Samuel M. Scheiner
EF Emerging Frontiers
BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:
September 1, 2004
Expires:
August 31, 2009 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:
$1242000
Investigator(s):
Laura Hungerford lhungerf@epi.umaryland.edu (Principal Investigator)
Francois Elvinger (Co-Principal Investigator) Stanley Gehrt (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:
University of Maryland at Baltimore
620 W Lexington St, 4th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201 410/706-3559
NSF Program(s):
BE: NON-ANNOUNCEMENT RESEARCH
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):
BIOT, 9183, 7242
Program Element Code(s):
1629
ABSTRACT
For millennia, rabies has remained a frightening and significant health hazard. Currently, raccoon rabies has enormous health impact in the eastern United States, with continuing spread into new regions. Human risk is affected by contact with wild animals and pets, intrusion into natural areas, vaccination of free-ranging wildlife, and actions that disturb the balance between native species. This study will use computer and mathematical modeling to synthesize information uncovered through a variety of disciplines, to recognize critical knowledge gaps, and to identify potential control strategies. Field studies will provide new information about how raccoons use the landscape. Contacts between raccoons will be monitored using novel radiocollars that communicate with each other. Data will be gathered where raccoon rabies is endemic and where the epidemic wave front has not yet arrived.
This integrated approach will allow generation and testing of predictions about disease spread and will create a decision tool for policy makers. Rational and cost-effective control programs can be built on this understanding of disease ecology and impacts on human populations. This will set the stage for comparative assessment of potential control strategies, analogous to the successful approach used for fox rabies in Europe. Insights from the cross-disciplinary modeling process will provide a map for scientific consensus building, communication and education for other emerging diseases.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
Gehrt, S.D.. "Understanding raccoon populations â?? Norms and extremes," Proceedings, 15th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, 2008.
Gehrt, S.D., and S. Prange. "Frequency and duration of contacts among free-ranging raccoons: uncovering a hidden social system," 86th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, 2007.
Gehrt, S.D., S. Prange, and L. L. Hungerford. "Uncovering a hidden social system: Patterns of contacts among free-ranging raccoons," XXVII Congress of the International Union of Game Biologists, 2006.
Gehrt, S.D., S. Prange, and L.L. Hungerford. "Uncovering a hidden social system: Patterns of contacts among free-ranging raccoons," Proceedings, XXVIIIth Congress of the International Union of Game Biologists, 2007.
Graser, W.H., and S.D. Gehrt. "Life in the urban matrix: relative abundance, demographic patterns, and disease exposure of raccoons in the Chicago metropolitan area," NSF/NIH EEID Annual Meeting, 2007.
Graser, W.H., and S.D. Gehrt. "Life in the urban matrix: Relative abundance and demographic patterns of raccoons in the Chicago metropolitan area," Proceedings, 68th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, 2007.
Graser, W.H., and S.D. Gehrt. "ife in the urban matrix: Demographic patterns of raccoons in the Chicago metropolitan area," Proceedings, 88th Annual Conference of the American Society of Mammalogists, 2008.
Gross, J., P.S.A. Woods, J. Horman, J. Scally, L. Hungerford. "Determinants of the spatial distribution of reported rabies cases in Maryland, USA.," Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology, 2006.
Hauver, S. A., S. Prange, S.D. Gehrt, and J. Dubach. "Using genetic relatedness to examine variation in social interactions of a nocturnal carnivore," 14th Annual Conference, The Wildlife Society, 2007.
Hauver, S. A., S. Prange, S.D. Gehrt, and J. Dubach. "Using genetic relatedness to examine variation in social interactions of a nocturnal carnivore," 87th Annual Meeting, American Society of Mammalogists, 2007.
Hauver, S.A., S. Prange, S.D. Gehrt, and J. Dubach. "Does kinship explain variation of contact rates and den sharing of an urban carnivore, the raccoon?," Proceedings, 88th Annual Conference of the American Society of Mammalogists, 2008.
Hauver, S.A., S.D. Gehrt, and J. Dubach. "Does genetic relatedness influence social interactions and contact rates of free-ranging raccoons?," NSF/NIH EEID Annual Meeting, 2007.
Hungerford, L., S. Gehrt, T. Meehan, J. Ledninsky. "Examination of cyclicity in raccoon outbreaks of canine distemper," Proceedings 87th Annual Meeting, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, 2006.
L. Hungerford, S. Prange, S. Gehrt. "Rascals, recluses and R: Structure and transmission potential in raccoon contact networks," Proceedings 88th Annual Meeting, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, 2007.
Prange, S., and S.D. Gehrt. "Individual patterns of latrine use by raccoons," Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, 2006.
Prange, S., and S.D. Gehrt. "Frequency and duration of contacts among free-ranging raccoons: uncovering a hidden social system," 14th Annual Conference, The Wildlife Society, 2007.
Prange, S., and S.D. Gehrt. "Uncovering a hidden social system: quantifying contacts among free-ranging raccoons," NSF/NIH EEID Annual Meeting, 2007.
Prange, S; Jordan, T; Hunter, C; Gehrt, SD. "New radiocollars for the detection of proximity among individuals," WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN, v.34, 2006, p. 1333-1344.
