Rabies in humans and non-human in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

Fernandes, Marcus Emanuel Barroncas; Costa, Luciano; Andrade, Fernanda Atanaena Gonçalves de; Silva, Lucila Pereira

doi:10.1016/j.bjid.2012.10.015

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It is important to emphasize that cattle ranching is one of the principal factors determining the maintenance and distribution of the rabies virus. 8 The serological percentage recorded for the study population (50.8%) was very high, especially in comparison with the data available from other studies at different sites around the world. Reynes et al, 19 for example, recorded a value of only 4% in bats captured in Cambodia, while in southeastern China, a region afflicted by serious outbreaks of rabies, only 2% of samples tested positive.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 46%

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Serological investigation of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in bats captured in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

Costa¹,

Andrade²,

Uieda³

et al. 2013

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygi

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 46%

“…4 -7 Some of these cases were recorded in the northeastern portion of the state of Pará , 5,7 where rabies cases are proportionally five times greater than in other mesoregions of this state. 8 Because of this, studies of rabies and the local chiropteran fauna in this region have been prioritized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological investigation of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in bats captured in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

Costa¹,

Andrade²,

Uieda³

et al. 2013

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygi

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“…Vaccination campaigns have also been established for farm animals, and while not distributed freely, they represent an important government incentive aimed at guaranteeing the vaccination of domestic stocks. Fernandes et al [ 29 ] showed that an increase in the production of beef resulted in an increase in the number of rabies cases in the Brazilian Amazon basin. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining cattle stocks vaccinated, given that beef production tends to be directly proportional to the number of rabies cases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rabies: Knowledge and Practices Regarding Rabies in Rural Communities of the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Costa

Fernandes

2016

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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BackgroundThe occurrence of outbreaks of human rabies transmitted by Desmodus rotundus in Brazil in 2004 and 2005 reinforced the need for further research into this zoonosis. Studies of knowledge and practices related to the disease will help to define strategies for the avoidance of new cases, through the identification of gaps that may affect the preventive practices.Methodology/Principal findingsA semi-structured questionnaire was applied to 681 residents of twelve communities of northeastern Pará state involved in the 2004 and 2005 outbreaks mentioned above. The objective was to evaluate the local knowledge and practices related to the disease. We found a highly significant difference (p<0.0001) in the knowledge of rabies among education levels, indicating that education is a primary determinant of knowledge on this disease. More than half of the respondents (63%) recognized the seriousness of the zoonosis, and 50% were aware of the importance of bats for its transmission, although few individuals (11%) were familiar with the symptoms, and only 40% knew methods of prevention. Even so, 70% of pet owners maintained their animals vaccinated, and 52% of the respondents bitten by bats had received post-exposure vaccination. Most of the respondents (57%) reported being familiarized with rabies through informal discussions, and only a few (23%) mentioned public health agents as the source of their information.Conclusion/SignificanceWe identified many gaps in the knowledge and practices of the respondents regarding rabies. This may be the result of the reduced participation of public health agents in the transfer of details about the disease. The lack of knowledge may be a direct determinant in the occurrence of new outbreaks. Given these findings, there is a clear need for specific educational initiatives involving the local population and the public health entities, with the primary aim of contributing to the prevention of rabies.

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“…Between 1996 and 2010, 113 human rabies cases associated with vampire bats were registered in Peru and in 2011, eight children died from rabies in an Amerindian community [ 33 , 34 ]. In Brazil, numerous cases have also been reported in the Amazonian region with more than 62 persons infected between 2004 and 2005 [ 35 , 36 ]. In French Guiana, a French overseas department located on the northern part of the Amazonian region, 13 rabies cases were recorded in cattle and domestic carnivores between 1984 and 2011 [ 37 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioecological Drivers of Rabies Virus Circulation in a Neotropical Bat Community

et al. 2016

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IntroductionIn addition to the commonly accepted importance of the vampire bat in the maintenance and transmission of the rabies virus (RABV) in South America, RABV infection of other species is widely evidenced, challenging their role in the viral cycle.Methodology / Principles findingsTo identify the bioecological drivers of RABV circulation in neotropical bat communities, we conducted a molecular and serological survey on almost 1,000 bats from 30 species, and a 4-year longitudinal survey in two colonies of vampire bats in French Guiana. RABV was molecularly detected in a common vampire and in a frugivorous bat. The sequences corresponded to haematophagous bat-related strains and were close to viruses circulating in the Brazilian Amazon region. Species’ seroprevalence ranged from 0 to 20%, and the risk of seropositivity was higher in bats with a haematophagous diet, living in monospecific colonies and in dense forests. The longitudinal survey showed substantial temporal fluctuations, with individual waves of seroconversions and waning immunity. The high prevalences observed in bat communities, in most habitats and in species that do not share the same microhabitats and bioecological patterns, the temporal variations, and a rather short period of detectable antibodies as observed in recaptured vampires suggest (i) frequent exposure of animals, (ii) an ability of the infected host to control and eliminate the virus, (iii) more relaxed modes of exposure between bats than the commonly assumed infection via direct contact with saliva of infected animals, all of which should be further investigated.Conclusions / significanceWe hypothesize that RABV circulation in French Guiana is mainly maintained in the pristine forest habitats that may provide sufficient food resources to allow vampire bats, the main prevalent species, to survive and RABV to be propagated. However, on the forest edge and in disturbed areas, human activities may induce more insidious effects such as defaunation. One of the ecological consequences is the disappearance of resources for tertiary or secondary consumers. Populations of vampires may then shift to alternative resources such as cattle, domestic animals and humans. Therefore, a good forest status, allowing both a dilution effect in highly rich bat communities and the maintenance of large populations of medium-sized and large mammals used as prey by vampires, should prevent their migration to anthropized areas.

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Rabies in humans and non-human in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Serological investigation of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in bats captured in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

Serological investigation of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in bats captured in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

Rabies: Knowledge and Practices Regarding Rabies in Rural Communities of the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Bioecological Drivers of Rabies Virus Circulation in a Neotropical Bat Community

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