Epidemiology and Control of Rabies in Cattle and Equines in Rondônia State, a Brazilian’s Legal Amazon Area

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease and a significant cause of economic losses in cattle and equine farms located in South America. In this continent, it is primarily transmitted to these hosts through bites of the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus. This survey investigated the presence of rabies in cattle and equines in the state of Rondônia, situated in the Brazilian’s Legal Amazon region, spanning from 2002 to 2021. The study correlated these findings with the preventive measures implemented by the local health agency (IDARON) for rabies management. Over this timeframe, there were 201 reported cases in cattle and 23 in horses. Both herbivores exhibited a declining trend in rabies incidences. No specific within-year patterns in rabies occurrence was identified, and there were variations in epidemic periods. The reduction in rabies incidence risk among cattle and horses was attributed to the ratio of treated bats and the sale of vaccines in the area while, on the other hand, the number of educational printed materials contributed to the increasing the incidence. Despite the diminishing trend of rabies in this Amazon Rainforest region, which can be attributed to the efforts of the animal health agency, the disease remains endemic, necessitating ongoing surveillance and prophylactic strategies for its control. ABSTRACT: Rabies is a fatal neglected tropical zoonosis, and its significance for domestic herbivores in the rural cycle is probably associated with rainforest deforestation, livestock, and agricultural expansion. This epidemiological survey aimed to study the occurrence of rabies in bovines and equines in the state of Rondônia, located in the Brazilian’s Legal Amazon, between the years 2002 and 2021, correlating these findings with the prophylactic strategies adopted by the local sanitary agency for rabies control. During this period, 201 cases were observed in bovines and 23 in equines. A downward trend in rabies incidence was observed for both domestic herbivores. Rabies did not show a higher occurrence in any specific time of the year, and epidemic periods varied during some years for bovines and equines. Using the Generalized estimating equations (GEE) method, a multiple model approach was obtained with the explanatory variables significantly associated with the decrease in rabies incidence in cattle and horses during the study period: the ratio of treated bats and ratio of vaccine doses sold. Furthermore, the ratio of printed educative material was positively associated with rabies incidence. Despite a decreasing trend in rabies occurrences in this Amazon rainforest area, likely due to the actions taken by the animal sanitary agency, rabies remains endemic and requires monitoring, as well as prophylactic strategies to control this disease.