Raiva em herbívoros: Aspectos relacionados à doença e atualização dos casos notificados em Alagoas (2005-2021)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out an analysis of cases of rabies in herbivores notified in the state of Alagoas between 2005 and 2021, and to produce an educational guide on rabies in herbivores in the state of Alagoas. A descriptive study with a quantitative approach was carried out, based on secondary data extracted from the National Zoosanitary Information System. Cases of rabies in domestic herbivores (cattle, horses, sheep, and goats) reported from 2005 to 2021 in the state of Alagoas were evaluated. Data were collected in October and November 2022, and the following variables were evaluated: number of cases, species involved, temporal distribution (year by year), and seasonal distribution (by month of the year). The most significant results were discussed based on the scientific literature available on the subject, and exposed in an educational guide entitled “RAIVA IN HERBIVORE: Aspects related to the disease and update of cases notified in Alagoas (2005-2021)”. In the period from 2005 to 2021, 24,115 cases of rabies in domestic herbivores were reported in Brazil, with 12.10% (2,920) of these cases being registered in the Northeast region of the country. The State of Alagoas, in the same period, notified 180 cases of rabies in herbivores, which represents 6.16% of the notified cases in the Northeast region. Of the 180 cases reported in Alagoas, 79.4% (143/180) were in cattle, 18.9% (34/180) in horses and 1.7% (3/180) in sheep. Rabies is a lethal disease that has no effective treatment. In view of this, the commitment of the population to notify the suspected neurological disease and the investigation, with the collection of clinical material and official diagnosis of the disease, to determine the outbreaks and adopt control measures is extremely important. In the state of Alagoas, the disease occurs endemically in herbivores, with a certain seasonality, which raises an alarm since it is a disease whose main prevention is safe and effective vaccination. That is, production animals are no longer being vaccinated, in addition, more wild environments are being used for raising herbivores, producing an environmental imbalance, where the main wild reservoir of rabies, the bat, may be involved in the transmission of the disease.