Epidemiology of animal bites in Rafsanjan, southeast of Islamic Republic of Iran, 2003-05

Abstract

The incidence of animal bites in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been increasing in recent years. In a descriptive study of 1542 patients referred to a health centre in Rafsanjan city from 2003 to 2005, the incidence of animal bites in the area was estimated as 180, 195 and 241 per 100 000 in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. Of the patients, 74% were bitten by dogs, 23% by cats and 3% by other animals (monkeys, rats, foxes, bats, donkeys, etc.). The mean time delay from injury to initial management was 15.1 (SD 29.8) hours. Rabies vaccine was given to 85% of cases, rabies vaccine plus rabies immunoglobulin to 15% and tetanus toxoid vaccine to 66%.

Animal Bites in Borujerd: An Overview of Animal Bites in Iran

“…A research in Tehran showed that among 8806 patients treated for animal bites, 94% were from Tehran city and 6% from the suburbs (11). In Rafsabjan, 45% of animal bites occurred in urban areas, while 55% were reported in rural areas (17). However, in Ilam 77.3% of patients were rural inhabitants, while 22.7% were living in the city (15).…”

“…The maintenance host is dominantly a domestic dog or a wild animal species (19). Several cases of animal bite are reported in Iran (11) and its frequency has been rising in recent years (17). Out of 2783 exposed cases referred to public health centers for animal bites, from April 2006 to September 2011 in Borujerd, the biting animals were mostly dogs, cats, fox and wolf, sheep and cow, monkey and donkey, mouse and squirrel and also other animals with 69.8%, 17.2%, 1.4%, 2.8%, 5%, 2.2% and 1.6% respectively (Figure 1).…”

“…Similar results were reported in Kerman with 79.36% non-completed vaccination and 20.64% completed rabies vaccination (16), as the most rational therapeutic strategy. In Rafsanjan 85% of injured patients received rabies vaccine, 15% received both rabies vaccine plus rabies immunoglobulin, and 66% received tetanus toxoid vaccine in addition (17). The main objective of the current research was to study the epidemiology of animal bites in Borujerd county, located in Lorestan, a western Province in Iran (11,18) to compare its prevalence to other regions of Iran.…”

A Three-Year Epidemiological Study of Animal Bites and Rabies in Hamedan Province of Iran

“…(11). There are also other epidemiological studies, which have reported increase in the incidence of animal rabies in Iran (12,13).…”

Delay in Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and Associated Factors Among People Bitten by Animals in the Northeast of Iran, 2015

“…Rabies disease exists in Iran for a long time and it is endemic in the country (4). Incidence of animal bites is increasing in different parts of Iran in the recent decades (5)(6)(7)(8). In addition, dogs are the main reservoir of the disease and all rabies cases reported in Iran were associated with dog bites often poorly controlled (4).…”