MacDonald D W
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1993 Dec;60(4):351-5.
Understanding the behavioural ecology of wild mammals in rabies epizootics is a prerequisite to scientifically sound management of the disease. The principal vectors of wildlife rabies in a region tend to be abundant representatives of the Carnivora. Although the population dynamics of these species may be radically affected by rabies, and by attempts to control it, they are generally not threatened with widespread extinction as a result. However, the cases of the Blanford's fox, Vulpes cana, the Ethiopian wolf, Canis simensis, and the African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, illustrate how rabies and its control can pose grave conservation problems for rare carnivores. Disease monitoring is therefore an important element of recovery plans for rare species which are potential victims of rabies and other epizootic pathogens, and the benefits and disbenefits of prophylactic vaccination merit serious evaluation.
了解野生哺乳动物在狂犬病流行中的行为生态学是对该疾病进行科学合理管理的前提条件。某一地区野生动物狂犬病的主要传播媒介往往是食肉目中数量众多的代表物种。尽管这些物种的种群动态可能会受到狂犬病及其控制措施的极大影响，但它们通常不会因此面临广泛灭绝的威胁。然而，布兰福德狐（Vulpes cana）、埃塞俄比亚狼（Canis simensis）和非洲野犬（Lycaon pictus）的案例表明，狂犬病及其控制措施可能会给珍稀食肉动物带来严重的保护问题。因此，疾病监测是针对可能成为狂犬病和其他动物传染病病原体受害者的珍稀物种恢复计划的重要组成部分，预防性疫苗接种的利弊值得认真评估。
