Rabies in livestock in the United States (2012-2021).

Area of Science:

• Veterinary epidemiology
• Public health
• One Health initiatives

Background:

• Rabies in livestock presents significant public health risks and economic challenges in the United States.
• Understanding disease patterns is crucial for early detection and protecting animal and human health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the epidemiology of rabies in United States livestock from 2012 to 2021.
• To estimate the economic impact of rabies in livestock, including direct losses and public health costs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized surveillance data from the National Rabies Surveillance System (2012-2021).
• Conducted a sensitivity analysis to estimate economic losses, considering livestock value and human postexposure prophylaxis costs.
• Identified common rabies virus variants and geographic distribution of cases.

Main Results:

• A total of 947 rabid livestock were reported; cattle represented 65.9% of cases.
• Skunk rabies virus variants were most prevalent (53.5%); Texas and Virginia reported the highest number of infections.
• Estimated economic losses ranged from $9.8 to $39.6 million, with postexposure prophylaxis being a major cost driver.

Conclusions:

• Rabies is consistently detected in US livestock, with notable concentrations in Texas and Virginia.
• Economic losses are substantial, emphasizing the need for targeted livestock vaccination strategies based on regional risk and human exposure potential.