History of Rabies in the Americas, Volume IV: A Disease of Nature continues the series established by the three preceding volumes, which presented topical and spatio-temporal perspectives, and retrospectives from experts and others who encountered this disease. Volume IV presents species-specific insights, providing expert commentary from scientists specializing in the non-human species affected by rabies. A truly unique perspective is achieved in each chapter by partnering authors with varying but complementary expertise, e.g. a wildlife biologist and a virologist, or a veterinarian with a microbiologist. This volume's species perspective is especially crucial for understanding the history and modern implications of rabies in the Americas. Unlike the rest of the world where canine rabies accounts for 99% of detected cases, the disease has been mostly eliminated in dogs in the New World. As a result, around 90% of regional cases are now found in wildlife species, especially foxes, skunks, raccoons, and bats. The history of canine rabies remains critical to appreciating the epidemiology, evolution, and public health ramifications of this disease, especially on indigenous populations in the Americas. Adopting a species-specific lens allows this volume to explore the spread of rabies from its introduction during the colonial period up to the present, and the impacts it has had on the wildlife, domesticated animal, and human populations of the region. Engaging chapters tie these specific insights together through a One Health perspective, and address the current and future impacts of climate change, international management of the disease, and rabies' effects on agricultural systems and conservation biology.
