An evaluation of two independent populations for Formosan ferret-badgers sampling in Taiwan
1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No. 145, Xingda Rd., South Dist., Taichung City 402202, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
2 Department of Mathematics, College of Science, University of Taipei, No. 1, Ai-Guo West Road, Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100234, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
3 School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Daan Dist., Taipei City 106319, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2024, 08(01), 068–074.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjms.2024.8.1.0046
Publication history:
Received on 26 June 2024; revised on 07 August 2024; accepted on 10 August 2024
Abstract:
Since the first outbreak of Formosan Ferret-badger (Melogale moschata subaurantiaca) rabies (FFB rabies) in the main island of Taiwan in July 2013, by the end of 2023, there had been 10 FFB rabies-endemic counties or cities in Taiwan. The Animal Health Agencies of various counties and cities in the whole country have sustainably implemented surveillance of rabies epidemics in FFBs and other carnivorous animals. This study aimed to investigate any possible difference between the distribution of wild FFBs sampled by the Animal Health Agencies in the 10 FFB rabies-endemic counties or cities and the sample distribution of roadkill FFBs recorded by the Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network (TaiRON) in the same counties and cities. The samples from the governmental Animal Health Agencies and from the nonprofit TaiRON were independent due to the lack of no administrative connection between them. Therefore, in this study, Mann Whitney U test was adopted to determine the difference between the stated two independent sampled populations. The result of the Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was no significant difference (p=0.20) between the distributions of FFBs sampled by Animal Health Agencies and TaiRON at different elevations at α=0.05. In conclusion, statistically, the sample distribution of FFBs collected by Animal Health Agencies for surveillance of FFB rabies and that by the TaiRON network had the same representativeness.
Keywords:
Mann Whitney U test; Formosan Ferret-badgers; Melogale moschata subaurantiaca; Rabies; Road-kill; Taiwan
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