Final answer:
In 1997, raccoons became the most frequent vector for the A. rabies virus, surpassing skunks. The disease is particularly dangerous and, while mostly affecting wild animals such as raccoons, bats, and skunks, it can also be lethal to humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1997, raccoons surpassed skunks as the most frequent vector of rabies, a zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus (RV), which belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae. The rabies virus is an enveloped RNA virus known for its distinctive bullet shape and, while often associated with dogs historically thanks to the work of Louis Pasteur, has since been more commonly transmitted to humans by raccoons in more recent years. Rabies is a lethal disease both in animals and humans, with a majority of cases occurring in wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes in the United States. In the context of this question, the correct answer is (b) Rabies.
The other answer choices, such as influenza, malaria, and tuberculosis, are caused by different pathogens and are not primarily transmitted by raccoons or skunks.
SUMUP of the final answer as points: