Rabies transmitted from vampires to cattle: An overview

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Zoonotic Diseases

Background:

• Rabies is a global zoonotic disease impacting human and animal health, particularly in rural Latin America where it affects food security and economies.
• The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is the primary reservoir and transmitter of rabies virus (RABV) to livestock in Latin America, significantly impacting the cattle industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patterns of rabies in cattle linked to Desmodus rotundus RABV across Latin America from 1970-2023.
• To identify trends in outbreak frequency, size, and geographic distribution.
• To explore the association between bat rabies incidence and cattle outbreaks.

Main Methods:

• Epidemiological data on rabies in Latin America were collected from the Pan American Health Organization (1970-2023).
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify trends in annual outbreaks, outbreak size, and geographic distribution.
• Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between rabies incidence in Desmodus rotundus and cattle outbreaks in Peru, El Salvador, and Brazil.

Main Results:

• An average of 450 Desmodus rotundus RABV outbreaks occurred annually in affected Latin American countries, with at least 6 animals affected per outbreak.
• Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico reported the highest number of outbreaks.
• A significant increase in rabies outbreaks in cattle was observed from 2003-2020, indicating a re-emergence of bat-borne rabies, with increased cross-species transmission after 2002. Outbreak size decreased, but frequency increased.
• A strong positive association was found between rabies incidence in Desmodus rotundus and cattle outbreaks in Peru, El Salvador, and Brazil (R = 0.73, p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a re-emergence of bat-borne rabies in Latin America, characterized by an increasing number of cattle outbreaks.
• While decreased outbreak size may indicate successful epidemic management strategies, the rise in outbreak frequency highlights increasing cross-species transmission risks.
• Implementing sustained monitoring of Desmodus rotundus populations and health is crucial for developing early warning systems for RABV and other bat-borne pathogens.