Geographical and temporal spread of equine rabies in Brazil.
Abstract: In Brazil, the horse is frequently used in cultural activities, sports, and in rural and urban work, implementing the economy in different social classes. Among the diseases in horses with zoonotic potential, rabies has been neglected in the country, increasing the risk of spreading the disease across borders. The present study evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution and temporal trend of rabies in horses in Brazil between 2010 and 2019. During this period, 1290 cases of rabies were detected in horses in Brazil, mainly in the states of São Paulo (21.7%) and Mato Grosso (13.3%). However, Espírito Santo stood out, with an incidence risk (IR) of 139.7 cases of rabies per 100,000 horses. The years 2013 and 2017 had higher peaks of IR for the disease, and the states that contributed to this increase were Mato Grosso, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo. There was no monthly seasonality of the disease among the states. The temporal trend revealed an increase for the northeastern region (Annual Percentage Change [APC]: 8.9%) and for Alagoas State (APC: 26.6%). In the spatiotemporal analysis, three high-risk clusters were formed: (i) cluster A (Relative Risk [RRs]: 6.21), involving only Minas Gerais, between 2017 and 2019; (ii) cluster B (RRs: 6.18), involving only Mato Grosso, between 2011 and 2013; and (iii) cluster C (RRs:4.71), involving the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, between 2010 and 2014. Only the states of Roraima and Amapá had no cases of equine rabies during the study period. Therefore, rabies in horses occurs in all Brazilian regions, with areas at high risk of infection concentrated in the Southeast. However, attention should be directed to the north-eastern and northern states, where notifications were infrequent, with an unknown risk in relation to the spread of rabies to transboundary regions. This is the first study evaluating the interstate distribution of rabies in equine species in regions of Brazil.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-01-04 PubMed ID: 34990596DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106302Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigates the geographical and chronological spread of horse rabies in Brazil between 2010 and 2019, revealing regions with high infection risks and indicating an increase in certain areas over the study period.
Overview of Rabies Spread in Brazil
- The study presents an analysis of the spread of equine rabies across Brazil over ten years, between 2010 and 2019.
- It is informed by the cultural, sporting, and economic importance of horses in Brazil, and the potentially neglected zoonotic (animal to human) risk posed by horse rabies.
Findings
- The study recorded 1290 cases of horse rabies across Brazil during this period, primarily in the states of São Paulo (21.7% of cases) and Mato Grosso (13.3% of cases).
- However, the highest incidence risk (IR) was in Espírito Santo, documenting 139.7 cases per 100,000 horses.
- The years 2013 and 2017 saw the highest peaks of IR, driven in large part by increases in Mato Grosso, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo.
- There was no obvious monthly pattern to the spread of the disease among the states.
- The overall temporal trend indicated growing incidence in the northeastern region and Alagoas State, evidenced by Annual Percentage Change (APC) rates of 8.9% and 26.6% respectively.
- The spatiotemporal analysis identified three major risk clusters: A in Minas Gerais (2017-2019), B in Mato Grosso (2011-2013), and C involving both Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo (2010-2014).
- Only the states of Roraima and Amapá saw no cases of equine rabies during the study period.
Implications
- Rabies is present in horses across all regions of Brazil, with higher risk concentrations in the Southeast.
- Despite their lower reported incidence of horse rabies, the northeastern and northern states might pose growing threats due to their increasing APC rates.
- This research marks the first assessment of the interstate distribution of rabies among horses in Brazil’s regions.
- It cautions against potential negligence of the zoonotic danger and highlights the risk of disease spread to regions beyond Brazil’s borders.
Cite This Article
APA
Oliveira FAS, Castro RJS, de Oliveira JF, Barreto FM, Farias MPO, Marinho GLOC, Soares MJDS, Silva-Júnior A, Schwarz DGG.
(2022).
Geographical and temporal spread of equine rabies in Brazil.
Acta Trop, 227, 106302.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106302 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas (CPCE), Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), BR 135 Km 03, Planalto Norte, Bom Jesus, Piauí 64900-000, Brazil.
- Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas (CPCE), Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), BR 135 Km 03, Planalto Norte, Bom Jesus, Piauí 64900-000, Brazil.
- Campus Avançado Ponte Nova, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais (IFMG), Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Agricultural Defense Agency of Piauí (ADAPI), Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
- Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas (CPCE), Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), BR 135 Km 03, Planalto Norte, Bom Jesus, Piauí 64900-000, Brazil.
- Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas (CPCE), Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), BR 135 Km 03, Planalto Norte, Bom Jesus, Piauí 64900-000, Brazil.
- Campus Ministro Petrônio Portela, Veterinary Morphology Department of Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
- Veterinary Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas (CPCE), Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), BR 135 Km 03, Planalto Norte, Bom Jesus, Piauí 64900-000, Brazil. Electronic address: dggs@ufpi.edu.br.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Geography
- Horses
- Incidence
- Rabies / epidemiology
- Rabies / veterinary
- Spatio-Temporal Analysis
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
