Table 1. Parameters for the rabies and CDV epidemic models in foxes.

parameter	symbol	Assumed values [reference]
Ecology
Fox carrying capacity		1/km2 [28], [45]–[47]
per capita birth rate		1/365 days [23]
per capita death rate		1/730 days [23]
Rabies
mean viral incubation period		28 days [23]
mean duration of infection		5 days [23]
transmission parameter		Estimated
Vaccination rate	v	Estimated
CDV
mean viral incubation period		10 days [5]–[7], [48]
proportion of foxes that die from CDV		0.5 [5], [50]
mean duration of infection (for foxes that will recover)		10 days [7], [48]
mean duration of infection (for foxes that will not recover)		10 days [7], [48],
transmission parameter		estimated
Bias in preferentially reporting/collecting CDV positive animals prior to the last quarter of 2009	z	estimated

Using a maximum likelihood approach, we estimated transmission, vaccination and bias parameters, given values of the other parameters drawn from the literature. These parameters clearly point at a higher virulence of rabies' virus both in term of case fatality and life expectancy once infectious.