Bovine Rabies - A Neglected Livestock Disease: A Looming Concern in the Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Bovine rabies is a global animal and public health concern. There remains a poor understanding of the true disease burden and economic impact. In low-income developing countries that rely primarily on livestock,
the losses are substantial. Because of the total dependence on cattle rearing for the rural economy in the Indian subcontinent countries, it is becoming a matter of concern. Considering the overwhelming effects of livestock rabies, especially bovine rabies in the Indian subcontinent region, this article collates information regarding various aspects of the issue and highlights the importance of developing targeted bespoke intervention strategies. Cattle are always at higher risk of exposure facilitated by traditional rearing and farming practices. Economic impact includes trade restrictions on livestock products, losses in the livestock industry, and financial burdens on the government and farmers due to control measures. Epidemiology of rabies in cattle is multifactorial, but more or less similar in the Indian subcontinent. Under-reporting, poor surveillance, lack of facilities to diagnose animal rabies, lack of internationally approved protocols for vaccination, knowledge gap
on the management of exposed and diseased animals, neglect in the government livestock disease control programs, and the utopian task of canine rabies control are the major challenges. Successful bovine rabies control would need targeted measures at the species level such as investing in vaccination and control measures, strengthening surveillance, and improving farmer awareness. Simultaneous efforts in controlling rabies in livestock along with canine rabies control can contribute to achieving the global goal of ‘zero rabies by 30’. With little emphatic support from the global community to address bovine rabies, countries of the Indian subcontinent may have to develop indigenous capacity, as the depth of the issue is regional rather than global.

How to cite this article:
Abraham S S. Bovine Rabies - A Neglected Livestock Disease: A Looming Concern in the Indian Subcontinent. APCRI J. 2024; 26(2): 30-36.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202412