Rabies Surveillance in Mainland Tanzania: A Scoping Review of Animal Rabies Occurrences (1993-2023)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Zoonotic Diseases

Background:

• Animal rabies is a significant public health concern, particularly in low-income countries where underreporting impedes control efforts.
• Effective rabies control strategies rely on accurate data regarding case distribution, reservoir species, and surveillance effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of reported animal rabies cases in mainland Tanzania between 1993 and 2023.
• To identify key animal reservoir species involved in rabies transmission.
• To assess surveillance coverage gaps for animal rabies in Tanzania.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases.
• Screening of retrieved articles using Rayyan software.
• Analysis of data from 20 selected articles reporting 7319 animal rabies cases across three Tanzanian zones.

Main Results:

• A total of 7319 animal rabies cases were reported across the Northern Zone (NZ), Southeastern Zone (SEZ), and Coastal Zone (CZ).
• Domestic dogs were identified as the primary reservoir species, accounting for the majority of cases in all three zones.
• Wildlife species, including jackals, cats, livestock, African wild dogs, bat-eared foxes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and honey badgers, were also implicated in rabies transmission.

Conclusions:

• Domestic dogs are the principal reservoir for rabies in Tanzania, necessitating enhanced surveillance and control measures targeting this population.
• The role of wildlife in rabies maintenance and spillover requires further investigation, particularly in enzootic hotspots.
• Gaps in surveillance coverage need to be addressed to improve understanding and control of animal rabies in Tanzania.