Rabies in wildlife: challenges and strategies to control this serious threat

Subject Areas : veterinary science

Nazanin Shabansalmani ¹ , Maryam Fazeli ² , Rouzbeh Bashar ³ , Behzad Pourhossein ⁴

1 - Food Hygiene Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Medical Seciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
2 - ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2024-11-01 Accepted : 2024-11-30 Published : 2024-08-25

Keywords: Rabies, Wildlife, Control, Oral Vaccination, Iran,

Abstract :

Rabies is a deadly viral encephalitis that is transmitted through the bite of infected mammals. Rabies has 60,000 deaths annually in the world, especially in Asia and Africa. Rabies is endemic in Iran and many cases are reported every year. In 99% of cases, rabid dog bites are the cause of human rabies, but the main reservoirs of the disease are in wildlife. In the unified health system, control and prevention of rabies is considered an important health challenge due to its high lethality. A review of studies between years was conducted using the keywords "rabies", "wildlife", "rabies control", "oral vaccination" and "Iran" in databases such as Google Scholar, Pub Med, and Elsevier. 52 WHO articles and reports were selected that addressed rabies control strategies in wildlife. Effective rabies control programs include comprehensive measures that include accurate reporting of rabies and animal bites, oral vaccination of wildlife, widespread vaccination of animals, especially dogs, dog population management, development and expansion of health centers, and increasing public awareness. The implementation of these programs can help to control and reduce the spread of rabies in wildlife and urban environments. Prevention of deaths caused by human rabies requires effective and continuous coordination between human health and veterinary sectors with the One Health approach. This comprehensive approach can guarantee the improvement of responses and preventive measures. In Iran, due to the increase in rabies cases, it is necessary to strengthen inter sectoral cooperation and create networks between the health, veterinary, and environmental sectors. These collaborations can help to better prevent and reduce cases of infection and ultimately improve public health.

 

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