Vaccination of humans and domestic and wild animals against rabies in Lithuania 2006–2010

Abstract

The incidence of rabies and vaccination against this disease in human and animal populations were investigated in Lithuania in 2006-2010. In the last five years, up to 7-10 thousand people in Lithuania suffered from the diseased animals every year. Dogs are the most common domestic animals that humans suffer from (in earlier years, about 70-80% every year); in 2006-2009, 23-30% of human victims were exposed to rabid dogs, whereas in 2010 only 1.92%. The exposed people were vaccinated with inactivated vaccine against rabies Verorab® (Sanofi Pasteur, France) and immunoglobulin Imogam®Rabies (Sanofi Pasteur, France). For about a year (2006)(2007) Favirab immunoglobulin (Sanofi Pasteur, France) has been used. This preventive method is applied to 60-70% of people exposed to potentially rabid animals every year. During the time frame of investigation only in 2007 a case of human rabies was reported in a person who had not been preventively vaccinated. That was a man who travelled in India and was bitten by a stray dog.Dogs, cats and cattle are the most common domestic animals responsible for transmission of human rabies, while red foxes and raccoon dogs are most common in the wild animal group. In the last five years, 9 554 domestic and wild animals were investigated for rabies. Among 2 980 samples taken from domestic animals and 6 574 samples from the wild ones, 16.77% and 35.39%, respectively, were positive. Since 2006 in Lithuania twice a year (in spring and autumn) wild animals are orally vaccinated using "Lysvulpen" vaccine (Bioveta, Czech Republic). In 2006-2010, 3 130 blood serum samples from wild animals were examined for efficiency of rabies oral vaccination (ORV). The greatest number of serologically positive samples was taken from red foxes and raccoon dogs: 57.55% and 50.00%, respectively. Systematic ORV is responsible for the rabies decline in animals. In 2010, rabies was reported in 13 Lithuanian districts: Ignalina, Šalčininkai, Zarasai, Širvintos, Molėtai, Vilnius, Varėna, Utena, Kaunas, Raseiniai, Skuodas, Panevėžys and Pasvalys. Vaccination against rabies is the main immunopreventive measure controlling the disease in animals.