[Control of wildlife rabies in North-Eastern Italy]

The authors describe the propagation of wildlife rabies in the Bolzano province of north-eastern Italy in 1977 by means of the crossing of the Italian-Austrian border, and the disappearance of the infection after a decrease in fox density. They establish a relationship between the intensity of fox decrease at the beginning of rabies contamination of the territory and during the following years and the final disappearance of the infection. In order to show indirectly the supported thesis, they take into consideration the results found in the Udine province nearby, where the struggle resulted in failure because of lack of motivation, organization and funds. They studied at the same time, the development of wildlife rabies on the border of Venetian regions and Austria, which is a steep mountainous barrier 300 km long. During four years, rabies entered Italy from Austria six times. Two times into territory already undergoing fox-decreasing programmes, and kept under control. In the last case, the infection did not propagate, striking only one fox that crossed the border.