Rabies public surveillance program in Georgia

Abstract

Background: Rabies virus is a public health threat that is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal and its endemic for Georgia with up to 50 animal confirmed cases per year. Cases are mostly registered in Cities and villages which are situated near the forest. Methods & Materials: In 2013 Georgia has re-established free of charge rabies prophylactic vaccination in risk areas performed by privet veterinarians. From 2014 prophylactic vaccination coverage has increased in domestic carnivores against rabies, to cover more than 80% of the total number of owned dog population of Georgia. Vaccination data were recorded in paper forms and yearly reports were submitted to the veterinary department Results: During 2009–2018 years 4331 suspected samples were submitted to the laboratory for rabies testing, out of the 21.5% were positive (=932), 61% (=570) of cases were confirmed before vaccination (2009–2013) and 38.8% (=362) after vaccination camping (2014–2018). The main source of the disease has changed from owned dogs to stay dogs and wildlife. Before vaccination camping 71.6% (=408) of the cases were confirmed in dogs, 26% (=148) in livestock and 2.46% (14) in wild animals, after the vaccination campaign epidemiological situation has changed and during last 5 years rabies confirmed cases were following: 48.9% (177) in dogs, 46.1% (167) in livestock and in 4,97% (18) wild animals. Out of 403 dog cases,96% cases were confirmed in domestic and 5,2 in stray dogs during 2009–2013 years and 74.5% of cases were detected in owned dogs and 25.4% (=45) in stray dogs during 2014–2018 years. Conclusion: Rabies vaccination had a huge impact on decreasing of owned dogs’ rabies cases, after vaccination campaigns. Overall rabies cases have decreased by 60.5% in-country and cases in owned dogs decreased by 66.2%, however, there is still rabies problem in-country and further studies are necessary to identify roles of stay dogs and wild animals in rabies distribution.