Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad.
Control of rabies requires a consistent supply of dependable resources, constructive cooperation between veterinary and public health authorities, and systematic surveillance. These are challenging in any circumstances, but particularly during conflict. Here we describe available human rabies survei...
Published in: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 https://doaj.org/article/c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 2023-05-15T15:12:04+02:00 Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. Daniel L Horton Mashair Z Ismail Eman S Siryan Abdul Raheem A Wali Husam E Ab-dulla Emma Wise Katja Voller Graeme Harkess Denise A Marston Lorraine M McElhinney Salah F Abbas Anthony R Fooks 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 https://doaj.org/article/c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3585036?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 https://doaj.org/article/c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 7, Iss 2, p e2075 (2013) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2013 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 2022-12-30T22:19:49Z Control of rabies requires a consistent supply of dependable resources, constructive cooperation between veterinary and public health authorities, and systematic surveillance. These are challenging in any circumstances, but particularly during conflict. Here we describe available human rabies surveillance data from Iraq, results of renewed sampling for rabies in animals, and the first genetic characterisation of circulating rabies strains from Iraq. Human rabies is notifiable, with reported cases increasing since 2003, and a marked increase in Baghdad between 2009 and 2010. These changes coincide with increasing numbers of reported dog bites. There is no laboratory confirmation of disease or virus characterisation and no systematic surveillance for rabies in animals. To address these issues, brain samples were collected from domestic animals in the greater Baghdad region and tested for rabies. Three of 40 brain samples were positive using the fluorescent antibody test and hemi-nested RT-PCR for rabies virus (RABV). Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using partial nucleoprotein gene sequences derived from the samples demonstrated the viruses belong to a single virus variant and share a common ancestor with viruses from neighbouring countries, 22 (95% HPD 14-32) years ago. These include countries lying to the west, north and east of Iraq, some of which also have other virus variants circulating concurrently. These results suggest possible multiple introductions of rabies into the Middle East, and regular trans-boundary movement of disease. Although 4000 years have passed since the original description of disease consistent with rabies, animals and humans are still dying of this preventable and neglected zoonosis. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 7 2 e2075 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Daniel L Horton Mashair Z Ismail Eman S Siryan Abdul Raheem A Wali Husam E Ab-dulla Emma Wise Katja Voller Graeme Harkess Denise A Marston Lorraine M McElhinney Salah F Abbas Anthony R Fooks Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Control of rabies requires a consistent supply of dependable resources, constructive cooperation between veterinary and public health authorities, and systematic surveillance. These are challenging in any circumstances, but particularly during conflict. Here we describe available human rabies surveillance data from Iraq, results of renewed sampling for rabies in animals, and the first genetic characterisation of circulating rabies strains from Iraq. Human rabies is notifiable, with reported cases increasing since 2003, and a marked increase in Baghdad between 2009 and 2010. These changes coincide with increasing numbers of reported dog bites. There is no laboratory confirmation of disease or virus characterisation and no systematic surveillance for rabies in animals. To address these issues, brain samples were collected from domestic animals in the greater Baghdad region and tested for rabies. Three of 40 brain samples were positive using the fluorescent antibody test and hemi-nested RT-PCR for rabies virus (RABV). Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using partial nucleoprotein gene sequences derived from the samples demonstrated the viruses belong to a single virus variant and share a common ancestor with viruses from neighbouring countries, 22 (95% HPD 14-32) years ago. These include countries lying to the west, north and east of Iraq, some of which also have other virus variants circulating concurrently. These results suggest possible multiple introductions of rabies into the Middle East, and regular trans-boundary movement of disease. Although 4000 years have passed since the original description of disease consistent with rabies, animals and humans are still dying of this preventable and neglected zoonosis. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Daniel L Horton Mashair Z Ismail Eman S Siryan Abdul Raheem A Wali Husam E Ab-dulla Emma Wise Katja Voller Graeme Harkess Denise A Marston Lorraine M McElhinney Salah F Abbas Anthony R Fooks |
author_facet |
Daniel L Horton Mashair Z Ismail Eman S Siryan Abdul Raheem A Wali Husam E Ab-dulla Emma Wise Katja Voller Graeme Harkess Denise A Marston Lorraine M McElhinney Salah F Abbas Anthony R Fooks |
author_sort |
Daniel L Horton |
title |
Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
title_short |
Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
title_full |
Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
title_fullStr |
Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Rabies in Iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from Baghdad. |
title_sort |
rabies in iraq: trends in human cases 2001-2010 and characterisation of animal rabies strains from baghdad. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 https://doaj.org/article/c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 7, Iss 2, p e2075 (2013) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3585036?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 https://doaj.org/article/c82f14cc72e541f89cb229a09a2f9d84 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002075 |
container_title |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
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7 |
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2 |
container_start_page |
e2075 |
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1766342804403912704 |