EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MONGOOSE RABIES IN GRENADA

¹ Medical Research Council and Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory, 16-18 Jamaica Boulevard, P.O. Box 164, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I.
² Center for Disease Control, Lawrenceville Facility, P.O. Box 363, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30245, U.S.A.
³ Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, St. George's, Grenada, W.I.

Rabies was found in 0.5 - 3.7% of mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) trapped in Grenada between 1968 and 1972. The difference in the proportions of rabid mongooses during this period was significant and suggested a fluctuation in the incidence of the disease. Serum neutralizing antibodies were found in 18.9% of animals examined, indicating a high transmission rate between mongooses. In addition the behaviour of rabid mongooses is described, and the virus titers in organs from some of these animals are recorded. Human, domestic animal, and livestock involvement in the basic mongoose rabies cycle is discussed.