Rabies in the Caribbean: A Situational Analysis and Historic Review

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

Jennifer Pradel¹  JanineF. R. Seetahal²  ChristineV. F. Carrington²  CharlesE. Rupprecht³  JusaymaC. González Arrebato⁴  AstridVan Sauers⁵  MaxF. Millien⁶  Colin James⁷  Alexandra Vokaty⁸  Rohini Roopnarine⁹  Bowen Louison^1,10  MarcoA. N. Vigilato^1,11 

[1] CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe F-97170, France;Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago;LYSSA LLC, Cumming, GA 30040, USA;Ministerio de Salud Pública, La Habana, Cuba;Ministry of Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Health and Fisheries, Paramaribo, Suriname;Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Port-au-Prince, Haiti;National Health Surveillance Unit, Ministry of Health, Georgetown, Guyana;Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Trinidad and Tobago Country Office, St. Clair, Trinidad and Tobago;St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada;Veterinary and Livestock Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministerial Complex, Tanteen, St. George’s, Grenada;Zoonosis Group, Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;

关键词: Americas;    Caribbean;    canine rabies;    Lyssavirus;    mongoose rabies;    bat rabies;    vampire bat;    zoonosis;    CaribVET;   

DOI  :  10.3390/tropicalmed3030089

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Rabies virus is the only Lyssavirus species found in the Americas. In discussions about rabies, Latin America and the Caribbean are often grouped together. Our study aimed to independently analyse the rabies situation in the Caribbean and examine changes in rabies spatiotemporal epidemiology. A questionnaire was administered to the 33 member countries and territories of the Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET) to collect current data, which was collated with a literature review. Rabies was endemic in ten Caribbean localities, with the dog, mongoose, and vampire bat identified as enzootic reservoirs. The majority of animal cases occurred in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, while human cases only consistently occurred in the latter two areas. Rabies vaccination was conducted for high-risk animal populations with variable coverage, and rabies diagnostic capacities varied widely throughout the region. Illegal importation and natural migration of animals may facilitate the introduction of rabies virus variants into virus-naïve areas. Passive surveillance, together with enhanced methods and serological screening techniques, can therefore be of value. The insularity of the Caribbean makes it ideal for conducting pilot studies on reservoir host population management. Best practice guidelines developed for these reservoir hosts can be individually modified to the epidemiological status and available resources within each locality.

【 授权许可】

Unknown