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Rabies Oie Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis and Control of the Zoonosis



With a fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals alike, rabies remains a global threat, killing approximately 59,000 people every year. Dogs are the main reservoir of the disease. Controlling and eliminating the deadly zoonosis means, therefore, combatting it at its animal source. The World Organisation for Animal Health has long been committed to tackling the disease, supporting its Members in the path towards a rabies-free future.


Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals (dogs, cats, foxes etc.), including humans. The rabies virus is particularly present in the saliva and brain of infected animals, most commonly dogs, and is transmitted by a bite. Bats also represent an important reservoir in certain regions. A high presence in wildlife species can create multiple opportunities for cross-species transmission, mostly affecting domestic animals and humans.




Rabies Oie Manual




For over 4,000 years, rabies has plagued almost every corner of the world and much effort has been made towards its elimination. Although it has been eliminated in Western Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea and parts of Latin America, the viral disease is still present in large parts of Africa and Asia.


Most deaths from rabies, both in humans and animals, are due to inadequate access to public health resources and preventative treatment. This means that low-income countries are disproportionately affected by the disease.


Unlike for many other diseases, the tools needed to eliminate dog-mediated rabies already exist. It is 100% preventable and rabies vaccines for dogs can efficiently eliminate the disease at its animal source.


In countries where the disease is endemic, measures should be taken to control and reduce the risk of infection in vulnerable populations (wildlife, stray and domestic animals), thus creating a barrier between the animal source and humans. Human deaths from rabies exposure can be prevented by developing and implementing a coordinated strategy against the disease.


Members can, on a voluntary basis, apply for the endorsement of their official control programmes for dog-mediated rabies. Such recognition is a key asset for national Veterinary Authorities, as it helps them advocate governments for increasing support and prioritising investments in rabies control, a fundamental step to further implement their programmes.


Having a WOAH-endorsed control programme will also set out a clear path for countries to eventually eliminate the disease from their territories and declare freedom from infection with the virus, thus contributing to the global goal to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.


To support them in this mission, WOAH develops science-based standards, guidelines and recommendations to prevent and control rabies in animals, to secure the international movement of dogs and cats originating from rabies-affected countries and manage stray dog populations. The Organisation also publishes standards on the diagnosis of the disease and the production of high-quality veterinary vaccines.


With the financial support of Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, and Japan, WOAH had facilitated the delivery of dog rabies vaccines to 37 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. Vaccine doses can either be directly delivered through WOAH, or be ordered by countries or international organisations. In the framework of the Tripartite Alliance (WHO, WOAH, FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) has notably decided to place its procurement orders for canine vaccines through the Rabies Vaccine Bank.


In the framework of the PVS (Performance of Veterinary Services) Pathway, WOAH can conduct evaluation missions led by independent experts, at the request of its Members, with a specific focus on rabies.


The objective is to identify strengths and weaknesses in the measures in place to tackle the disease and to support countries in developing their national strategies for rabies control and elimination, in compliance with International Standards.


The final output is a comprehensive report that provides a complete overview of the national situation with regard to rabies and proposes targeted solutions to address potential gaps. Among these, the IHR-PVS National Bridging workshops with a rabies focus (NBW-Rabies) organised in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) aim to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration between the human and animal health sectors, to address the disease in a coordinated way at country level.


WOAH works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and others to develop international recommendations aimed at ensuring continued intersectoral collaboration and worldwide implementation of the most appropriate strategies to end dog-mediated rabies.


Building on this international momentum, WOAH, WHO and FAO, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), have since developed the Global Strategic Plan Zero by 30. With each partner bringing their specific expertise to the table, the Global initiative launched in 2018 provides the basis and global tools for a coordinated response to rabies and aims to support countries in their elimination efforts.


Countries are at the heart of this global strategic plan. Developing and implementing their own national programmes with global tools, structures and the needed support empowers them to progress towards national goals as they fight against rabies.


To build on the strong foundation created through the partnership on Zero by 30, WOAH, together with FAO and WHO subsequently launched the United Against Rabies Forum (the Forum) in 2020. The Forum is an inclusive, multi-lateral network bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to share knowledge, experience and ideas that will support countries and regions in developing and implementing effective rabies elimination programmes.


Working groups will progress priority activities to help countries build national strategies and pursue advocacy and resource mobilisation initiatives. It also provides stakeholders with a central platform so they can easily access these resources, while annual stakeholder meetings foster networking between the numerous actors involved in rabies elimination.


Members of the public, owners of dogs and other animals, journalists, veterinarians or governments, all have a role to play in the global fight against rabies. In this daily effort, the sharing of information is instrumental to achieving success.


This event is also an opportunity to remind stakeholders that the fight against rabies is not limited to a single day but needs to be conducted in a sustainable way to ultimately decrease the number of rabies deaths.


Why is the FAVN test needed for my pet? The FAVN test is required by many rabies-free countries, regions or islands in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry. A passing FAVN result ((>/= 0.5 IU/mL) provides proof of adequate response to rabies vaccination.


Is the FAVN Test the same as the OIE-FAVN Testing? Yes, the OIE-FAVN (Office International des Epizooties) test is same as the FAVN test; the test is performed following the FAVN procedure in the OIE manual.


How long should I wait after my pet has been vaccinated before drawing the sample? For the highest probability of obtaining a passing result, we recommend the pet be rabies vaccinated a minimum of two times. For optimum antibody response, wait 10-21 days between vaccination and taking the blood sample for testing (or 14-30 days if taking the blood sample after primary vaccination). However, some countries have strict requirements for the timing of the blood draw. Therefore, we strongly recommend directly contacting regulatory authorities in the country of your destination or your state USDA Vet Med Officer.


How much history of the rabies vaccination should I provide? Record the dates of 2-3 rabies vaccinations beginning with the most recent. Please check with the destination for their specific requirements. It is recommended the animal have a minimum of two rabies vaccinations for best chance of achieving a passing titer of 0.5 IU/mL.


When are the results ready? The delivery time of the FAVN test results may vary without notice. Please check with the laboratory rabies@vet.k-state.edu for an up-to-date estimate of the turnaround time


Any request to correct FAVN information after finalization will be reviewed and must be approved per internal standards/policy. Email rabies@vet.k-state.edu with information explaining what corrections are requested. Reissue and correction fees apply.


If you think the Rabies Laboratory made an error on the result label of the official FAVN report, you may Email rabies@vet.k-state.edu . Any error due to a misinterpretation of handwriting will be reviewed on a case by case basis.


To achieve the goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030, many African countries have agreed to list rabies as a priority zoonotic disease and to undertake both short and long-term control programs. Within this context, reliable local diagnosis is essential for the success of field surveillance systems. However, a harmonized, sustainable and supportive diagnostic offer has yet to be achieved in the continent. We herewith describe the organization and outcome of a proficiency test (PT) for the post-mortem diagnosis of rabies in animals, involving thirteen veterinary laboratories and one public health laboratory in Africa. Participants were invited to assess both the performance of the Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test and of a conventional RT-PCR. From the submitted results, while thirteen laboratories proved to be able to test the samples through DFA test, eleven performed the RT-PCR method; ten applied both techniques. Of note, the number of laboratories able to apply rabies RT-PCR had increased from four to ten after the exercise. Importantly, results showed a higher proficiency in applying the molecular test compared to the DFA test (concordance, sensitivity and specificity: 98.2%, 96.97% and 100% for RT-PCR; 87.69%, 89.23% and 86.15% for DFA test), indicating the feasibility of molecular methods to diagnose animal pathogens in Africa. Another positive outcome of this approach was that negative and positive controls were made available for further in-house validation of new techniques; in addition, a detailed questionnaire was provided to collect useful and relevant information on the diagnostic procedures and biosafety measures applied at laboratory level. 2ff7e9595c


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