Rabies death in an adolescent tribal girl diagnosed postmortem, in Kerala - the precious life, preventable loss and equity concerns.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a neglected tropical disease endemic in 150 countries, including India where it is present in all states and union territories except Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep. Kerala reports high incidence of animal bites. This article discusses the preventable death of a 17-year-old tribal girl due to rabies in Kerala and the equity concerns it raises. METHODS: The case study was conducted using qualitative methods such as rapid key informant interviews, interactions in tribal assembly meetings, unstructured participant observations, and document verification. Thematic analysis was used, and the results are presented as an ethnographic summary with the use of quotes to substantiate the observations. RESULTS: The girl had gone to a town with her sister for a few days when she developed difficulty in eating, behavioral abnormalities, and injuries on her body. She subsequently died, and a post-mortem revealed Negri bodies in her brain, confirming rabies as the cause of death. The girl had been bitten by a puppy from the forest eight months prior, but she did not receive post-exposure prophylaxis. Multiple dogs are kept in each household in the settlement, and the community takes good care of them since they protect them from wild animals. However, awareness about the need for post-exposure prophylaxis is low, and access to it is difficult for this population. The social problems in the settlement affect their quality of life and their interactions with the outside world. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent such deaths, it is essential to increase awareness and ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines and immunoglobulin in hard-to-reach tribal areas. The cost-effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis for children in high-risk areas such as this tribal settlement should be evaluated and compared with the WHO-recommended strategies of mass canine vaccination and One Health.

Exposure History, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Use, and Clinical Characteristics of Human Rabies Cases: A Twelve-Year Retrospective Review at a Tertiary Facility in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Robust monitoring and reporting systems for rabies are lacking thus increasing the risk of underreporting. Highlighting the rabies cases brings to bear the needed urgent attention for more efforts at preventing and controlling the disease. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients managed for clinical rabies at the largest referral facility in Ghana. METHODS: A retrospective single-center hospital-based chart review and data extraction were conducted for persons managed for clinical rabies infection at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from January 2008 to December 2019. Data analysis was done using STATA. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Fisher's exact test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to explore significant associations. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases were recorded over the period of review. All of them died and most (68%) of them were males. Twenty-one percent of them were less than 15 years old. Their median age interquartile range (IQR) was 31 years (25.5 years) and the median incubation period for rabies (IQR) was 60 days (60 days). The source of rabies for cases was mainly dog bites. The vaccination status of all the animals could not be ascertained. Majority (80%) of the patients took neither anti-rabies vaccine nor immunoglobulin as post-exposure prophylaxis after the dog bite. The median time of admission before death (interquartile range) was 2 days (2 days). Majority (82%) of the cases were furious rabies. CONCLUSION: Attention should be directed at mass vaccination of dogs as dog bites are common. Ensuring availability and access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is also critical in averting rabies-related deaths.

CONTEXTE: Des systèmes de surveillance et de déclaration robustes pour la rage font défaut, augmentant ainsi le risque de sousdéclaration. Mettre en lumière les cas de rage suscite l'attention urgente nécessaire pour redoubler d'efforts dans la prévention et le contrôle de la maladie. OBJECTIF: Décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques des patients traités pour une rage clinique dans le plus grand établissement de référence au Ghana. MÉTHODES: Une revue rétrospective des dossiers médicaux et une extraction de données basées à l'hôpital ont été réalisées pour les personnes traitées pour une infection à la rage clinique à l'Hôpital d'Enseignement Korle-Bu de janvier 2008 à décembre 2019. L'analyse des données a été effectuée à l'aide de STATA. Des statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour résumer les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques. Le test exact de Fisher, le test de Kruskal-Wallis et le coefficient de corrélation de Spearman ont été utilisés pour explorer les associations significatives. RÉSULTATS: Un total de 28 cas ont été enregistrés sur la période examinée. Tous sont décédés et la plupart d'entre eux (68%) étaient des hommes. Vingt et un pour cent d'entre eux avaient moins de 15 ans. Leur âge médian (plage interquartile) était de 31 ans (25,5 ans) et la période d'incubation médiane de la rage (plage interquartile) était de 60 jours (60 jours). La principale source de rage pour les cas était principalement les morsures de chiens. Le statut vaccinal de tous les animaux n'a pas pu être déterminé. La majorité (80%) des patients n'ont pris ni vaccin antirabique ni immunoglobuline en prophylaxie post-exposition après la morsure de chien. Le délai médian d'admission avant le décès (plage interquartile) était de 2 jours (2 jours). La majorité (82%) des cas étaient atteints de rage furieuse. CONCLUSION: L'attention devrait être dirigée vers la vaccination de masse des chiens car les morsures de chien sont courantes. Assurer la disponibilité et l'accès à la prophylaxie post-exposition (PPE) est également crucial pour éviter les décès liés à la rage. MOTS-CLÉS: Rage, morsure de chien, post-exposition, prophylaxie, vaccination de masse.

Serum Sickness like Reaction Postequine Rabies Immunoglobulins.

A 30-year-old, previously healthy adult male received equine rabies immunoglobulins (Ig) (ERIG) along with anti-rabies vaccinations as per protocol for postexposure prophylaxis after an unprovoked rabid dog bite of grade three wound over the shin of the left lower limb. On the 8th day, he developed urticarial rashes beginning from the site of the wound, which gradually became a widespread maculopapular rash. Development of the rash was followed by low-grade fever, nonspecific arthralgias and soreness in the throat. A diagnosis of serum sickness-like illness was made based on history, temporal correlation of administration of ERIG and development of symptoms. He responded well to antihistaminic and a short course of injectable steroids. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness regarding the clinical presentation and management of this rare yet potentially curable adverse event if identified timely.

The ATPase ATP6V1A facilitates rabies virus replication by promoting virion uncoating and interacting with the viral matrix protein.

Rabies virus (RABV) matrix protein (M) plays crucial roles in viral transcription, replication, assembly, and budding; however, its function during the early stage of virus replication remains unknown. Here, we mapped the protein interactome between RABV M and human host factors using a proteomic approach, finding a link to the V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A (ATP6V1A), which is located in the endosomes where RABV first enters. By downregulating or upregulating ATP6V1A expression in HEK293T cells, we found that ATP6V1A facilitated RABV replication. We further found that ATP6V1A was involved in the dissociation of incoming viral M proteins during viral uncoating. Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated that M interacted with the full length or middle domain of ATP6V1A, which was dependent on the lysine residue at position 256 and the glutamic acid residue at position 279. RABV growth and uncoating in ATP6V1A-depleted cells was restored by trans-complementation with the full length or interaction domain of ATP6V1A. Moreover, stably overexpressed ATP6V1A enhanced RABV growth in Vero cells, which are used for the production of rabies vaccine. Our findings identify a new partner for RABV M proteins and establish a new role of ATP6V1A by promoting virion uncoating during RABV replication.

Wound characteristics and infiltration with immune globulin for rabies postexposure prophylaxis in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: This study described characteristics of wounds caused by animal exposures and evaluated patient factors and wound factors associated with wound infiltration of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated wound characteristics among patients who had visible wounds and received HRIG or rabies vaccine for rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) at 15 emergency departments from May 2016 to June 2018. RESULTS: Of 110 included patients (9 children, 82 adults, and 19 older adults), 21% (n = 23) had ≥2 wounds, and 10% (n = 11) had infected wounds. Twenty-eight (25%) patients had severe wounds, defined as receiving sutures (n = 20) or reaching subcutaneous tissue or bone (n = 20). Wounds were present on upper extremities for 42% (n = 46) of patients, lower extremities for 35% (n = 38), head/face for 3% (n = 3), and in multiple locations for 21% (n = 23). Wounds were < 3 cm in length for 64% (n = 70) of patients. Puncture wounds were present in 60% (n = 66) of patients, abrasions in 45% (n = 49), and lacerations in 38% (n = 42). Among 108 wounds from 82 patients with documented HRIG administration sites, 57% (n = 62) of wounds received HRIG infiltration. Infiltration occurred less frequently for wounds on the face/head/torso (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01 to 0.49), wounds on hands/fingers (aOR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.65), and abrasion-only wounds (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.80) after adjusting for age. CONCLUSIONS: Upon presentation for rabies PEP, most patients did not have severe wounds and did not require emergency services or complex wound management. Wounds on the face, head, torso, hands, or fingers and abrasions were less likely to receive HRIG infiltration.

[A study about the epidemiological characteristics of rabies of the cases of medical treatment from a certain hospital in Beijing from 2011 to 2020].

From 2011 to 2020, there were 111 213 cases of rabies exposed people recruited from the rabies immunization clinic of a hospital in Beijing. The monthly distribution of patients in each year was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The distribution of patients showed remarkable seasonality, with the exposure peak from May to October. The ratio of male to female was 1∶1.3. The majority of patients were aged 20-29 years old (39.1%) and in-service personnel (56.5%). Level-Ⅱ wounds (84.2%) were more common than level-Ⅲ wounds (14.9%). The number of visits to level-Ⅲwounds increased rapidly since 2017. The most common injured body part was hand (60.7%). Dogs were the most common animal for injuries (60.6%), followed by cats (32.3%), of which most were host animals (75.5%). The vaccination rate from 2016 to 2020 [49.8% (24 276/48 703)] was significantly higher than that from 2011 to 2015[18.6% (6 559/35 272)](χ²=8597.18, P<0.001).

Towards rabies elimination in the Asia-Pacific region: From theory to practice.

Rabies is a major neglected zoonotic disease and causes a substantial burden in the Asian region. Currently, Pacific Oceania is free of rabies but enzootic areas throughout southeast Asia represent a major risk of disease introduction to this region. On September 25-26, 2019, researchers, government officials and related stakeholders met at an IABS conference in Bangkok, Thailand to engage on the topic of human rabies mediated by dogs. The objective of the meeting was focused upon snowballing efforts towards achieving substantial progress in rabies prevention, control and elimination within Asia by 2030, and thereby to safeguard the Pacific region. Individual sessions focused upon domestic animal, wildlife and human vaccination; the production and evaluation of quality, safety and efficacy of existing rabies biologics; and the future development of new products. Participants reviewed the progress to date in eliminating canine rabies by mass vaccination, described supportive methods to parenteral administration by oral vaccine application, considered updated global and local approaches at human prophylaxis and discussed the considerable challenges ahead. Such opportunities provide continuous engagement on disease management among professionals at a trans-disciplinary level and promote new applied research collaborations in a modern One Health context.

Epidemiological study on animal bite cases referred to Haji Daii health Center in Kermanshah province, Iran during 2013-2017.

BACKGROUND: Over thousands of animal bite cases are reported annually worldwide and in Iran placing a large financial burden on the health and economy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of animal bite cases in Kermanshah, Iran through 2013-2017. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 5618 animal bite cases in Kermanshah from 2013 to 2017 were studied. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: In the study period, 5618 animal bite cases were found. The prevalence of animal bites was estimated between 42.55-45.66 per100000 populations during 2013-2017. An increasing significant trend was found for prevalence of animal bites (Average annual percent change [AAPC] + 4.9, P-trend< 0.001) over a 5-years' time period. The mean age of the subjects was 32.7 ± 18.3 years. Of the studied subjects 76.3% were male, and 34% had non-governmental jobs. Dogs were found as the cause of animal bites in 72% of the cases. Of the studied cases, 82% had received rabies vaccination for three times. CONCLUSION: The results showed an increasing significant trend for animal bites in Kermanshah. Development of interventional programs, such as limiting stray dogs, vaccination of dogs and raising public awareness are essential.

Canine rabies control and human exposure 1951-2015, Guangzhou, China.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in rabies surveillance and management in Guangzhou, China between 1951 and 2015, and to analyse human rabies cases over that period. METHODS: Rabies control policies and strategies implemented by the Guangzhou government were reviewed for three periods: 1951 to 1978, 1979 to 2000 and 2001 to 2015. Data on human rabies deaths and exposure were obtained from Guangzhou and national health and disease records. The demographic characteristics of human cases are reported using descriptive statistics. FINDINGS: Between 1951 and 2015, the number of organizations cooperating on rabies control increased: there were two between 1951 and 1978, six between 1979 and 2000, and nine between 2001 and 2015. The number of human rabies cases reported in these periods was 331, 422 and 60, respectively. Organizations involved included city and district centres for disease control and prevention, rabies outpatient clinics, medical institutions and police. Overall, 88% (713/813) of cases occurred in rural districts, though, between 1951 and 2015, the distribution shifted from being predominantly rural to being both urban and rural. The number of people exposed to rabies increased annually. The biggest increases were among those injured by a pet dog or other animal: 3.26 and 4.75 times, respectively, between 2005 and 2015. CONCLUSION: Increased cooperation on rabies control between civil organizations in Guangzhou over decades was associated with a marked decrease in the number of human rabies cases. The Guangzhou experience could thereby provide guidance for other cities experiencing similar rabies epidemics.

Human rabies post exposure prophylaxis at the Pasteur Institute of Dakar, Senegal: trends and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Rabies remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Most fatal rabies cases, especially in children, result from dog bites and occur in low-income countries, such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rabies can be controlled through mass dog vaccination and human deaths prevented through timely and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). As access to appropriate PEP remains a serious challenge for bite-victims, the aim of this study was to understand the use of PEP, to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to rabies and to identify risk factors related to non-compliance with PEP to define recommendations for improving PEP in Senegal. METHODS: This study included patients with suspicion of rabies exposure who sought PEP at the Pasteur Institute of Dakar from April 2013 to March 2014. Patients with rabies clinical symptoms, those who had already started PEP and those with exposure outside Senegal or for more than 3 months were excluded. Data on risk factors and propensity to seek and complete PEP were collected using questionnaires and phone interviews. The association between acceptability and compliance with PEP and other independent variables were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 905 patients enrolled into the study, 67% were male (sex ratio M/F, 2) and 46%, children under 15 years of age. Exposures by animal bites represented 87%, whereas the remainder were due to scratches or contact; 76% were classified as WHO category III and 88% were due to dogs. Among these patients, 7% refused to start PEP and 54.5% completed the full schedule. Main factors reported by non-compliant patients were vaccine costs and affordability, and knowledge on status of biting animal. CONCLUSION: This study shows that despite the awareness about rabies dangers and prevention, only half of the patients completed the full PEP schedule. The following recommendations, such as free of charge prophylaxis or intradermal regimens as an alternative to intramuscular regimens, should be considered to increase the adherence to PEP at the Pasteur Institute of Dakar and in Senegal.

Achieving scientific and regulatory success in implementing non-animal approaches to human and veterinary rabies vaccine testing: A NICEATM and IABS workshop report.

This two-day workshop, co-sponsored by NICEATM and IABS-NA, brought together over 60 international scientists from government, academia, and industry to advance alternative methods for human and veterinary Rabies Virus Vaccine (RVV) potency testing. On day one, workshop presentations focused on regulatory perspectives related to in vitro potency testing, including recent additions to the European Pharmacopoeia (5.2.14) that provide a scientific rationale for why in vivo methods may be less suitable for vaccine quality control than appropriately designed in vitro methods. Further presentations reviewed the role of the consistency approach to manufacturing and vaccine batch comparison to provide supportive data for the substitution of existing animal-based methods with in vitro assays. In addition, updates from research programs evaluating and validating RVV glycoprotein (G) quantitation by ELISA as an in vitro potency test were presented. On the second day, RVV stakeholders participated in separate human and veterinary vaccine discussion groups focused on identifying potential obstacles or additional requirements for successful implementation of non-animal alternatives to the in vivo potency test. Workshop outcomes and proposed follow up activities are discussed herein.

[Influence of the knowledge of patients consulting at the Treichville antirabies Center on adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis]. / Influence des connaissances des patients consultant au centre antirabique de Treichville, Côte d'Ivoire, sur l'observance de la prophylaxie post-exposition.

AIM: Human rabies is a major public health problem in many African countries, including Ivory Coast. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of human rabies knowledge on compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from September 2014 to May 2015 at the Abidjan Rabid Center, Treichville. After having given their consent, were interviewed, patients who came for a first consultation and who gave a mobile phone number available for the appointment reminder after abandoning or not starting the post-exposure prophylaxis. Data were processed with Epi Info version 3.5.3. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: A total of 744 patients were interviewed. Men accounted for the majority (58.2%) of those surveyed, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.7. The average age of patients was 24.55 (±17.3) years. The analysis showed that 42.6% (317/744) of the interviewees had heard of human rabies. However, having heard of human rabies did not influence adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the post-exposure prophylaxis regimen was completed more often by subjects who knew that agitation is a sign of rabies than those who did not (ORa=0.4343, 95%CI=[0.204-0.925]). Subjects knowledgeable about disease transmission (animal bites) were less likely to continue their post-exposure prophylaxis than those unaware of this relationship (ORa=8.544, 95%CI=[1.002-72.869]). CONCLUSION: The main factors identified in this study that influenced the observance of post-exposure prophylaxis were knowledge of the manifestation of human rabies (signs of agitation) and of the mode of transmission of this disease (animal bites). With a view for better prevention against human rabies, rural and urban populations should be informed, educated and sensitized about this 100% life-threatening but vaccination-preventable disease.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis of rabies immunization strategy based on dynamic-decision tree model].

Objective: To evaluate the cost-utility of different immunization strategies for rabies in China, and to provide a reference for determining the optimal immunization strategy. Methods: The system dynamics model was used to simulate the epidemic of canine rabies and a decision tree model was conducted to analysis different immune strategies. Relevant probabilities were obtained through literature search and on-site investigation. Sensitivity analysis was used to explore the important influenced factors. Results: At baseline, from a social perspective, 70% vaccination of dogs was the optimal strategy compared to current vaccination strategy (43% vaccination in dogs, human category-Ⅱ exposure vaccination/category-Ⅲ exposure vaccination combined with RIG). The total cost was 14 084 354 CNY, and the total utility value was 22 078 616.23 QALYs, and the incremental cost-utility ratio was-62 148 147 CNY/QALY; if human vaccination was considered, 55% vaccination of dogs combined with strategy one was the optimal strategy, its incremental cost-utility ratio was-444 620 557 CNY/QALY. The probability that an injured dog carries rabies virus was the most sensitive parameter. When it was greater than 0.005 03, strategy four was the optimal strategy. When it was less than 82/100 000, strategy one was the optimal strategy; when it was between 82/100 000 and 120/100 000, strategy two was the optimal strategy; when it was between 120/100 000 and 503/100 000, strategy two was the optimal strategy. Conclusion: It was conducive to increase the vaccination coverage of canine for the prevention and control of rabies.

Assessment of procurement, distribution, availability, and utilization of rabies biologicals for postexposure prophylaxis in seven states of India.

BACKGROUND: To achieve the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, all bite victims shall have access to life-saving rabies biologicals across the country. The information on procurement, distribution, availability, and utilization of rabies biologicals for postexposure prophylaxis is insufficient. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to assess the demand, procurement, distribution, availability, storage, and utilization of rabies biologicals and to appraise the monitoring and reporting of rabies biologicals at all the levels. METHODS: A multicentric survey was conducted from July to December 2017 in seven regional representative states across the country. The survey team visited the offices in-charge for logistics of rabies biologicals at the survey states and districts; information was collected using structured pro formas and perusing relevant records. District vaccine stores and health institutions in urban and rural areas were visited to assess the availability and stock-outs of rabies biologicals. RESULTS: Procurement, distribution, and availability of rabies biologicals grossly vary between states, since it is the state subject. In Gujarat, both vaccines and immunoglobulins were available even at the Primary Health Centre level; paradoxically, there was a scarcity of both at the district level in Manipur. Immunoglobulins were used only in nine of the surveyed 27 government health-care facilities (33.3%) and two of the eight private facilities (25%). The cold chain facility for storage of rabies biologicals was satisfactory; however, the monitoring and reporting of rabies biologicals were not complete. CONCLUSION: The procurement, distribution, availability, and utilization of rabies biologicals were not universal across the states. Frequent shortages of supply have to be improved to attain universal coverage.

Market mapping and landscape analysis of human rabies biologicals in India.

BACKGROUND: Rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins are lifesaving in humans following animal exposures. These biologicals should continuously be available throughout the year to prevent and eliminate human rabies by 2030. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at assessing availability of different kinds of human rabies biologicals in the country and undertaking market mapping and landscape analysis of human rabies biologicals in India. METHODS: The study comprising both quantitative and qualitative approach was conducted from May to November 2017 as a part of the Indian multicentric rabies survey by Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India. All stakeholders (agencies/personnel) associated with rabies biologicals were the study units/participants. Required data were generated through brainstorming sessions with key stakeholders; reviewing of databases/existing literature; conducting in-depth surveys; interviewing; focused group discussions, etc. RESULTS: Two types of cell culture rabies vaccines are available in the country manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies; most of the vaccines are indigenously produced and the market size of the rabies vaccines is about INR 125 crores with highest sales in the northern region followed by South. Likewise, there are 2 types of immunoglobulin available, i.e., equine rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs), which are indigenously produced and human RIGs, which are imported. The market value of RIGs is about INR 83 crores. A novel rabies monoclonal antibody is also been marketed in the country from November 2017. CONCLUSIONS: There are many lacunas in the market availability of rabies biologicals in different parts of the country; therefore, a significant expansion/shift in focus must be considered, through rigorous strategic planning process.

Vaccination demonstration zone successfully controls rabies in Guangxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Guangxi is the province most seriously affected by rabies virus (RABV) in China. Those most affected by RABV each year are people in rural areas, where dogs are the main cause of human infection with the virus. METHODS: In this study, we established a rabies vaccination demonstration program that included eradication, core, and peripheral areas. This program was implemented for 9 years and comprised three stages: 12 counties in the first stage (2008-2010), 21 counties in the second stage (2011-2013), and then extending to all counties of Guangxi Province in the third stage (2014-2016). The program included a dog vaccination campaign, surveillance of clinically healthy dogs who may be potential RABV carriers, monitoring anti-RABV antibody titers in vaccinated dogs, and compiling and reporting statistics of human rabies cases. RESULTS: The target effectiveness was achieved in the eradication, core, and peripheral areas in all three stages. The vaccination demonstration program successfully promoted RABV vaccination of domestic dogs throughout Guangxi Province by drawing upon the experience gained at key points. Compared with a vaccination coverage rate of 39.42-46.85% in Guangxi Province overall during 2003-2007, this rate gradually increased to 48.98-52.67% in 2008-2010, 60.24-69.67% in 2011-2013, and 70.09-71.53% in 2014-2016, thereby meeting World Health Organization requirements. The total cases of human rabies in the province decreased from 602 in 2004 to 41 cases in 2017. CONCLUSIONS: The present pilot vaccination program obviously increased the rabies vaccination and seroconversion rates, and effectively reduced the spread of rabies from dogs to humans as well as the number of human rabies cases, thus successfully controlling rabies in Guangxi.

Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies.

Effective methods to increase awareness of preventable infectious diseases are key components of successful control programmes. Rabies is an example of a disease with significant impact, where public awareness is variable. A recent awareness campaign in a rabies endemic region of Azerbaijan provided a unique opportunity to assess the efficacy of such campaigns. A cluster cross-sectional survey concerning rabies was undertaken following the awareness campaign in 600 households in 38 randomly selected towns, in districts covered by the campaign and matched control regions. This survey demonstrated that the relatively simple awareness campaign was effective at improving knowledge of rabies symptoms and vaccination schedules. Crucially, those in the awareness campaign group were also 1·4 times more likely to report that they had vaccinated their pets, an essential component of human rabies prevention. In addition, low knowledge of appropriate post-exposure treatment and animal sources of rabies provide information useful for future public awareness campaigns in the region and other similar areas.

Safety studies with the oral rabies virus vaccine strain SPBN GASGAS in the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus).

BACKGROUND: Oral vaccination of the small Indian mongoose against rabies has been suggested as a potential tool to eliminate mongoose-mediated rabies on several Caribbean islands. A recently developed oral rabies virus vaccine strain, SPBN GASGAS, has already been shown to be efficacious in this reservoir species. Since, all available oral rabies vaccines are based on replication-competent viruses and vaccine baits are distributed unsupervised in the environment, enhanced safety standards for such vaccine types are required. RESULTS: The results of safety studies, including overdose, repeated doses, dissemination and different routes of administration, in the target species are presented. It was shown that the construct was apathogenic, irrespective of dose and route of administration. Even when it was inoculated directly in the brain, it did not induce rabies infection. Furthermore, the vaccine strain did not spread within the target species after direct oral instillation beyond the site of entry. CONCLUSION: The vaccine strain SPBN GASGAS meets the safety requirements for live rabies virus vaccines in this target species, the small Indian mongoose.

Epidemiology and surveillance of human animal-bite injuries and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, in selected counties in Kenya, 2011-2016.

BACKGROUND: Human animal-bite injuries are a serious public health problem due to associated risk for rabies virus exposure. Animal-bite injuries especially dog bites are useful indicators for assessing the risk of rabies virus transmission and need for rabies post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Understanding the epidemiology and surveillance of animal bites and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is critical in implementing Kenya's national rabies elimination strategy. We aimed to describe the incidence of human animal-bite injuries, patient/biting animal characteristics, uptake of rabies PEP and factors associated with animal bite incidents. METHODS: We reviewed animal bite records from outpatient and anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) registers of 17 health facilities from five counties. An animal bite was defined as an entry of an animal bite of the class mammal including humans in registers in a person of any age from January 2011 to December 2016. We collected demographic and information on PEP uptake. We calculated descriptive statistics, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to examine factors associated with being an animal bite case-patient. We also calculated incidence of animal bites using health facility catchment population for year 2016 as the denominator. RESULTS: We analyzed 7307 records. The median age was 22 years (IQR = 31 years); there were 4019 (55%) male and age < 15 years were 2607 (37%). Dogs accounted for 6720 (93%) of bites of which 78% were owned free-roaming dogs. Of the 5674 (88%) cases that received rabies PEP, 2247 (40%) got at least three-doses. The median time from bite to seeking medical care was 2 days (IQR = 4 days). Being bitten on the head/face (OR = 5.8; CI: 3.3-10.2); being bitten by owned free-roaming dog (OR = 1.7; CI: 1.5-1.9) and being male (OR = 1.4; CI: 1.3-1.5) were significantly associated with being an animal-bite case-patient. Being male, being bitten on head/face and being bitten by owned free-roaming dog remained independently associated with being an animal bite case-patient at multivariable logistic regression. Bite-incidence was 289 bites /100,000 persons among all counties. CONCLUSION: Preventing dog bites would most effectively reduce bite injuries by improving public health education among children below 15 years, encouraging early PEP initiation and completion, development and implementation of responsible dog ownership and animal behaviour educational programmes as well as improving human and veterinary health linkages.

Gastric Perforation After a Dog Attack.

Dog bites are a major cause of injury, especially in the pediatric population. Common anatomic sites of dog bites on children are the peripheries and the head and neck. The torso is reportedly injured less frequently, and only 2 cases of intra-abdominal injury secondary to dog bites have been reported. We recently encountered a 3-year-old boy presenting with peritonitis who had sustained multiple dog bites to his trunk and upper limbs. Emergency laparotomy was performed. Surgical findings revealed penetration of the peritoneum and single perforation of the anterior gastric wall with multiple tooth marks; thus, the gastric perforation was debrided and repaired. After receiving rabies prophylaxis and amoxicillin-clavulanate, the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. The principles of management of dog bites include debridement of wounds and use of prophylactic antibiotics. Because rabies is always fatal, postexposure prophylaxis should be considered in appropriate cases. Dog bites can be life-threatening, and prevention is the best approach to solve this problem. Clinicians need to be aware that some dog bites can be devastating and should be familiar with the principles of managing these wounds.