Public Health
Costs associated with detection, prevention and control of rabies in the United States exceeds $300million annually.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 90% of reported rabies cases in the US are in wildlife. In 2013 SmartVet signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of US Department of Agriculture. This project is directed at developing more effective baits and delivery systems for the Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) efforts run by the National Rabies Management Program. For more information on this program click here
The Ballistic Bait system is another patent protected SmartVet innovation. It uses elements of SmartVet’s proven VetGun system to distribute baited capsules containing oral vaccines. The Ballistic Baits are coated with scent and flavorings to encourage location and uptake by the target species. The capsule is engineered to burst as soon as pinpoint pressure is applied by the animal’s teeth, delivering the vaccine dose directly into the oral cavity. The efficacy of such a dosing method has proven to be highly effective in basic tests conducted with canines. Formal uptake studies are being done in other target species, particularly raccoons at APHIS’ National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins CO.