Abstract
Rabies transmitted by sylvatic populations has become an increasing concern in Brazil. A total of 113 participants with a history of contact with sylvatic populations were interviewed in 27 municipalities of Ceará State in northeast Brazil. Questionnaires included questions on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding sylvatic rabies. Most of the respondents (92%) knew about rabies and confirmed at least one species that transmitted the disease (79.6%). Of these respondents, 69% mentioned monkeys, and 67.2% mentioned dogs. However, 16% of the respondents listed an incorrect species. In general, knowledge on the symptoms and signs and on prevention measures was weak. The majority raised pets (93.8%), most commonly dogs and cats, and, of all the pets, 85.7% were claimed to be vaccinated against rabies. A total of 67.3% reported the appearance of free-living wild animals around their houses, mostly marmosets and wild canids; 18.3% reported that sylvatic populations had attacked animals or humans. Seventy-three percent had raised or still were raising wild animals as pets, mostly capuchin monkeys (79.5%) and marmosets (24.1%). This is the first KAP study on sylvatic rabies in Brazil. The data indicate important knowledge gaps and risk behavior within a high-risk population. There is a need for strengthening and improving sylvatic rabies surveillance and control, combined with the intensification of education and information campaigns.
Highlights
Our data indicate some general knowledge about rabies and virus transmission in the studied high-risk population, and incomplete knowledge, especially on the clinical signs of rabies in domestic and wild animals, preventive rabies management for animals and on the species that are important transmitters
Previous studies from Ceará indicated that insufficient knowledge of populations living in high-risk areas was related to inadequate prevention measures after aggression by wild animals [6,12]
From 1990 to 2016, 19 cases of human rabies transmitted by marmosets were reported in Brazil, with the highest numbers of cases in Ceará and Piauí States [14]
Summary
The transmission cycle of the rabies virus maintained by dogs and cats can be controlled through effective measures [2]. The transmission cycle ofprophylactic the rabies virus maintained by dogs and can be contransmission by sylvatic populations has become an increasing challenge, especially in trolled through effective prophylactic measures [2]. The Indisease and study, knew all about the importance of domestic for professionals a Pakistani the respondents had heard about theanimals disease and transmission, especially dogs, were mentioned by 93% of the respondents. Side, only 22% regarding identified the wildlife species involved in the rabies virus transmission was limited in an cats as putative transmitters [8].
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