Rabies research in Ethiopia: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Zoonotic Disease Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Rabies is a significant zoonotic disease in Ethiopia, posing a public health challenge.
• A lack of comprehensive research hinders the effective implementation of Ethiopia's national rabies control strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing research on rabies in Ethiopia.
• To identify research gaps and areas of knowledge saturation.
• To examine funding sources and local researcher involvement in rabies studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of publications and theses on rabies in Ethiopia.
• Screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text review of 119 publications.
• Data extraction on geographic focus, species, study designs, findings, funding, and researcher participation.

Main Results:

• Research is concentrated in the Oromia region, with no studies from Benishangul-Gumuz, Dire Dawa, or Gambella.
• Dogs (45%) and wildlife (24%) are the primary research subjects; descriptive epidemiology and KAP surveys are common.
• Studies on economic methods and experimental interventions are under-represented; international collaboration and funding are prevalent.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for more applied research in laboratory surveillance, understanding socio-cultural barriers to treatment, optimizing dog vaccination programs, and economic evaluations of control strategies.
• Addressing these gaps is crucial for improving rabies control financing and political support in Ethiopia.