Rabies in the state of São Paulo: the rodents question

Summa, Maria Eugênia L.; Carrieri, Maria Luiza; Favoretto, Silvana Regina; Chamelet, Esther Luiza B.

doi:10.1590/S0036-46651987000100009

Abstracts

The authors looked over the epidemiological data on the aggression by rodents in the period 1976-1985 in the records of the Instituto Pasteur in the State of São Paulo (Brazil). They observed that out of 367 379 people attacked, 22 250 were victims of rodents. Mainly responsible for these accidents were urban rodents, whose capture, however, was a limiting factor for the sending of samples to the laboratory. Laboratory diagnosis carried out in 1 083 samples of rodents did not show any positive case in the period, in spite of the presence of rabies in other animals species. It is conclude that, as rabies is rare among rodents, tests are necessary for the identification of the virus whenever suspicion of a positive case occurs; in addition, in the absence of reported cases of human death caused by rabies related to rodents, possibility exists for a reduction of antirabies treatments following exposure to these animals.

Rabies, prevention and control; Rabies rodents

Os autores compulsaram dados epidemiológicos a respeito de agressão por roedores no período de 1976 a 1985, nos registros do Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo (Brasil). Observaram que de 367 379 pessoas agredidas, 22 250 foram vítimas de roedores. Os roedores mais implicados nesses acidentes foram os urbanos, sendo que a captura foi um fator limitante para o envio de amostras ao laboratório. O diagnóstico laboratorial realizado em 1083 amostras de roedores não revelou nenhum caso positivo no período, embora a raiva estivesse presente em outras espécies animais. Concluem que, sendo a raiva rara entre os roedores, é necessário que se realizem provas de identificação do vírus quando houver suspeita de caso positivo; e que, não existindo casos relatados de óbitos humanos por raiva relacionados a roedores, existe a possibilidade de redução dos tratamentos anti-rábico pós-exposição a estes animais.

EPIDEMIOLOGIA

Maria Eugênia L. Summa; Maria Luiza Carrieri; Silvana Regina Favoretto; Esther Luiza B. Chamelet

Pesquisador Científico, Seção de Diagnóstico do Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo, Av. Paulista 393; CEP 01311 - São Paulo, S.P. - Brasil

SUMMARY

The authors looked over the epidemiological data on the aggression by rodents in the period 1976-1985 in the records of the Instituto Pasteur in the State of São Paulo (Brazil). They observed that out of 367 379 people attacked, 22 250 were victims of rodents. Mainly responsible for these accidents were urban rodents, whose capture, however, was a limiting factor for the sending of samples to the laboratory. Laboratory diagnosis carried out in 1 083 samples of rodents did not show any positive case in the period, in spite of the presence of rabies in other animals species. It is conclude that, as rabies is rare among rodents, tests are necessary for the identification of the virus whenever suspicion of a positive case occurs; in addition, in the absence of reported cases of human death caused by rabies related to rodents, possibility exists for a reduction of antirabies treatments following exposure to these animals.

Key words: Rabies, prevention and control - Rabies rodents

RESUMO

Os autores compulsaram dados epidemiológicos a respeito de agressão por roedores no período de 1976 a 1985, nos registros do Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo (Brasil). Observaram que de 367 379 pessoas agredidas, 22 250 foram vítimas de roedores. Os roedores mais implicados nesses acidentes foram os urbanos, sendo que a captura foi um fator limitante para o envio de amostras ao laboratório.

O diagnóstico laboratorial realizado em 1083 amostras de roedores não revelou nenhum caso positivo no período, embora a raiva estivesse presente em outras espécies animais. Concluem que, sendo a raiva rara entre os roedores, é necessário que se realizem provas de identificação do vírus quando houver suspeita de caso positivo; e que, não existindo casos relatados de óbitos humanos por raiva relacionados a roedores, existe a possibilidade de redução dos tratamentos anti-rábico pós-exposição a estes animais.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are grateful to Dolores Ayako Yoda, librarian of the Instituto Pasteur, for her most valuable contribution.

Recebido para publicação em 22/5/86.

1. CLITON, J. M. - Rats in urban America. Publ. Hlth. Rep., (Wash.), 84: 1-7, 1969.
2. COLLINS, T. R. & BURRIDGE, M. J. - Rabies prophylaxis. Amer. Fam. Phycn., 29: 295-300, 1984.
3. COMPAIRE FERNANDEZ, C. & RODRIGUEZ DEL TEMBLEQUE, F. M. - Etat actuel des recherches épizootologiques sur le foyer de rage de Malaga (Espagne). Bull. Off. int. Epiz., 86: 173-186, 1976.
4. DEAN, D. J. & ABELSETH, M. K. - The fluorescent antibody test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies. 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. p. 73-84. (World Health Organization Monograph Series, 23).
5. EDLICH, R. F.; SPENGLER, M. D. & RODEHEAVER, G. T. - Mammalian bites. Comprehens. Ther., 9(12): 41-47, 1983.
6. HATTWICK, M. A. W. & GREGG, M. B. - The disease in man. In: BAER, G. M. ed. - The natural history of rabies New York, Academic Press, 1975. v. 2, p. 281-304.
7. HELMICK, C. G. - The epidemiology of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis 1980-1981. J. Amer. med. Ass., 250: 1990-1996, 1983.
8. JONNESCO, D. - Rage chez 1'homme ar morsure de rat. Virus renforcé. Arch. roum. Path, exp., 14: 186-188, 1945/47.
9. KOPROWSKI, H. - The mouse inoculation test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. p. 85-93. (World Health Organization Monograph Series, 23).
10. LANDON, A. & BROTTES, H. - Une observation peu commune d'un cas de rage des rues dans un élevage de lapins domestiques au Cameroun. Bull. Soc. Path, exot., 55: 29-31, 1962.
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¹²
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DE LA SALUD. Comité de expertos de la OMS sobre rabia. Séptimo informe. Ginebra, 1984. p. 66. (Serie de nformes Técnicos, 709).
13. RABIA en animales excepto perros, gatos y bovinos, por pais, espécie y tipo de diagnostico. Vigil, epidem. Rabai Amer., 10(7), 1978.
14. RABID rat attacks boy. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 128: 148, 1956.
15. RABIES prevention - United States, 1984. J. Amer. med. Ass., 252: 883-884, 887, 891-893, 1984.
16. RAPP, W. R. - Rabies in Kansas. A report for 1967 and 1968. J. Kans. med. Soc. 70: 483-486, 1969.
17. REMINGLER, P. & BAILY, J. - Virus rabique renforcé chez un rat d'égout. Bull. Acad. nat. Méd. (Paris), 135: 582-583, 1951.
18. REMINGLER, P. - Une courte épizootie rabique chez des rats d'egout. Bull. Acad. nat. Méd. (Paris), 136: 317-318, 1952.
19. RODENTS and lagomorphs as sources of rabies infection. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 155: 1580, 1969.
²⁰
SÃO PAULO (Estado) CENTRO DE INFORMAÇÕES DE SAÚDE. Raiva: normas e instruções. São Paulo, 1983. p. 16.
21. SCHNURRENBERGER, P. R.; MARTIN, R.; MEERDINK, G. L. & ROSE, N. J. - Epidemiology of human exposure to rabid animals in Illinois. Publ. Hlth. Rep. (Wash.), 84: 1078-1084, 1969.
22. SIEM, R. A.; MORSE, C. D. & STICKLE, D. W. - Human exposure to animal rabies in Minnesota 1971-1980. Minn. Med., 65: 493-497, 1982.
23. TIERKEL, E. S. - Rapid microscopic examination for Negri bodies and preparation of specimens for biological test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. . 41-55. (World Health Organization Monograh Series, 23).
24. TIRIBA, A. C; GALVAO, P. A. A.; SESSO, J.; MACHADO, C. G.; FILIPPI, J.; CALY, M. L.; SARAIVA, P. A. P. & BOMFIM, P. C. - Mordedura de rato. Considerações clínicas e epidemiológicas sobre infecções decorrentes. Rev. Ass. méd. bras., 17: 127-132. 1971.
25. VON REYN, C. F. - Rodent rabies. J. Amer. med. Ass., 235: 2423, 1976.
26. WINKLER, W. G. - Rodent rabies in the United States. J. infect. Dis., 126: 565-567, 1972.
27. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OP COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies X (for year 1968) WHO/Rabies/70.173. 79 p.
28. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OP COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies XVIII (for years 1976/77) WHO/Rabies/79.187. 56 p.
29. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies XX (for years 1980/81) WHO/Rabies/82.193. 54 p.
30. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Ecology and control of rodents of public health importance. Geneva, 1974. 42 p. (Technical Report eries, 553).

Rabies in the state of São Paulo: the rodents question

Raiva no Estado de São Paulo: A questão dos roedores

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
17 Feb 2011
Date of issue
Feb 1987

History

Received
22 May 1986

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. CLITON, J. M. - Rats in urban America. Publ. Hlth. Rep., (Wash.), 84: 1-7, 1969.

[2] 2. COLLINS, T. R. & BURRIDGE, M. J. - Rabies prophylaxis. Amer. Fam. Phycn., 29: 295-300, 1984.

[3] 3. COMPAIRE FERNANDEZ, C. & RODRIGUEZ DEL TEMBLEQUE, F. M. - Etat actuel des recherches épizootologiques sur le foyer de rage de Malaga (Espagne). Bull. Off. int. Epiz., 86: 173-186, 1976.

[4] 4. DEAN, D. J. & ABELSETH, M. K. - The fluorescent antibody test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies. 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. p. 73-84. (World Health Organization Monograph Series, 23).

[5] 5. EDLICH, R. F.; SPENGLER, M. D. & RODEHEAVER, G. T. - Mammalian bites. Comprehens. Ther., 9(12): 41-47, 1983.

[6] 6. HATTWICK, M. A. W. & GREGG, M. B. - The disease in man. In: BAER, G. M. ed. - The natural history of rabies New York, Academic Press, 1975. v. 2, p. 281-304.

[7] 7. HELMICK, C. G. - The epidemiology of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis 1980-1981. J. Amer. med. Ass., 250: 1990-1996, 1983.

[8] 8. JONNESCO, D. - Rage chez 1'homme ar morsure de rat. Virus renforcé. Arch. roum. Path, exp., 14: 186-188, 1945/47.

[9] 9. KOPROWSKI, H. - The mouse inoculation test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. p. 85-93. (World Health Organization Monograph Series, 23).

[10] 10. LANDON, A. & BROTTES, H. - Une observation peu commune d'un cas de rage des rues dans un élevage de lapins domestiques au Cameroun. Bull. Soc. Path, exot., 55: 29-31, 1962.

[11] 11. MANN, J. M.; BURKHART, M. J. & ROLLAG, O. J. - Anti-rabies treatments in New Mexico: impact of a comprehensive consultation-biologics system. Amer. J. publ. Hlth., 70: 128-132, 1980.

[12] ¹²
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DE LA SALUD. Comité de expertos de la OMS sobre rabia. Séptimo informe. Ginebra, 1984. p. 66. (Serie de nformes Técnicos, 709).

[13] 13. RABIA en animales excepto perros, gatos y bovinos, por pais, espécie y tipo de diagnostico. Vigil, epidem. Rabai Amer., 10(7), 1978.

[14] 14. RABID rat attacks boy. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 128: 148, 1956.

[15] 15. RABIES prevention - United States, 1984. J. Amer. med. Ass., 252: 883-884, 887, 891-893, 1984.

[16] 16. RAPP, W. R. - Rabies in Kansas. A report for 1967 and 1968. J. Kans. med. Soc. 70: 483-486, 1969.

[17] 17. REMINGLER, P. & BAILY, J. - Virus rabique renforcé chez un rat d'égout. Bull. Acad. nat. Méd. (Paris), 135: 582-583, 1951.

[18] 18. REMINGLER, P. - Une courte épizootie rabique chez des rats d'egout. Bull. Acad. nat. Méd. (Paris), 136: 317-318, 1952.

[19] 19. RODENTS and lagomorphs as sources of rabies infection. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 155: 1580, 1969.

[20] ²⁰
SÃO PAULO (Estado) CENTRO DE INFORMAÇÕES DE SAÚDE. Raiva: normas e instruções. São Paulo, 1983. p. 16.

[21] 21. SCHNURRENBERGER, P. R.; MARTIN, R.; MEERDINK, G. L. & ROSE, N. J. - Epidemiology of human exposure to rabid animals in Illinois. Publ. Hlth. Rep. (Wash.), 84: 1078-1084, 1969.

[22] 22. SIEM, R. A.; MORSE, C. D. & STICKLE, D. W. - Human exposure to animal rabies in Minnesota 1971-1980. Minn. Med., 65: 493-497, 1982.

[23] 23. TIERKEL, E. S. - Rapid microscopic examination for Negri bodies and preparation of specimens for biological test. In: KAPLAN, M. M. & KOPROWSKI, H. - Laboratory techniques in rabies 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1973. . 41-55. (World Health Organization Monograh Series, 23).

[24] 24. TIRIBA, A. C; GALVAO, P. A. A.; SESSO, J.; MACHADO, C. G.; FILIPPI, J.; CALY, M. L.; SARAIVA, P. A. P. & BOMFIM, P. C. - Mordedura de rato. Considerações clínicas e epidemiológicas sobre infecções decorrentes. Rev. Ass. méd. bras., 17: 127-132. 1971.

[25] 25. VON REYN, C. F. - Rodent rabies. J. Amer. med. Ass., 235: 2423, 1976.

[26] 26. WINKLER, W. G. - Rodent rabies in the United States. J. infect. Dis., 126: 565-567, 1972.

[27] 27. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OP COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies X (for year 1968) WHO/Rabies/70.173. 79 p.

[28] 28. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OP COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies XVIII (for years 1976/77) WHO/Rabies/79.187. 56 p.

[29] 29. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. DIVISION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT. World survey of rabies XX (for years 1980/81) WHO/Rabies/82.193. 54 p.

[30] 30. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Ecology and control of rodents of public health importance. Geneva, 1974. 42 p. (Technical Report eries, 553).