), and comparisons between healthy and ill animals were done in order to determine more clinical information about rabid ferret badgers.

Table 1. Hematology and biochemistry values for Melogale moschata subaurantiaca

PCV = packed cell volume; RBC = red blood cell; MCV = mean corpuscular volume; MCH = mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC = mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; WBC = white blood cell; LDH = lactate dehydrogenase; CK = creatine kinase; BUN = blood urea nitrogen; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; ALKP = alkaline phosphatase.