Rabies Vaccine Research Articles

First evaluation of the impact of a targeted subunit vaccine against bovine viral diarrhea virus in feedlot cattle.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a serious health and economic problem in the beef industry, which is often associated with transportation and caused by different pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a novel subunit targeted vaccine against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in feedlot cattle, a major viral agent of BRD. The core of this novel vaccine is the fusion of the BVDV structural glycoprotein, E2, to a single-chain antibody, APCH, together termed, APCH-E2. The APCH antibody targets the E2 antigen to the major histocompatibility type II molecule (MHC-II) present in antigen-presenting cells. To evaluate the vaccine, 2,992 animals were randomly allocated into two groups, control group (N = 1,491) and treatment group (N = 1,501). Animals of both groups received the routine sanitary plan: two doses of clostridial, respiratory, and rabies vaccines. Animals within the treatment group also received two doses of a targeted subunit vaccine against BVDV. Serum samples were taken on the day of the first inoculation (T0) and 90 d later (T90). Viral circulation was monitored using an anti-P80 ELISA (virus-specific) and immune response was evaluated by anti-E2 ELISA (detects virus and vaccine immune responses). Only animals treated for respiratory disease were considered positive cases of BRD. Results demonstrate that the control group had significantly more animals treated for BRD cases compared to the treatment group (5.9% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.02). The control group had a greater number of animals positive for anti-P80 antibodies and significantly fewer animals positive for anti-E2 antibodies compared to the treatment group (69% vs. 61% and 71% vs. 99%, respectively, P = 0.003), consistent with natural viral circulation within this group. The treatment group, conversely, had fewer animals positive for anti-P80 antibodies and a greater number of animals positive for anti-E2 antibodies, consistent with a robust vaccine-induced antibody response and a reduction of the BVDV circulation within this group. The data indicate the new subunit targeted vaccine induced greater anti-E2 antibodies and reduced the amount of BVD virus circulation within the treatment group leading to a fewer number of animals needing to be treated for BRD.

Rabies vaccination adherence and associated factors among rabies-exposed patients in Shenzhen, China: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure vaccination (PEV) is an important measure to prevent rabies. The purpose of this study was to explore the adherence to the vaccination protocol and its influencing factors among rabies-exposed patients in Shenzhen, China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China, to obtain epidemiological characteristics of patients; knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of rabies prevention; and medical records. A total of 326 patients requiring full rabies PEV were included in this study, and only 62% (202) completed the full course of vaccination according to the norms of the vaccination guidelines. After multifactor logistic regression, the factors influencing adherence to vaccination were as follows: age 31 to 40 years, time spent to reach the nearest rabies prevention clinic was >60 min, the time of injury was at night to early morning, the place of injury was a school/laboratory, the animal causing injury was a cat, the health status of the animal causing injury could not be determined, and patients with higher practice scores (all p<0.05). Understanding the factors influencing rabies vaccination adherence among rabies-exposed patients in urban areas of China and promote changes in patients' practice toward rabies prevention is essential for rabies elimination by 2030.

Perfusion filtration technology for the cultivation of VNK-21/13-13 cells for the manufacture of rabies vaccine

The possibility of practical use of perfusion cell culture technology VNK-21/13-13 was evaluated in the manufacture of rabies vaccine using bioreactors with a working volume of 5 liters and 100 liters. The purpose of this study is to develop a highly effective technology for perfusion continuous suspension cultivation of the transplanted BHK– 21/13-13 cell line, suitable for use as a cellular substrate in the manufacture of rabies vaccine. Using Cytiva filter elements made of PES membrane material with a retention rating of 0.65 microns, a cell density above 7× 106 cells/ml was achieved for the subsequent production of a viral suspension. The glycoprotein content measured by the ELISA method reached a maximum on the 4th day after infection, was 5 IU/ml. The maximum cell accumulation and glycoprotein content in the 5 L bioreactor was more than 2-3 times higher than for the serial production of rabies vaccine. When reproducing the rabies virus in a 100 l bioreactor after perfusion cultivation, the cell concentration was 16-20 million/ml with a viability of 95.4%. The highest content of the virus glycoprotein was also achieved in a bioreactor with a working volume of 100 liters 4 days after infection and amounted to 8 IU/ ml. Sequencing of the glycoprotein gene revealed the genetic stability of the main immunogenicity protein, which is an important indicator for controlling the stability of the virus during many passages in vaccine production using a perfusion system.

Awareness on Recent Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis among Healthcare Professionals in Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh, India: A Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can be fatal and continues to impose a significant financial burden on developing countries. Recently, there have been advancements in the introduction of cell culture vaccines and immunoglobulin, as well as the approval of Intradermal (ID) schedules for vaccine administration. Aim: To assess the knowledge of doctors in Rewa District regarding the National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis in 2019. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving doctors from tertiary healthcare centres, district hospitals, and private practices. Data were collected over a period of one month from 206 doctors using a Google form, which included information about their field of practice and their knowledge of recent guidelines on Rabies prophylaxis. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Out of the 206 doctors surveyed, 92 (44.7%) were male. A 56.7% of the doctors were aware of the regimen and dosage for ID administration of the Anti Rabies Vaccine, (ARV) and 44.6% were knowledgeable about the modification of PostExposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Essen regimen. Furthermore, 70.9% of the doctors were familiar with the dosage of Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG), while 42.7% knew how to manage animal bites in immunocompromised patients. Conclusion: The study revealed a lack of sufficient knowledge on various aspects of rabies management among the doctors surveyed. This underscores the need for reorientation programs and Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) training to be provided to doctors to enhance their knowledge of rabies and improve the effective management of animal bites.

PREVALENCE OF DOG BITE CASES IN HUMANS AND VACCINATION COVERAGE AGAINST RABIES IN SELECTED PARTS OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Aim: Lagos State has a long history of rabies control efforts. However, the success of such efforts and the goal to eliminate rabies is yet to be realized. This study was carried out to evaluate dog bite cases in humans presented to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital Ikeja and to evaluate anti-rabies vaccination coverage in dogs presented for dog consultation at the State Animal Hospital Agege and a private Veterinary Clinic Ikeja between the years of 2012 to 2018. Methods: Factors such as age, sex and season of dog bites in humans as well as the age and sex of dogs presented for anti-rabies vaccination were obtained for the years under review. Also, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using structured questionnaires to assess knowledge on rabies and factors affecting routine anti-rabies dog vaccination amongst consenting residents and dog owners of selected households in Ikeja and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos state. Results: From the retrospective data on dog bites in humans, a total of 347 dog bites was reported with 59.7% (207) occurring in females and 40.3% (140) in males, all of whom were adults aged between 25 to 40 years. Seasonal distribution of bites indicates a higher frequency in the months of April, July and October. A total of 300 (13.2%) dogs were vaccinated out of 2,275 cases presented to the State Animal Hospital Agege, 48% (144) of which were females and 52% (156) males. 62.7% (188) of the dogs were aged between 3 to 12 months, 23.3% (70) aged between 12 to 36 months and 14% (42) aged above 36 months. A total of 295 (28.1%) dogs were vaccinated out of the 1,048 cases presented to the private Veterinary Clinic at Ikeja. On the cross-sectional study, 422 consenting households were issued a questionnaire across the two local government areas. Overall, 330 (78.2%) had satisfactory knowledge on rabies, while 92 (21.8%) had a non-satisfactory knowledge on rabies, 287 (68%) knew what to do when bitten by a dog while 135 (32%) gave a non-satisfactory response, 302 (71.6%) had reasonable response to perceived threats of rabies whereas 120 (28.4%) respondents were not quite knowledgeable on the perceived threats of rabies. Factors affecting routine anti-rabies vaccination in dogs such as breed, cost, distance and ease of handling were assessed among 196 dog owners out of the 422 selected households, with no statistical significance as factors associated with or affecting dog rabies vaccination coverage. Conclusions: The result of this study indicates that dog bite as a threat to spread of rabies is still a menace and anti-rabies vaccination coverage of dogs falls below the recommended standard by the World Health Organization despite various existing control programs. Despite majority of respondents having satisfactory knowledge on rabies, their attitudes towards rabies prevention were inadequate.

Risk Reduction Strategies for Rabies Exposures and Prophylaxis in Children

Annually, 59,000 people die of rabies, the world’s oldest known infectious disease, globally. In the United States, canine rabies has been virtually eliminated but the risk of rabies due to wildlife, especially raccoons, skunks, and bats, has required post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) be administered to more than 60,000 patients annually1. In 2021, 5 people in the United States2 died of rabies mostly due to misinformation or improper treatment. Rabies post exposure prophylaxis consists of three steps, wound washing, administration of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and a full course of vaccine3. In 2022, Whitehouse4 published that there were 122 breakthrough rabies infections when PEP was given due to four factors: 1) deviations from core practice 2) delays in seeking health care 3) errors in administration of HRIG 4) comorbidities or immunosuppression. It is estimated that over 40% of PEP administration is given inappropriately. The publication,” Safety, and efficacy of rabies immunoglobulin in pediatric patients with suspected exposure”, Human Vaccines &amp; Immunotherapeutics, 17:7, 2090–20965, was the first study that prospectively reviewed the use of human rabies immune globulin 150 IU/ml in 30 pediatric patients ages 0.5–14.9 years old. Globally, 40% of people bitten by animals suspected of being infected with the rabies virus are children under the age of 15.6 This paper will look at risk reduction strategies that will include: Proper Identification of major rabies vectors Special risks associated with bat exposures in children Administration of human rabies immune globulin with volume considerations in children Special administration consideration for rabies vaccines “Just -in- time “Education for health care providers Illustrative cases will be used to demonstrate each of these strategies of risk as well as the strategies for risk reduction.

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ МЕТОДА ОТ–ПЦР В ДИАГНОСТИКЕ ВИРУСА БЕШЕНСТВА: ЕГО НЕОБХОДИМОСТЬ И ОПРАВДАННОСТЬ

The rabies virus remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases that can affect mammals, including humans. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of this virus is critical for taking measures to control its spread and prevent possible epidemics. In recent years, RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) has become an increasingly popular tool in the molecular diagnosis of various infections, including the rabies virus. The use of the RT-PCR method in diagnosing the rabies virus is not only necessary, but also justified. Its high efficiency, speed and relative ease of use, as well as the ability to obtain accurate results, make it an unsurpassed tool in the fight against this infection. This study confirms that the RT-PCR method is the main and most recommended technique for diagnosing the rabies virus. In the territories of individual constituent entities of the Russian Federation, measures are constantly being taken to limit the spread of rabies disease, but despite this, the complete elimination of this disease, as well as the method of treating already infected organisms, remains impossible to this day. This is due to the lack of information about the virus. This article provides a thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the RT-PCR method in order to confirm its necessity in scientific research on the rabies virus and its use for diagnosing the disease. The idea is proven that the use of this rapid test in laboratory diagnostics has the potential to increase the effectiveness of rabies vaccines. Since this is an innovative method, it can become significant in selecting a course of treatment.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dog Owners Following Dog bites in Umuahia North and South, Abia State, Nigeria

Rabies, a fatal neurological disease of warm-blooded animals, is endemic and occurs throughout the year in all parts of Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess dog owners' knowledge, attitudes, and practices following dog bites. Umuahia North and Umuahia South Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected being active urban areas. A validated well-structured questionnaire was administered to 200 dog owners by face-to-face interviews who were consenting respondents conveniently selected from the study site. Data generated were analysed with statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Out of the 200 dog owners, 172 (86%) were not aware of rabies, 48 (24%) were of the notion that rabies does not kill only animals and 52 (26%) did not know that the virus that causes rabies is found in the nerves. One hundred and fifty (75%) respondents knew that rabies could be spread through the saliva of a rabid animal, 9 (4.5%) did not know that dogs are possible common sources of rabies in Nigeria and only 125 (62.5%) knew the age at which dogs should receive the first dose of rabies vaccine. Also, a good number of them 162 (80%) knew that keeping dogs that are not vaccinated against rabies is dangerous and should be avoided. One hundred and forty five (72.5%) respondents agreed that dog handlers should always wear protective clothing, and 117 (58.5%) accepted that it is good to wash dog bite wounds with soap and water. Age, Marital status, Occupation and Qualification were the socio-demographic variables associated with the knowledge, attitude and practice level of the respondents that were statistically significant (P≤0.05). Inadequate knowledge of some aspects of rabies, negative attitudes, and practices of dog owners following dog bites are indicative of a high risk of exposure of dog owners to rabies. It is suggested that public health education targeting dog owners be implemented to increase their level of awareness of rabies.

A modified recombinant adenovirus vector containing dual rabies virus G expression cassettes confers robust and long-lasting humoral immunity in mice, cats, and dogs

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the incidence of rabies has increased in several countries, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas, due to inadequate surveillance and declining immunization coverage. Multiple vaccinations with inactivated rabies virus vaccines for pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis are considered inefficient, expensive and impractical in developing countries. Herein, three modified human recombinant adenoviruses type 5 designated Adv-RVG, Adv-E1-RVG, and Adv-RVDG, carrying rabies virus G (RVG) expression cassettes in various combinations within E1 or E3 genomic regions, were constructed to serve as rabies vaccine candidates. Adv-RVDG mediated greater RVG expression both in vitro and in vivo and induced a more robust and durable humoral immune response than the rabies vaccine strain SAD-L16, Adv-RVG, and Adv-E1-RVG by more effectively activating the dendritic cells (DCs)- follicular helper T (Tfh) cells- germinal centre (GC) / memory B cells (MBCs)- long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) axis with 100% survival after a lethal RABV challenge in mice during the 24-week study period. Similarly, dogs and cats immunized with Adv-RVDG showed stronger and longer-lasting antibody responses than those vaccinated with a commercial inactivated rabies vaccine and showed good tolerance to Adv-RVDG. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that simultaneous insertion of protective antigens into the E1 and E3 genomic regions of adenovirus vector can significantly enhance the immunogenicity of adenoviral-vectored vaccines, providing a theoretical and practical basis for the subsequent development of multivalent and multi-conjugated vaccines using recombinant adenovirus platform. Meanwhile, our data suggest Adv-RVDG is a safe, efficient, and economical vaccine for mass-coverage immunization.

A brief history of rabies in Haiti until the adoption of the One Health approach for its epidemiological surveillance and control

Rabies was first identified in dogs and humans by a French veterinarian, Jean Lompagieu Lapole, in 1788 in the colony of Saint-Domingue, which later became Haiti. Rabies has continued to persist in the country despite some intermittent successes in combating this disease over the past 20 years. We are trying to understand why rabies, which has officially existed in the country for around 250 years, is still classified as a neglected disease and continues to result in cases of human mortality. For a significant period, until the implementation of the Haiti Animal Rabies Surveillance Program (HARSP) in 2011, there was no robust initiative to fight against rabies based on regular vaccination campaigns and an effective epidemiological surveillance system despite certain efforts made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Pan American Health Organization Project of Strengthening Public Agricultural Services (RESEPAG): Projet de Renforcement des Services publics Agricoles (PAHO) to increase dog vaccinations. The HARSP program was established with technical assistance from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (CDC) to control and eliminate rabies in the short term, according to the One Health approach. It was a passive surveillance system based on strengthening the rabies diagnostic capacity of the Veterinary Laboratory, training veterinary and public health technicians, and supporting rabies vaccination campaigns. This approach has resulted in effective cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Health based on the “One Health” enabling the Ministry of Public Health to report daily on bite to the Ministry of Agriculture for further investigations. HARSP marked a pivotal moment in the Rabies Control and Elimination Program. Between January 2013 and December 2017, there were 9,342 reported human exposures to animals suspected of carrying rabies in Haiti. The number of Human exposures to rabies suspected animals in Haiti from January 2013 to December 2017 was 9,342 heads. Among these cases, 2.4% were confirmed, 4.9% probable, 17.8% suspected, and 74.6% discarded. The One Health rabies program has demonstrated the potential for achieving control of both animal and human rabies in Haiti if the ministries of Agriculture and Health commit unequivocally to continue their collaborative development efforts and adhere to HARSP methodology, including vaccinating over 70% of the dog population.

Research on the rabies and rabies vaccines

Rabies is a highly lethal disease with a long history that most of the patients were infected by dog bites. Therefore, the scientific popularization and research of rabies are particularly important. This article mainly analyzes rabies from three aspects: the rabies virus, the rabies vaccines and treatment methods. Firstly, the infection mode and characteristics of the rabies virus and some clinical features after human infection with the rabies virus were analyzed, so as to facilitate people's understanding of the infection route and reduce the infection rate. The introduction of clinical features also made it easier for doctors or relatives of patients to determine whether patients were infected with rabies. Enable patients to get effective treatment quickly. The rabies vaccine is the main measure to prevent rabies. This part lists the history of human rabies vaccines and introduces some successful human rabies vaccines. Finally, the current treatment status of rabies is introduced, the methods that may play an important role in the treatment of rabies in the future are proposed, and the possibility of rabies being cured is confirmed. However, due to the complex mechanism of rabies itself, it is still necessary to continue to study rabies in order to completely defeat this disease.

Rabies proteins functions and future directions

The rabies virus, which mostly originates from the bite of a sick dog or cat and spreads, kills tens of thousands of people each year, and it is super lethal, with almost no one surviving the infection, s so, everyone is afraid of it. The main body of the rabies virus is bullet-shaped, and each combination of proteins in it is an innate destroyer. From the destruction of cells by the G and M proteins to the transcription of the P and L proteins in concert with each other, the precision, and division of labor of the rabies virus are obvious. Of these, the L protein is the key to the operation of everything, and this paper will explore the destruction of each protein, thereby stopping the spread of RABV. In particular, the possibility that the L protein, unlike rabies vaccines currently on the market, might be a future drug design idea by destroying the structure of RABV after the virus enters the cell. Keywords: Rabies, RABV, Protein Matching, L protein.

Safety and immunogenicity of a serum-free purified Vero rabies vaccine in comparison with the rabies human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV; Imovax® Rabies) administered in a simulated rabies post-exposure regimen in healthy adults

A new generation, serum-free, antibiotic-free, purified Vero rabies vaccine (PVRV-NG; Sanofi) has been developed based on the same Pitman-Moore viral strain used for the currently licensed purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV; Verorab®, Sanofi) and human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV; Imovax® Rabies, Sanofi). PVRV-NG has demonstrated a satisfactory safety profile and induces robust immune responses, with non-inferiority demonstrated versus PVRV when given as a three-dose pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimen in healthy children and adults. Here, we evaluated the safety and immunogenic non-inferiority of PVRV-NG compared to HDCV when administered as simulated post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), with concomitant administration of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG), in healthy adults in the USA. Participants were vaccinated according to the 5-dose Essen intramuscular regimen (4-week, 1-injection site regimen, with a single dose given on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28) for PEP, with concomitant HRIG administered on day 0. Rabies virus neutralising antibodies (RVNA) were evaluated on days 0, 14, 28 and 42. Non-inferiority of PVRV-NG compared with HDCV was shown if the lower limit of the 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the difference in seroconversion rates (RVNA titers ≥ 0.5 IU/mL on day 14) between PVRV-NG and HDCV was above the non-inferiority margin of –5 %. Safety was evaluated after each vaccination and monitored throughout the study. The difference in seroconversion rate between the PVRV-NG and HDCV groups was –2.8 % (95 % CI, –8.08 to 4.20), indicating that non-inferiority was not demonstrated. The seroconversion rate was < 99 % in both study groups on day 14. There were no major safety concerns identified, and PVRV-NG demonstrated a similar safety profile to HDCV.

The relationship between the indicators of natural antibodies, total immunoglobulins and immunocompetent blood cells of sheep in the process of post-vaccination immune response

Innate immunity plays an important role in protecting the body from pathogenic microorganisms. The significance of its structures in vaccination is currently widely discussed. The purpose of the research was to study the dynamics of immunological parameters during the immune response to various types of vaccines.The paper analyzes the levels of natural antibodies in the blood serum of sheep and considers possible correlations with indicators of innate immunity during the post-vaccination immune response. After blood sampling (background), the animals were immunized with rabies (n=5) and anthrax (n=5) vaccines. On the first day of the immune response in the blood of the sheep of the experimental groups, there was a slight increase in tot- Ig, the number of neutrophils increased, and the number of lymphocytes decreased. It was found that on the seven day the concentration of tot- Ig, which also includes specific antibodies to the antigens of vaccines against rabies and anthrax, increased by 2 times compared to the background values. However, the NAb concentration slightly increased only on the first day of the immune response to the anthrax vaccine. In animals, regardless of the vaccine administered, a negative correlation between the number of lymphocytes and neutrophils was constantly maintained (r= -0.88±0.02). As well as in the control (r= - 0.48), the negative correlation between neutrophils /NAb (r= - 0.52; r= -0.76) remained, which indicates the activation of phagocytes and the synthesis of natural antibodies. On the other hand, a correlation relationship between lymphocytes/NAb was established during the immune response to the vaccine against rabies (r=0.5) and anthrax (r=0.7), and the absence of this relationship in the control (r=0.16), which indicates the reaction of natural antibodies to a foreign antigen. The correlations of lymphocytes /NAb (r=0.7) and lymphocytes/tot- Ig (r=0.8) were higher in the dynamics of the immune response to the anthrax vaccine than to the rabies vaccine (r=0.5). It appears that serum anti- KLH NAbs, which include various Ig isotypes, may re ect innate humoral immune competence.

Rabies exposure and prophylaxis among dog owners in Ogun State, Nigeria: a descriptive and categorical analysis of knowledge, attitudes and practices

Background: Rabies, a deadly viral human-animal disease, remains endemic in Nigeria. Identifying gaps in rabies knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dog owners in communities within Southwestern Nigeria remains a public health goal. This cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge of and attitudes to rabies exposure, prophylaxis and associated factors, and practices during rabies exposure and prophylaxis among dog owners in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: Using multistage sampling technique, 500 dog owners were randomly selected and interviewed with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data collected on their socio-demographics, knowledge of and attitudes to rabies exposure and prophylaxis, and practices during rabies exposure and prophylaxis were evaluated using descriptive and categorical analysis. Results: The majority of the respondents were female (53.0%; 265 respondents of 500 respondents), 32 years old (54.6%; 273 of 500), and had primary and secondary education (53.2%; 266 of 500 respondents). The majority (60.0%; 300 of 500 respondents) allowed their dogs to roam the streets, but only 120 (24.0%) had vaccinated their dogs up to date. Of the 500 respondents, 145 (29%) had experienced dog bites, but few (4.1%; 6 of 145) received rabies vaccine, and even fewer (2.8%; 4 of 145) completed the regimen. Proportions of respondents with knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with higher rabies risks were 37.8%, 59.4%, and 97.6%, respectively. Age (P = 0.01), education (P = 0.04), short-term dog ownership (P = 0.01), and occupation (P = 0.01) were factors associated with their practices in relation to higher rabies risks. Conclusion: The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dog owners towards rabies exposure portends a high risk. Public health interventions to achieve behavioural change, and the enforcement of dog vaccination and leash laws are highly recommended.

Spatiotemporal analysis of Rabies outbreaks in herbivores in Tocantins as a subsidy for the detection of epizootics

An effective epidemiological surveillance system is essential to help control rabies, as it allows the early detection of unexpected increases in the disease as well as the identification of geographic areas with populations that need greater attention from the Official Veterinary Services (OVS). The present study aimed to comprehend the behavior of rabies outbreaks in herbivores, through a temporal analysis using a control diagram based on moving averages, and a spatial diffusion mapping. A spatial clustering analysis in rabies outbreaks was performed using both nearest neighbor analysis and ST-DBSCAN (Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise). Additionally, associated risk factors and the effectiveness of rabies vaccination was assessed using a chi-square (χ²) test and odds ratios as the association measure. The study detected rabies outbreaks in state of Tocantins in certain years, especially in 2015. Spatial analysis revealed clustering (nearest neighbor index = 0.555; p &lt; 0.05) in intermediate regions of Araguaína e Palmas. Risk factors identified included shelter linked to relief, vegetation, and anthropic factors. The findings of this study have significant implications for the control of rabies in herbivores, providing valuable information to guide vaccination efforts and the control of hematophagous bats, thus aiding in disease prevention and control actions not only Tocantins state but also in other geographic regions grappling with paralytic rabies.

Investigation and analysis on the establishment and operation of adult vaccination clinics in Shandong Province

Objective: To understand the setting of adult vaccination clinics and the situation of adult vaccination in Shandong province, and provide the date basis for the construction and development of adult vaccination clinics in Shandong province. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to survey the settings, personnel allocation, operation status, and adult vaccination status of child-adult vaccination clinics and adult vaccination clinics. A random sampling survey was conducted for hydrophobia vaccination clinics in 12 counties (cities, districts) of Shandong province. The settings and vaccination status of different types of adult vaccination clinics were compared and analyzed using analysis of variance or χ2-test. Results: Among the investigated counties (cities, districts), the child-adult vaccination clinics, the adult vaccination clinics, and the hydrophobia vaccination clinics accounted for 59.51%, 7.97% and 32.52%, respectively. The construction model could be divided into three models: child-adult vaccination clinic model, child-adult and hydrophobia vaccination clinic model, child-adult, adult and hydrophobia vaccination clinic model. The child-adult vaccination clinics had been set up for a long time (≥3 years accounted for 94.33%) and were set up by public primary medical institutions (public institutions accounted for 93.81% and primary institutions accounted for 92.78%). Each vaccination clinic was equipped with full-time and part-time staff of (3.19±3.01) and (3.72±4.32). The adult vaccination clinics had been set up for a short time (≥3 years accounted for 94.33%) and were set up by public/private primary/secondary medical institutions in urban areas (urban areas accounted for 100%, primary institutions accounted for 69.23%, and private institutions accounted for 57.69%). Each vaccination clinic was equipped with full-time and part-time staff of (2.46±2.87) and (3.08±3.53). The coverage of influenza vaccine (InfV), human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B) reached 100%, 98.45% and 97.42% in children-adult vaccination clinics, and 88.46%, 84.62% and 73.08% in adult vaccination clinics, respectively. The hydrophobia vaccination clinics only provided rabies vaccine for human use (RabV) and tetanus vaccine (TV) vaccination simultaneously. A total of 819.8 thousand doses of adult vaccines were administered in 2021. The adult inoculation doses of RabV, lnfV and HPV accounted for 42.60%, 27.47% and 17.54% of the total inoculation doses, respectively. The inoculation doses of InfV, HPV and RabV accounted for 49.33%, 21.97% and 13.80% of child-adult vaccination clinics, respectively. The inoculation doses of HPV, HepB and RabV accounted for 49.36%, 15.40% and 14.71% of adult vaccination clinics, respectively. The proportion of RabV reached 94.44% in the hydrophobia vaccination clinics alone. Conclusion: Adult vaccination is at the initial stage in Shandong province. The children's vaccination clinic is mainly responsible for adult vaccination. The variety of adult vaccines is relatively concentrated, and the adult vaccination rate is lower. The construction and publicity of adult vaccination should be further strengthened.

Analysis of adult vaccination in Shandong Province from 2018 to 2022

Objective: To analyze the utilization of adult vaccination among people aged 18 and above in Shandong Province from 2018 to 2022. Methods: Data on vaccination units in 2022 and individual cases of vaccination information for people aged 18 and above were extracted from the Shandong Immunization Information System. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the distribution of adult vaccination units and adult vaccination varieties. The total vaccination amount and vaccination rate were calculated. Results: By the end of 2022, there were 3 948 vaccination units providing adult vaccination in Shandong Province, with 0.36 adult vaccination clinics per 10 000 people. Adult vaccination including RabV(rabies vaccine for human use), InfV(influenza vaccine), HPV(human papillomavirus), HepB(hepatitis B vaccine), PPV23(23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine), MenACYW135(meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine group ACYW135), MMR(measles, mumps and rubella combined attenuated live vaccine), HEV(hepatitise E vaccine), RZV(recombinant zoster vaccine), TV(tetanus vaccine) and HF(haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome vaccine) vaccines were administered, with a cumulative dose of 40.056 9 million and an average of 0.1 doses per person per year from 2018 to 2022. The top three vaccines were RabV, InfV and HPV, accounting for 31.48%, 22.57%, and 15.93% of the total vaccination amount, respectively. The annual vaccination dose for adults increased from 3.477 3 million in 2018 to 13.308 6 million in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 56.55%. The cumulative 5-year doses of RabV and TV were 15.90 doses per 100 people and 0.21 doses per 100 people. The average annual vaccination rate of InfV was 2.28%. The cumulative full vaccination rates of HPV, HepB, PPV23 and RZV were 12.44%, 1.61%, 0.52% and 0.17%, respectively. The cumulative 5-year doses of RabV and TV were 29.19 doses per 100 people and 0.43 doses per 100 people in the age group of 20 to<30 years old. The vaccination rates of InfV and PPV23 were 9.08% and 1.27% in the age group of 70 to<80 years old. The vaccination rate of RZV was 0.11% in the age group of 50 to<60 years old. The HPV vaccination rate was 18.09% in the age group of 20 to<30 years old, and the HepB, MenACYW135, MMR and HEV vaccination rates were 6.21%, 9.55%, 2.65%, and 2.83% in the 18-19 age group, respectively. Conclusion: There are relatively few types of adult vaccination in Shandong Province, with narrow coverage and low vaccination rates.

Rabies suspected human cases in and around Jimma zone, south west Ethiopia

Rabies, a viral disease affecting warm-blooded animals, poses a significant public health concern in Ethiopia, particularly concerning human transmission through dogs. To shed light on the status of suspected rabies cases in humans in the Jimma zone and surrounding areas, a retrospective study was conducted at the Jimma Town Health Center from November 2021 to May 2022. The area's rabies status had been unknown since 2012. From 2019 to 2022, a total of 2,223 suspected human rabies cases were recorded at the Health Center, with Jimma town and Xiro Afeta districts of Jimma zone reporting the highest (62%) and lowest (0.3%) numbers, respectively. Of these cases, 96.9% (2,155) resulted from dog bites, with children under 15 years old constituting the majority (52.8%) of victims. Town areas accounted for 66.8% (1,378) of the cases. Significantly variable occurrences were observed in relation to religious category, season, source of exposure, affected body part, and districts within the Jimma zone (P=0.000). The main challenges identified included an increase in stray dog populations, the absence of control centers, lack of awareness about pre-exposure vaccination for owned dogs, a scarcity of rabies vaccine in local veterinary services, and the unavailability of post-exposure prophylaxis at district health centers. Addressing these issues through awareness campaigns for dog owners on pre-exposure vaccination and ensuring the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis to all district health centers is crucial for controlling and preventing rabies in the study area. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2023, 9 (4), 126-133

In free-roaming dog populations, does egg-based oral rabies vaccination programmes result in improved bait efficacy?

PICO Question In free-roaming dog populations, does an egg-based oral rabies vaccination (ORV) compared with meat and fish based ORVs result in improved bait efficacy? Clinical bottom line Category of research Treatment. Number and type of study designs reviewed Three non-blinded, control trials were critically reviewed. Strength of evidence Weak. Outcomes reported Variables assessed in this Knowledge Summary included the type of bait that stray dogs were most interested in, and whether or not the dog was successfully vaccinated by release of the vaccine sachet into the oral cavity. Conclusion There is weak evidence to show that stray dogs prefer egg-based baits in compared to other bait types, despite egg-based baits allowing for more successful perforation of the vaccine sachet, and hence a higher chance of a successful oral rabies vaccination. How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.