Rabies and rabies control in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in three prairie regions of western North America. 1988

M J Pybus
Alberta Agriculture, Edmonton, Canada.

The number and geographic distribution of rabies cases in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from Saskatchewan (n = 2,506 cases), Montana (n = 1,142), and Alberta (n = 199) since 1963 were reviewed. In Saskatchewan the number of cases increased steadily for 5 yr and then fluctuated consistently in a 4 yr cyclic pattern. Similarly an initial sweep across the province was followed by a cyclic pattern of geographic expansion (3 to 4 yr) and reduction (1 to 2 yr). No organized control efforts were conducted in Saskatchewan. Similar cyclic pattern were not seen in data from Montana or Alberta. In the latter areas, the number and distribution of rabies cases in skunks appeared to reflect efforts to reduce the population of skunks. An integrated program of skunk removal using poison and live-traps in association with research and public education successfully contributed to limiting the spread and establishment of rabies in striped skunks within prairie habitats. Rabies did not persist in skunks in other habitats.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009009 Montana State bounded on the north by Canada, on the east by North Dakota and South Dakota, on the south by Idaho and Wyoming, and on the west by Idaho and Utah.
D010507 Periodicity The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian). Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D011155 Population Control Includes mechanisms or programs which control the numbers of individuals in a population of humans or animals. Demographic Effectiveness,Population Programs,Population Programs, Goals,Control, Population,Controls, Population,Effectiveness, Demographic,Population Controls,Population Program,Program, Population,Programs, Population
D011818 Rabies Acute VIRAL CNS INFECTION affecting mammals, including humans. It is caused by RABIES VIRUS and usually spread by contamination with virus-laden saliva of bites inflicted by rabid animals. Important animal vectors include the dog, cat, bat, fox, raccoon, skunk, and wolf. Encephalitic Rabies,Furious Rabies,Hydrophobia,Paralytic Rabies,Lyssa,Furious Raby,Lyssas,Rabies, Encephalitic,Rabies, Furious,Raby, Furious
D002335 Carnivora An order of MAMMALS, usually flesh eaters with appropriate dentition. Suborders include the terrestrial carnivores Fissipedia, and the aquatic carnivores CANIFORMIA.
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D004463 Ecology The branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their ENVIRONMENT, especially as manifested by natural cycles and rhythms, community development and structure, interactions between different kinds of organisms, geographic distributions, and population alterations. (Webster's, 3d ed) Bionomics,Ecologies
D006266 Health Education Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis. Community Health Education,Education, Health,Education, Community Health,Health Education, Community
D006702 Homing Behavior Instinctual patterns of activity related to a specific area including ability of certain animals to return to a given place when displaced from it, often over great distances using navigational clues such as those used in migration (ANIMAL MIGRATION). Home Range,Behavior, Homing,Behaviors, Homing,Home Ranges,Homing Behaviors,Range, Home,Ranges, Home
D000416 Alberta A province of western Canada, lying between the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Its capital is Edmonton. It was named in honor of Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p26 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p12)

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