A severe acute viral infectious disease, rabies is caused by a virus from the Rabhdoviridae family and is fatal in approximately 100% of cases.
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As a zoonosis, it can be transmitted from animals to humans, mainly through contact with the saliva of infected animals, whether through bites or licking. Although there is no cure, rabies can be prevented, and veterinarian Tiago Paixão, coordinator of technical sales and demand generation for Companion Animals at MSD Animal Health, emphasizes the importance of keeping vaccinations up to date.
Since 1973, the National Rabies Prophylaxis Program (PNPR) has implemented anti-rabies vaccination for dogs and cats throughout the national territory. According to information from the Ministry of Health, this activity has resulted in a significant decrease in rabies cases in these animals and has controlled the disease in the country. However, it remains of great importance to public health. “There is no room for neglect in vaccination, it is an extremely relevant disease. Among preventive measures, owners must ensure that their pets receive the vaccine annually, only then can we continue to reduce rabies cases,” says the professional.
Between 2010 and 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Health, 47 cases of human rabies were recorded, of which 9 were caused by dog attacks, 4 by cats, and 24 by bats, among other species. Last August, according to the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine of the State of São Paulo (CRMV-SP), a case of rabies was confirmed in a dog in the Butantã neighborhood, caused by a bat variant (AgV3).
In fact, the annual confirmation of rabies cases in bats underscores the need for dogs and cats to be vaccinated annually. CRMV-SP emphasizes that when bats are affected by rabies, they show behavior changes such as entering buildings or being seen during the day. Therefore, the population should inform the municipality if they see bats with altered behavior or in strange places. Another point of attention is that there should be no direct contact or putting hands on wild animals, and domestic animals should not have contact with bats.
The immunization of dogs and cats against rabies can be done at permanent posts or in veterinary establishments. “One option is Nobivac® Rabies, an inactivated vaccine formulated with the (Pasteur) strain identical to that used in human vaccines, effective in situations of very high challenge, recommended for dogs, cats, and ferrets from 12 weeks of age,” says Tiago.
Watch out for disease symptoms
The veterinarian explains that symptoms in animals present as disorders in the central nervous system, including behavioral changes and progressive paralysis. “Behavioral changes may include lack of appetite, nervousness, aggressiveness, and sometimes isolation. Signs of progressive paralysis typically start with staggering, progress to swallowing difficulties, and lead to coma and death.”
In humans, manifestations can last from 2 to 10 days and generally include malaise, fever, anorexia, headache, nausea, sore throat, irritability, a sense of anxiety, and muscle spasms that progress to paralysis, causing complications of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, urinary retention, and intestinal obstruction. Hyperesthesia and paresthesia along the path of peripheral nerves near the site of the bite are also characteristics of the disease.
Regarding the incubation period of the disease, Tiago points out that it is variable, lasting from days to even years. “In general, in infected dogs and cats, virus shedding through saliva can occur 2 to 5 days before the onset of clinical signs. The animal usually dies 5 to 7 days after the appearance of symptoms,” clarifies the expert.
Donations
Attuned to health demands and aiming to support social actions related to animal welfare, MSD Animal Health continues with the initiatives of the Bravecto do Bem project. Since 2020, the initiative includes donations, support for NGOs, and promotion of animal adoption. Last month, the project donated over 100,000 doses of Nobivac® Rabies to three NGOs in São Paulo: AMPARA Animal, Instituto Caramelo, and Cão sem Dono. The donation also enabled AMPARA Animal to allocate 15,000 doses from the received batch to support animal prevention in Rio Grande do Sul.
To reduce rabies cases, MSD Animal Health also collaborates with the Afya Serengeti Program, a global nonprofit initiative that has been donating canine rabies vaccines for over 25 years for use in developing regions.
“We dedicate our support to the humanitarian efforts of our partners, including Rabies Free Africa and Mission Rabies, to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies. To this end, we donate doses of Nobivac® Rabies every year. It is part of our effort to improve the lives of pets and people around the world. Thanks to this project, we have been able to reduce deaths in this region by 86%, mostly in children,” says Tiago.
This content was created with the assistance of AI.
