Background and descriptive features of rabies-suspected animals in Central Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

Background The Philippines is one of the major endemic countries for canine rabies in Southeast Asia. However, detailed description and analysis of laboratory-confirmed animal rabies are limited. Highly accurate surveillance requires a thorough understanding of the target area-specific problems and obstacles. Therefore, we aim to describe and analyze the rabies suspect animals in Central Luzon, Philippines, to clarify the characteristics of management and clinical signs by conducting interviews with the owners. Methods We prospectively collected information on the rabies suspect animals submitted to the Regional animal laboratory in Central Luzon through passive laboratory-based rabies surveillance between 1st April 2019 and 30th September 2020. We performed active interviews directly or telephonically with the owner. The direct fluorescent antibody test was performed on the hippocampus, brain stem, and cerebellum for laboratory confirmation. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the number of rabies cases according to management methods and characteristics of suspected animals during the observation period. Clinical symptoms of suspected rabid animals were analyzed by univariate logistic regression analysis. Results There were 292 sample submissions during the study period. Of these, 160 were positive for dFAT. Samples of pet animals (85.3%) provided by owners or their acquaintances (59.2%) accounted for the majority of laboratory confirmed cases. Case mapping showed that more rabies-suspected cases were sent from areas near the regional laboratory than from those far from the laboratory, despite the incidence of rabies being high in these areas. The management and clinical symptoms of 227 animal cases showed that most owners were managing their animals at home and were allowing them to roam outside (69.6%) and be unvaccinated (78.9%). Rabid animals were more likely to manifest aimless running, restlessness, and agitation. Conclusions Our study provided some features of animals with laboratory-confirmed rabies in Central Luzon. However, most of the samples were submitted from areas near the rabies diagnosis laboratory, and the number of samples submitted from remote areas was low. To improve the surveillance capacity, it is necessary to increase sample submissions from remote areas.

Puppies as the primary causal animal for human rabies cases: three-year prospective study of human rabies in the Philippines

“…The prevalence of pet dogs as causal animals is similar to reports from China ( Ren et al, 2015 ; Guo et al, 2018 ) but different from Bangladesh, where stray dogs are the most common causal animals ( Ghosh et al, 2020 ; Rana et al, 2020 ). In the Philippines, many households keep dogs as pets and allow them to roam freely, but a significant number of dogs are not vaccinated ( Mananggit et al, 2021 ). Previous studies on human rabies have not provided much information on the age of animals causing human rabies ( Song et al, 2009 ; Dimaano et al, 2011 ; Susilawathi et al, 2012 ; Ren et al, 2015 ; Mani et al, 2016 ; Guo et al, 2018 ; Vargas et al, 2019 ; Ghosh et al, 2020 ; Rana et al, 2020 ; Duarte et al, 2021 ; Guzman et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Previous studies on human rabies have not provided much information on the age of animals causing human rabies ( Song et al, 2009 ; Dimaano et al, 2011 ; Susilawathi et al, 2012 ; Ren et al, 2015 ; Mani et al, 2016 ; Guo et al, 2018 ; Vargas et al, 2019 ; Ghosh et al, 2020 ; Rana et al, 2020 ; Duarte et al, 2021 ; Guzman et al, 2022 ). A study in the Philippines showed that the incidence of canine rabies was highest among puppies, with 38.0% under 3 months old and 24.0% between 3 and 11 months old ( Mananggit et al, 2021 ). There was a tragic case of a tourist from Norway dying of rabies after being bitten by puppies in the Philippines ( WHO Rabies Information System, 2019 ).…”

Molecular Analysis of Rabies Virus Using RNA Extracted from Used Lateral Flow Devices

“…This analysis was implemented under an existing study to evaluate LFDs for postmortem rabies diagnosis in animals ( 13 , 14 , 18 ). This study was performed at the Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in Central Luzon, Philippines.…”

Understanding Rabies Transmission Dynamics and Control in the Three Administrative Districts of Davao City Using a Modified SEIV Model

“…Locally, the City Veterinarian's Office (CVO) in Davao City has been conducting its intensified rabies control program (IRCP) (CVO 2021) across 11 administrative districts that are composed of mass dog vaccination; population control through castration; dog impounding; and conducting information, education, and communication (IEC) sessions (Lachica et al 2020(Lachica et al , 2021Diamante et al 2021;Montajes et al 2021) to control the spread of rabies infection with a goal of making Davao City rabies-free sooner than the national goal of a Rabies-Free Philippines by 2030 (Mananggit et al 2021). Despite the local implementation of the IRCP, animal rabies reportedly remained endemic in Davao City since 2010.…”