EVOLUCIÓN EPIDEMIOLÓGICA DE LA RABIA EN BRASIL EN LA ÚLTIMA DÉCADA: UN ESTUDIO RETROSPECTIVO

Abstract

Rabies is a highly lethal viral anthropozoonosis that affects humans and animals, and is transmitted mainly through the saliva of infected animals. In Brazil, the disease presents regional variations, with distinct cycles in urban, rural and wild environments. This retrospective descriptive epidemiological study analyzed rabies cases in the country between January 2015 and August 2024, based on secondary data obtained from official sources. Only confirmed cases in humans and animals were included, including dogs, cats, vampire and insectivorous bats, as well as herbivores such as cattle and horses. The results indicate 33 cases of human rabies in 16 states, distributed throughout all regions of Brazil. Regarding animal rabies, 184 cases were recorded in dogs, 54 in cats, 154 in vampire bats, 2,859 in insectivorous bats and 4,452 in herbivores. There has been a progressive reduction in cases in dogs and cats over the years, reflecting the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns, although sporadic outbreaks in the Northeast reinforce the need for continued surveillance. Bats played a central role in the epidemiology of the disease, with insectivores predominating in the Southeast and Northeast regions, where cases peaked in 2019 and 2023. Blood-sucking bats were more prevalent in the Northeast and were associated with transmission to herbivores, which represented the most affected animal category. The Southeast and Central-West recorded the highest number of cases in herbivores, with a significant peak in the Southeast in 2018 and an increase in the South after 2021. The analysis highlighted the need for specific regional control strategies, including strengthening vaccination of dogs and cats in the Northeast, intensifying bat management in the South and Southeast, and protecting livestock in areas at higher risk. Furthermore, monitoring rabies in wild animals and raising awareness among the population about the risks of the disease are essential to reducing its incidence in the country.