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Rabies in the Domestic Dog Population. Response in a Rural West Texas Town Kathy Parker Zoonosis Control Branch . Upton County. Towns : Mc Camey, Rankin & Midkiff Rocky land in the Edwards Plateau (Flat in the Northern portions rolling, hilly landscape).
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Rabies in the Domestic Dog Population Response in a Rural West Texas Town Kathy Parker Zoonosis Control Branch
Upton County • Towns: Mc Camey, Rankin & Midkiff Rocky land in the Edwards Plateau (Flat in the Northern portions rolling, hilly landscape). • Numerous small lakes that drain into the tributaries of the Middle Concho and Pecos Rivers.
Rankin • Pop. 800 • County Seat • Oil related business/ ranching • Hospital • No Veterinarian • Part-time Animal Control
MC Camey • Pop. 1,805 • Oil related Business/ ranching • Clinic • No Veterinarian • Part-time Animal Control
Rural West Attitudes • Animals work … • People are use to rabies … “The Hydrophobia” • Vets … are too expensive, unnecessary and a waste of money. • shoot it and let it lay. • “Well … fine … if my dog dies of rabies I won’t have to feed it anymore” • “You can’t make me vaccinate my dogs …their mine!” • “My dog is full blooded chow isn’t he protected from rabies?” • “He can’t have rabies … he’s not acting like Cujo … he’s real friendly”
So … What’s the problem? • Upton mostly reported skunk cases. • 1980 - 14 cases and those were mostly skunk.
Oh …that’s A problem! • By End of December 2006 we would have 16 rabies cases and most of those would be the texas fox variant of rabies. • We also had an increase of clinically suspicious cases in/around the city of Mc Camey.
Mc Camey – 8/14/06 • Two rabid FoxES • Euthanasia options - two dogs - nine cats Quarantine: 90-day (one dog) Variant: Texas Fox
Domestic Dog - 1 • Muffin - Heeler/Pit, six month old, no vaccinations • Onset 09/26/06 • Lethargic • Anorexic • increased Temp • Hind limb paralysis • Excessive salivation • Vocalization • Death – 09/29/06
Additional Info … • Porcupine quills • Skunk exposure – three weeks prior • Pet exposures: one dog – euthanasia Human exposures: - 11 people evaluated - 3 people took PEP ( 4/2/2) Rabies Positive Variant – Texas Fox *** Media started –
“That Animal Ain’t Right” • October stories … Increased number of calls - Fox attacking oilfield trucks -2 foxes(10/10-13) and 1 raccoon(10/16) – *** leads to our next rabid dog
Domestic Dog - 2 • Gypsy – pointer mix, three years old, no vaccination • Third litter of puppies • Town stray • 10/19 – Gypsy/puppies (4), two kittens(3 months) were picked up By AC • Taken to Fort stockton Veterinarian for euth
The Story continues … • AC decided that there were no real exposures to the animals • 10/26 – all four puppies and the two kittens were adopted out. • 10/29 – Veterinarian calls … Gypsy is sick. - Feverish, lame on her right front leg – dermatitis
And Continues … • Retrieve all the puppies and kittens and Decide their final disposition • 10/30 – anorexic vocalization falling down 104.6 T *** starts antibiotic treatment
And Continues … • 10/31 - Recumbent with head bent back along dorsum - Struggles to rise / falls over - Front limbs knuckle in at the carpus - Can get up on her back limbs - Hypersensitive to sound / air - Muscle tremors - 104.9 - 99.0 Continued Antibiotic treatment …
And it Ends … • 11/1/06 – 91.0 temperature - still responsive - wags tail Continues antibiotic treatment & LRS *** 11/2/06 – DIC 11/3/06 – Rabies positive Texas Fox variant
Additional Info … • Puppies and kittens - 90 days and a series of vaccinations – All lived • Exposures: Human – 33 people were interviewed … no one took PEP NO more Adoptions out of Upton county
Domestic Dog - 3 • Baxter – Yorkshire terrier, 10 months, • no vaccinations, uncastrated • Free roaming • Extremely friendly • 12/4/06 – AC calls for advice regarding aggressive family terrier.
Where In the world is Baxter? • Recommended veterinary observation. • He had already fought with family and neighborhood canines. • He had already bitten three people (one adult and two children 11/30 & 12/2). • He had a nickname … “The Licker” • Its raining raccoons
Baxter Story Continues … • 12/4 - aggressive - anorexic - hind limbs are very stiff - later in the day … back begins to hunch up - lymph nodes enlarged - increased phlegm in throat – hacking - foul breath - excited to lucid *** Antibiotic treatment is started
Baxter Story Continues … • 12/5 – diarrhea, - ataxic - odd prancing gaits - hind limbs slide out or he falls over - aggressive - hypersensitive Later in the afternoon … DIC … sample sent *** 12/6 – Rabies positive – Texas Fox
Additional Info … • Exposures: - Animals: - Five dogs quarantined, Five destroyed - One cat quarantined, six destroyed - People: - 48 people interviewed - 14 people took PEP (Ages - 14 months to 50y) - Most were children - Five separate families
Domestic Dog - 4 • Chata, Pit Bull, 4yr. • No vaccinations • Chained up, front yard • Friendly • Found dead 12/8 – specimen submitted • Sick for a week • Rabies positive 12/10 –TF • Owner took PEP
McCamey/rankin handbaiting • ORVP ends 1/27 • 1/31- handbaiting begins • Three teams, maps • Distributed – 907 baits(Mccamey), 451 baits(rankin) • State agencies, county and city personnel • Oops …another Tf out of the zone
Many Thanks … • Department of State Health Services - Zoonosis Control Branch • Wildlife Services • City of Mccamey • City of Rankin • Upton County