Geographical Analysis for Detecting High-Risk Areas for Bovine/Human Rabies Transmitted by the Common Hematophagous Bat in the Amazon Region, Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundThe common hematophagous bat, Desmodus rotundus, is one of the main wild reservoirs of rabies virus in several regions in Latin America. New production practices and changed land use have provided environmental features that have been very favorable for D. rotundus bat populations, making this species the main transmitter of rabies in the cycle that involves humans and herbivores. In the Amazon region, these features include a mosaic of environmental, social, and economic components, which together creates areas with different levels of risk for human and bovine infections, as presented in this work in the eastern Brazilian Amazon.MethodologyWe geo-referenced a total of 175 cases of rabies, of which 88% occurred in bovines and 12% in humans, respectively, and related these cases to a number of different geographical and biological variables. The spatial distribution was analyzed using the Kernel function, while the association with independent variables was assessed using a multi-criterion Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique.FindingsThe spatiotemporal analysis of the occurrence of rabies in bovines and humans found reduction in the number of cases in the eastern state of Pará, where no more cases were recorded in humans, whereas high infection rates were recorded in bovines in the northeastern part of the state, and low rates in the southeast. The areas of highest risk for bovine rabies are found in the proximity of rivers and highways. In the case of human rabies, the highest concentration of high-risk areas was found where the highway network coincides with high densities of rural and indigenous populations.ConclusionThe high-risk areas for human and bovine rabies are patchily distributed, and related to extensive deforested areas, large herds of cattle, and the presence of highways. These findings provide an important database for the generation of epidemiological models that could support the development of effective prevention measures and controls.

Geographic distribution of <em>Desmodus rotundus</em> in Mexico under current and future climate change scenarios: Implications for bovine paralytic rabies infection

“…12,15 However, an increase in the suitable area for other vectors of the rabies disease and other biotic factors driving the dynamics of the disease, such as shelter and food availability and biological corridors, may contribute to an increased risk of the disease. 15,44,45 Our results indicate significant changes in the pattern of distribution and incidence of bovine paralytic rabies in Mexico. The highest risk for bovine paralytic rabies occurs in the dry season (April and May).…”

“…However, the transformation of natural environments to grasslands for the development of the cattle industry, and the micro-climatic changes fostered by these disturbances have favoured the expansion of D. rotundus into other regions. 12,15,44 Future distribution of D. rotundus (Figures 4, 5). A similar pattern was observed when the more development-intensive RCP 8.5 scenario was used: a reduction of 27 % (229 486 km 2 ) for the decade of 2050 and 34 % (283 471 km 2 ) for the decade of 2070 (Figures 4, 5).…”

“…28 Nevertheless, an increase of suitable areas for other vectors of the rabies disease and other biotic factors driving the dynamics of the disease, such as shelter and food availability and biological corridors, may contribute to the increased risk of the disease. 8,44,48 This number is likely an underestimation because the cattle population is likely to exceed the values reported by the 2007 census that were used in the model and because of the ongoing and projected conversion of natural ecosystems to grazing land to accommodate livestock production.…”

Modeling of a procedure for unmasking the foxes during activities on the elimination of biosafety threats related to rabies

“…Paper [6] describes the same negative role of blood-sucking bats in South America. Article [7] gives analysis of geographic data of areas with a high risk of contracting rabies from blood-sucking animals for humans and cattle in the region of the Amazon in Brazil.…”

Estudo Retrospectivo Da Raiva Em Herbívoros E Animais Silvestres No Estado Do Maranhão

“…A raiva rural é considerada uma doença enzoótica no país, ocorrendo em herbívoros de todo o território nacional, com sua incidência variando de acordo com a região geográfica (BRASIL, 2015). Diferentes espécies de morcegos e outros animais silvestres podem ser reservatórios do vírus, sendo Desmodus rotundus o principal responsável pela transmissão da infecção para os herbívoros, a partir da mordedura e lambedura da mucosa ou da pele lesionada por animais infectados (KOTAIT et al, 2007;ANDRADE et al, 2016).…”