Longitudinal analysis of raccoon rabies in West Virginia, 2000-2015

Animal borne rabies is a source of infection in humans, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the primary terrestrial reservoir in West Virginia (WV). To assess the behavior and status of raccoon variant rabies virus (RRV) in WV, a longitudinal analysis for the period 2000-2015 was performed, using data provided by the state Bureau of Public Health. Analytic approaches included linear-mixed, Poisson, and zero inflated Poisson regressions. Each of these approaches indicated that there had been a reduction in numbers of RRV positive animals over the study period, predominantly due to a decrease in raccoon infections. Non-raccoon species did not appear to have a similar decline, however. This has implications for the preventive measures currently being implemented. Spatial analyses of RRV and further examination of the virus in non-raccoon species are warranted.