Recent Research Papers - April 2014

 

 

Here we aim to list recent research papers most relevant to GARC’s mission.

 

 

 

Surveillance

Human rabies surveillance and control in China, 2005-2012. From 2005-2012, 19,221 cases were reported across 30 provinces, primarily in rural SE China where low rates of PEP occur. Nevertheless, regulation of PEP quality, together with improved management and vaccination of domesticated animals, has improved prevention and control of rabies.

Global Positioning System: a new tool for measurement of animal bites in a rural area near Bangalore, South India. GPS technology was found a useful new tool in accurate spatial mapping of animal bite cases.

Phylogeographic analysis of rabies viruses in the Philippines. The Philippine rabies strains were introduced from China, and subsequently evolved within the Philippines, without further introduction of rabies viruses from any other country. Island-to-island migrations were observed, but the seas are a significant geographical barrier for viral dispersal.

Disease control through fertility control: Secondary benefits of animal birth control in Indian street dogs. 240 sexually intact street dogs were surveyed. Dogs in cities with an ABC programs had with significantly higher overall body condition scores, lower prevalence of open wounds likely caused by fighting, and some (but not all) parasite infestations and diseases.

Economics of rabies control

Cost-effectiveness of rabies post exposure prophylaxis in Iran. The cost-effectiveness ratio for PEP was estimated to be 233.43 USD/DALY, with PEP being a cost-effective intervention from the government’s perspective. In 2011 4,509.82 DALYs were prevented in southern Iran by the PEP program.

Cost-effectiveness of canine vaccination to prevent human rabies in rural Tanzania. For two districts of rural Tanzania: Ngorongoro and Serengeti, canine vaccination coverage of 0-95% was modelled and costed. Annual canine vaccination campaigns were very cost-effective in both districts compared with no canine vaccination.

Costs analysis of a population level rabies control programme in Tamil Nadu, India. The study determined costs to the state government of implementing different interventions for controlling rabies among the entire human and animal populations of Tamil Nadu. Rabies control in Tamil Nadu seems a costly and policy makers in similar settings should consider the long-term financial sustainability before embarking upon a state or nation-wide rabies control programme.

Economic evaluation of vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) rabies prevention in Mexico. Livestock vaccination was found to be efficient in mitigating the impacts of vampire bat rabies, with benefits being over six times higher than costs. However, bat control is inefficient because benefits are very unlikely to exceed costs

PEP

Intradermal vaccination for rabies prophylaxis: conceptualization, evolution, present status and future. ID vaccination is safe and immunogenic. New short duration regimens to reduce costs and increase patient compliance, and non-invasive devices for ID vaccine delivery are being evaluated. Given the success of ID rabies vaccination in Asia, its implementation in Africa should be encouraged.

Assessing safety and immunogenicity of post-exposure prophylaxis following interchangeability of rabies vaccines in humans. Follow-up of 90 patients showed that rabies PEP was safe and immunogenic despite changes in the route of administration and brand/type of rabies vaccine.

Advocacy

Fighting rabies in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia - experts call for a regional initiative for rabies elimination. MEEREB members reviewed the current rabies situation, both globally and in their respective countries, and called for a regional initiative for rabies elimination in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Awareness

Rabies menace and control - An insight into knowledge, attitude and practices. All study participants in an urban slum area of India had knowledge of rabies transmission by dog bite, but only 40% were aware that the disease was fatal. 55.5% of participants were aware about the role of vaccine in preventing rabies.

Cross sectional survey of human-bat interaction in Australia: public health implications. Bat exposures most frequently occurred with sick or injured bats, which have the highest risk of ABLV. Potentially high risk practices were commonly reported amongst those encountering sick bats, despite public health warnings.