Factors Influencing Animal Bites in Iran: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

ObjectivesAnimal bite is a significant health economic challenge worldwide. In Iran, there has been an increase in the number of animal bites in recent years. This study was performed to investigate the epidemiology of animal bites and their influencing factors in Semirom, Iran, from 2008 to 2012.MethodsThis was a descriptive study conducted for 5 years. The data were based on the information sheets presented in health-care centers concerning how to combat against rabies caused by animal bites. The data obtained were classified and analyzed statistically.ResultsDuring the 5-year study period, 1,246 animal bite cases were reported; 60% of the victims belonged to rural areas and the remaining 40% to urban areas. Among various aggressive animals, dogs had the highest rate of attacks (63.4%). The highest rate of animal bite (23.19%) was reported in the age group of 10–19 years and the lowest one (2.32%) was reported in the age group of 0–4 years. The animal bite rates among men and women were 76% and 24%; respectively. The highest and lowest rates were found among students (23.5%) and employees (5.5%), respectively. Regarding the commonly injured organ, the highest (67%) and lowest rates (23%) were for lower extremities and head and face, respectively. Regarding the nationality of the victims, 98% were Iranians and the rest were Afghan.ConclusionGiven the increasing number of animal bites reported, there is a need to implement strategies to prevent bite-related complications, which may have health and financial burden on the country. It is also necessary to increase awareness among target groups and to formulate preventive strategies with the help of various authorities to control animal bites.

Using phylogeographic approaches to analyse the dispersal history, velocity and direction of viral lineages — Application to rabies virus spread in Iran

“…Dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) are the primary source of human rabies in Iran, but many other rabid wild animals such as Blanford's foxes ( Vulpes cana ), golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), mongooses ( Herpestes auropunctatus , Herpestes edwardsii ) and wolves ( Canis lupus ) are reported with high frequency throughout the country yearly, suggesting a complex epidemiological scenario (Janani et al, ; Picot et al, ; Seimenis, ). As a consequence, Iran is characterized by one of the highest annual rates of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP; 22/10000 by 2018) provided to exposed patients worldwide (Dehghani, Sharif, Madani, Kashani, & Sharif, ; Farahtaj, Fayaz, Howaizi, Biglari, & Gholami, ). Despite this high burden, epidemiological studies on rabies in Iran have so far been limited to epidemiological studies of animal bites (Charkazi et al, ; Dehghani et al, ; Feizhaddad, Kassiri, Lotfi, & Hoseini, ) and to small‐scale molecular epidemiological investigations (Nadin‐Davis, Simani, Armstrong, Fayaz, & Wandeler, ).…”

“…As a consequence, Iran is characterized by one of the highest annual rates of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP; 22/10000 by 2018) provided to exposed patients worldwide (Dehghani, Sharif, Madani, Kashani, & Sharif, ; Farahtaj, Fayaz, Howaizi, Biglari, & Gholami, ). Despite this high burden, epidemiological studies on rabies in Iran have so far been limited to epidemiological studies of animal bites (Charkazi et al, ; Dehghani et al, ; Feizhaddad, Kassiri, Lotfi, & Hoseini, ) and to small‐scale molecular epidemiological investigations (Nadin‐Davis, Simani, Armstrong, Fayaz, & Wandeler, ). More comprehensive data to define the distribution, reservoirs and dispersal dynamics of rabies in Iran are hence important in order to gain a better understanding of the role of environmental heterogeneity and potentially different animal host species in the maintenance and spread of the disease as well as the development of control measures.…”

“…For centuries, rabies has been present in Iran and has been a notifiable disease since several decades (Baltazard & Ghodssi, 1954 (Janani et al, 2008;Picot et al, 2017;Seimenis, 2008). As a consequence, Iran is characterized by one of the highest annual rates of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP; 22/10000 by 2018) provided to exposed patients worldwide (Dehghani, Sharif, Madani, Kashani, & Sharif, 2016;Farahtaj, Fayaz, Howaizi, Biglari, & Gholami, 2014).…”

“…Despite this high burden, epidemiological studies on rabies in Iran have so far been limited to epidemiological studies of animal bites (Charkazi et al, 2013;Dehghani et al, 2016;Feizhaddad, Kassiri, Lotfi, & Hoseini, 2014) in the present study were selected at random but while trying to maximize the spatial coverage of the country. Furthermore, we also included a balanced proportion of nondomestic dog samples in our final data set (41%) in order to investigate, but also to avoid underestimating, the role of wildlife species in spreading the virus on the study area.…”

Dog bites in a U.S. county: age, body part and breed in paediatric dog bites

“…Multiple investigators have evaluated the epidemiologic characteristics of dog bites (5,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Previous studies have also attempted to identify age-related differences in dog bites using hospital and county specific data (8,10,12).…”