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TropicalMed
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Rabies Epidemiology, Control and Prevention Studies
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Rabies Epidemiology, Control and Prevention Studies

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 3119

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Claude Sabeta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Interests: veterinary epidemiology; evolution; lyssaviruses; diagnostics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Philip P. Mshelbwala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange 2800, Australia
2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, PMB 117 Abuja, Nigeria
Interests: epidemiology; One Health; spatial analysis; risk analysis; zoonoses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rabies, despite having been present for thousands of years, is still a neglected disease. Asia and Africa bear the highest burden of this neglected disease. According to estimations from models, at least 59,000 succumb to this deadly disease every year. For the last 10 years (since 2015), the focus has been on eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by the year 2030. In this context, countries have developed specific dog rabies elimination control programs, some of which have been endorsed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). In these programs, emphasis has been placed on the One Health approach for rabies control. This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts on the broad subject of the One Health approach toward rabies control, and clearly research findings on epidemiology, control, and prevention will be appropriate for this Special Issue.

Dr. Claude Sabeta
Dr. Philip P. Mshelbwala
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rabies
  • lyssavirus
  • epidemiology
  • control
  • One Health

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2080 KiB  
Article
One Health Lens on Rabies: Human–Bat Interactions and Genomic Insights of Rabies Virus in Rural Lilongwe, Malawi
by Nathan Singano, Henson Kainga, Elisha Chatanga, Joseph Nkhoma, Gilson Njunga, Julius Chulu, Rabecca Tembo, Hirofumi Sawa and Walter Muleya
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(4), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10040095 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 566
Abstract
Rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease, affects humans, domestic animals, and wildlife predominantly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Malawi, rabies virus (RABV) is primarily transmitted by infected dogs, impacting humans and cattle. Lyssavirus has also been documented in insectivorous bats. A community [...] Read more.
Rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease, affects humans, domestic animals, and wildlife predominantly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Malawi, rabies virus (RABV) is primarily transmitted by infected dogs, impacting humans and cattle. Lyssavirus has also been documented in insectivorous bats. A community survey near bat roosts assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding bat-borne zoonoses. Bat samples were tested for lyssavirus using RT-PCR, and RABV genomes from humans and domestic animals were sequenced and analysed phylogenetically. The survey revealed that 50% of participants consumed bat meat, and 47% reported bats entering their homes. Reduced bat presence indoors significantly lowered contact risk (aOR: 0.075, p = 0.021). All 23 bat samples tested negative for lyssavirus. Malawian RABV genomes, 11,801 nucleotides long, belonged to the Africa 1b lineage, showing >95% similarity with GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated close clustering with strains from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Human and cattle strains shared 99% and 92% amino acid similarity with dog strains, respectively, with conserved critical sites and unique substitutions across all five RABV genes. Frequent human–bat interactions pose zoonotic risks. While no lyssavirus was detected in bats, ongoing surveillance is crucial. This first comprehensive genome analysis of Malawian RABVs highlights their regional transmission and signifies the need for regional collaboration in rabies control, community education, and further study of genetic adaptations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rabies Epidemiology, Control and Prevention Studies)
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13 pages, 1125 KiB  
Article
The Deadly Details: How Clear and Complete Are Publicly Available Sources of Human Rabies Information?
by Natalie Patane, Owen Eades, Jennifer Morris, Olivia Mac, Kirsten McCaffery and Sarah L. McGuinness
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10010016 - 7 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1089
Abstract
Human rabies is preventable but almost always fatal once symptoms appear, causing 59,000 global deaths each year. Limited awareness and inconsistent access to post-exposure prophylaxis hinder prevention efforts. To identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in online rabies information, we assessed the readability, [...] Read more.
Human rabies is preventable but almost always fatal once symptoms appear, causing 59,000 global deaths each year. Limited awareness and inconsistent access to post-exposure prophylaxis hinder prevention efforts. To identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in online rabies information, we assessed the readability, understandability, actionability, and completeness of online public rabies resources from government and health agencies in Australia and similar countries, with the aim of identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. We identified materials via Google and public health agency websites, assessing readability using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) index and understandability and actionability with the Patient Education Materials Tool for Print materials (PEMAT-P). Completeness was assessed using a framework focused on general and vaccine-specific rabies information. An analysis of 22 resources found a median readability of grade 13 (range: 10–15), with a mean understandability of 66% and mean actionability of 60%; both below recommended thresholds. Mean completeness was 79% for general rabies information and 36% for vaccine-specific information. Visual aids were under-utilised, and critical vaccine-specific information was often lacking. These findings highlight significant barriers in rabies information for the public, with most resources requiring a high literacy level and lacking adequate understandability and actionability. Improving readability, adding visual aids, and enhancing vaccine-related content could improve accessibility and support wider prevention efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rabies Epidemiology, Control and Prevention Studies)
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15 pages, 254 KiB  
Article
Rabies Disease and Prophylaxis Knowledge Among Turkish Medical Students: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study
by Vasfiye Demir Pervane, Pakize Gamze Erten Bucaktepe, Fatma Meral İnce, Dicle Demir and Simanur Koç
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10010009 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 862
Abstract
Rabies is a fatal infectious disease that can be prevented with vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of rabies knowledge among medical faculty students. This cross-sectional study included students in the medical faculty of a university hospital. The [...] Read more.
Rabies is a fatal infectious disease that can be prevented with vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of rabies knowledge among medical faculty students. This cross-sectional study included students in the medical faculty of a university hospital. The level of rabies knowledge was evaluated with a questionnaire evaluating 70 parameters. A total of 892 students participated in this study. Medical students knew that dogs and cats transmit rabies at high rates (96.9% and 87.4%, respectively) but understood less about other animals. Pregnancy (45.2%), being >65 years of age, having a chronic disease, and being immunosuppressed were indications for rabies vaccine, with rates between 31.4 and 37.4%. In total, 64.3% of respondents stated that the nearest health center should be approached to seek medical care, without first touching the wound. While indications for vaccination were correctly reported to be high after bites or scratches (74.2–94.6%), such indications were considered to be lower for other types of contact (46.2–66.6%). Indications for rabies immunoglobulin administration were correctly recognized at rates between 15.9% and 57.8%. Overall, the mean rabies knowledge level was 41.82 (Max. score 70). There was a statistically significant relationship between the total and subgroup rabies knowledge scores and class level, having taken a rabies course, a history of dog bites among the respondents or their family members, and possessing information about rabies. It was determined that the rabies knowledge levels among the students were insufficient. Having received lessons about rabies or a history of being bitten by an animal with suspected rabies were found to be important factors for increased knowledge about rabies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rabies Epidemiology, Control and Prevention Studies)
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