APCRI Journal (E-ISSN: 0973-5038)

From the Editor’s Desk

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

In a span of three months, the pending issue of Vol. 26, No. 2, 2024, could be released online on April 30, 2025, due to the sincere efforts of the authors, reviewers, advisors, office bearers of APCRI, and the team from ADR publications. It is also hosted on the website of the APCRI, and as a free, open-access journal, the articles can be freely downloaded from there. Soon thereafter, in the next two months, the current issue of 2025, Vol. 27, No.1, is ready for launch on 12th July, 2025, at the 25th conference of the APCRI at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This
issue has, besides from the editor’s desk, one invited guest editorial, two research articles, a viewpoint and three case reports for the readers. The feedback from the readers about the two issues of the journal is welcome. It is now planned to get the journal indexed in DOAJ, PubMed and EMBASE/Scopus. To encourage authors, there will be no article processing charges (APC) from the next issue onwards of the journal, Vol. 27. No.2, due in December, 2025. Likewise, the 2025 issue of the newsletter is being brought out by the editorial team for release in the same conference.

How to cite this article:

Mondal T. From the Editor’s Desk. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 1-2.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202505

A United Front for Rabies Elimination from India – Advancing One Health Through Collaboration

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

Rabies continues to be a significant public health threat in India, claiming thousands of lives annually—most of them preventable. We now advance into an era of integrated health systems and evidence-based
interventions that, of late, have become a reality with the expanding laboratory infrastructures. It becomes increasingly clear that the path to eliminating rabies lies not in isolated action, not in the functioning of professionals in ‘silos’, but in coordinated, One Health-driven efforts involving human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. The One Health approach emphasises the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and ecosystems. Rabies, a quintessential zoonosis, embodies this linkage. It is imperative that all stakeholders—medical professionals, veterinary experts, animal welfare organisations, civic bodies, forest departments, academia, and the community—come together in a synergistic manner. This collaboration must be rooted
in mutual respect and clarity of mandate—avoiding duplication while complementing each other’s strengths.

How to cite this article:
Isloor S. A United Front for Rabies Elimination from India – Advancing One Health Through Collaboration. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 3-4.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202507

Elimination of Dog-mediated Human Rabies by 2030 from India: A Cross-sectional Online Survey to Assess the Awareness of Rabies Elimination Strategies among Members Affiliated with the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

Introduction: In December 2015, the World Health Organization gave a global call for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. In accordance with this, on 28th September, 2021 the Government of India launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Human Rabies Elimination from India by 2030.
Objective: To study the awareness of rabies elimination strategies among medical & veterinary professionals affiliated with the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India regarding rabies prophylaxis,
prevention of dog rabies, and elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 from India.
Methods: A pretested Google questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was sent via WhatsApp group of 267 members affiliated with APCRI, of whom 108 responded, yielding a response rate of 40.4% in June 2023.
Results: The median age of respondents was 48 years, the majority were males (66%) and medical professionals (74%). 88% responded that they were aware that intradermal rabies vaccination is as effective as intramuscular rabies vaccination, and 72% mentioned that rabies monoclonal antibodies are as good as rabies immunoglobulin. 82% responded that mass dog vaccination is an effective method for the elimination of rabies in dog populations. 82% mentioned that rabies vaccines should be supplied free of cost under the Universal
Immunization Programme. However, only 32% of respondents were confident of India eliminating dog mediated human rabies by 2030.
Conclusion: The awareness among members affiliated with APCRI regarding rabies prophylaxis and prevention of dog rabies is satisfactory but diverse with respect to the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 from India.

How to cite this article:

Narayana D H A, Poornima M K, Sudarshan M K. Elimination of Dog-mediated Human Rabies by 2030 from India: A Cross-sectional Online Survey to Assess the Awareness of Rabies Elimination
Strategies among Members Affiliated with the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 5-11.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202506

Clinico-Demographic Profile and Trend of Animal Bite Cases Attending an Anti-Rabies Clinic in a Rural District in the Sub-Himalayan Region of North India: A Record-Based Descriptive Study

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

Introduction: Animal bites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Animal saliva contains a diverse array of harmful infectious bacteria or viruses that can infect people and cause multiple fatal illnesses, including rabies. Rabies is a common, neglected, and underreported zoonotic disease with nearly a 100% case fatality rate in humans if left untreated.
Aim: This study aimed to describe the clinico-demographic profile and trend of animal bite cases in a rural district in the sub-Himalayan region of northern India.
Methodology: Record-based, descriptive study conducted in RHTC in a rural area with data extracted for two years w.e.f. 1st June 2022 to 31st May 2024 over a two-week period from 14th to 27th July 2024 regarding animal bite cases. We collected data for demographic, injury, and treatment-related variables using the EpiCollect5 application.
Result: Out of 562 animal bite cases, the mean (± SD) age was 31.7 (± 19.8) years, 64% were males, and the 10-19-year-old age group sustained the maximum (23.6%) animal bites. Dogs were the biting animals in 83.4% of cases. 50.4% of injuries were sustained on the lower limb and 45% in the upper limb. The monthly animal bite cases fluctuated with an average of 21 cases in a month.
Conclusion: A high rate of dog bite injuries among males in children and adults is observed, more on lower and upper limbs. Getting medical help after being bitten by an unfamiliar or wild animal is essential to
prevent rabies.

How to cite this article:
Gupta A, Raj D, Thakur S. Clinico-Demographic Profile and Trend of Animal Bite Cases Attending an Anti-Rabies Clinic in a Rural District in the Sub-Himalayan Region of North India: A Record-Based Descriptive Study. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 12-16.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202502

India Needs a Novel Public-Private Partnership Program to Expand Surgical Dog Population Management to Support Canine Rabies Control Work

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

This article brings a new perspective to the discussion on how to improve the implementation of humane dog population management and rabies control under the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. The author proposes that the existing stray-dog-focused animal birth control (ABC) activities be supplemented with an entirely new concept of public-private partnership (PPP) that directly addresses the very source of the stray dogs without requiring additional capital investment for fixed infrastructure from the public
sector. Instead, this PPP provides financial incentives for private sector veterinary clinics to develop their surgical services, especially in smaller towns where specific ABC programs don’t yet function effectively. By strengthening the existing veterinary service provider network, the proposed PPP aims to develop a wider range of veterinary surgery providers to help meet the demands for surgical population control of dogs as a supportive tool for rabies control. The key concept is the acknowledgment that in India, due to the great income disparity, most dog owners cannot be made responsible for having their dogs sterilized unless there is public sector support to make spay/neuter surgery more accessible and affordable for them. The private sector is in the best position to invest in the surgery skilled vets and good assistants, as well as in the required equipment,
medicine, and materials to perform the surgeries most cost-effectively while also maintaining safety and good surgical quality. The role of the public sector is to provide a subsidy scheme to make spay/neuter
affordable for the dog owners in the lower-income demographic groups. The owned dog registration system is the first step to facilitate this program, and it will also form the foundation of recording that all owned dogs are annually vaccinated against rabies.

How to cite this article:
Airikkala-Otter I. India Needs a Novel PublicPrivate Partnership Program to Expand Surgical Dog Population Management to Support Canine Rabies Control Work. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 17-22.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202503

Rabies in Institutional Livestock: A Case Report and Occupational Risk Assessment

2025-06-17T11:49:02+00:00

This report is about rabies in a cow maintained for research purposes in the Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynecology, and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, highlighting a significant occupational hazard for veterinary personnel. The cow, intended for experimental studies,
developed clinical signs consistent with rabies, including behavioral changes and progressive neurological deterioration, with no history of dog bite. Laboratory confirmation was obtained through Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) and Direct Fluorescent Antibody Assay (DFA), establishing rabies virus infection. This case underscores the risk of zoonotic disease exposure even in non-traditional settings, emphasizing the importance
of rigorous biosecurity measures, routine animal vaccination, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for veterinarians and advocates for comprehensive surveillance and enhanced occupational safety protocols in research environments to mitigate the risk of rabies transmission, thereby protecting both human health and animal welfare.

How to cite this article:
Das T, Dutta J B, Goswami S. Rabies in Institutional Livestock: A Case Report and Occupational Risk Assessment. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 23-27.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202504

Unusual Canine Rabies Manifesting as Horner’s Syndrome: A Call for Expanded Diagnostic and Reservoir Surveillance

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

Rabies remains a significant zoonotic disease, with classical encephalitic and paralytic forms being the most frequently observed clinical presentations. However, emerging reports suggest atypical manifestations involving sensory and autonomic pathways, raising concerns about alternative transmission sources and viral neurotropism. This study describes an unusual case of rabies in a Doberman exhibiting Horner’s syndrome and neurological deficits in the absence of a bite history. Eight additional canine cases from the same region exhibited similar atypical signs, raising concerns about region-specific rabies virus (RV) variants or alternative wildlife reservoirs. The increasing occurrence of fatal rabies from minor exposures, such as scratches
without bleeding, further supports the hypothesis of evolving viral strains with enhanced infectivity. This case highlights the urgent need for molecular surveillance, advanced diagnostics, and a One Health approach integrating ecological conservation with zoonotic disease mitigation.

How to cite this article:
P K Ramkumar, Karthika K, Saravanan M, Premalatha N, Prabu P C, Priya R J, Manoharan S G, Jayalakshmi K, Yogeshpriya S, Veeraselvam M. Unusual Canine Rabies Manifesting as Horner’s Syndrome: A Call for Expanded Diagnostic and Reservoir Surveillance. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 28-34.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202508

Epidemiological Factors Contributing to an Outbreak of Rabies in Domesticated Mules and Effectiveness of Control Measures in Prevention of Spread of Disease to Animal Handlers: A Longitudinal Descriptive Study

2025-06-16T10:41:34+00:00

Introduction: Rabies is responsible for an estimated 59,000 human deaths and over 3.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost every year. India accounts for 59.9% of rabies deaths in Asia and 35% of deaths globally. Rabies deaths in humans are 100% preventable through prompt and appropriate medical care.
Objectives: To study the epidemiological factors comprising host, agent, and environment in the onset of rabies in domesticated mules and determine the effectiveness of control measures such as awarenessraising health talks and immunization in the prevention of the spread of disease to the animal handlers.
Methods: A rabies outbreak was reported by the local veterinary authorities among domesticated mules on a farm located in the Binnaguri District of West Bengal. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to find out the source of infection among mules and animal handlers at risk and to institute containment measures to prevent the spread of disease among animals and animal handlers.
Results: The source of infection in mules was stray animals such as wild foxes and wild dogs, which acted as reservoirs of the infection. Risk assessment among the animal handlers indicated that the majority had Category I exposure. Isolation and containment measures were instituted for all animals at the farm, and the animal handlers were immunized with anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulins based on their risk profile.
Conclusion: The best way of reducing mortality due to rabies is its prevention. Immediate vaccination coupled with health education to improve KAP of animal handlers forms the cornerstone for prevention of the disease in humans.

How to cite this article:
Sinha S, Sandhu N K. Epidemiological Factors Contributing to an Outbreak of Rabies in Domesticated Mules and Effectiveness of Control Measures in Prevention of Spread of Disease to Animal Handlers: A Longitudinal Descriptive Study. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 35-39.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202501