Animal bites and post-exposure prophylaxis in Central-West Tunisia: a 15-year surveillance data

Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by an RNA virus of the genus Lyssavirus of the Rhabdoviridae family [1]. It is an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals and is fatal once symptoms develop [2]. Rabies is a disease of antiquity, still existing, and leading to more fatalities than any other zoonotic diseases [3, 4]. Bites and scratches are the two main modes of rabies transmission from animal to human but other modes are possible such as licking [5]. Almost 59 000 human deaths annually are attributable to rabies, mostly among underserved populations in Africa and Asia [6]. Africa is responsible alone for 43% of human rabies death [7]. Over 95% of human deaths result from virus transmission through rabid dog bites [8]. Fortunately, it is a preventable disease through pets vaccination, adequate management of bite wounds, timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and public health interventions to control stray animals [9]. However, the complete eradication of rabies is a public health challenge. This is due to the nature of causal agent living in a wide variety of hosts on the one hand and to the status of the disease as neglected in the other hand [10]. Moreover, the lack of information on the endemicity and burden of the disease contributed in part to hinder the elimination of this fatal disease [6].

Rabies is endemic in North Africa and thus, the development of an elimination program through dog vaccination and PEP provided to people exposed to suspected rabid animal should be encouraged [2]. In Tunisia, rabies is a notifiable disease with a national surveillance system in place [2]. The National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) was implemented in 1982, by a collaboration of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health. This program focused on implementing dog mass vaccination, providing PEP to people who was exposed to suspected rabid dogs and maintaining epidemiological surveillance activities in order to detect all suspect cases [11].

Dog vaccination campaigns have been carried out on a yearly basis since 1993 [2]. It was free of charge for dogs’ owners. Similarly, PEP was provided for free in the public sector and was consistently available in accordance with a Tunisian law published in March 2003 [11]. PEP consists of wound washing, vaccine, and in some cases rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). Following the national strategy, a significant improvement in rabies health status in Tunisia was noted with a decrease in animals and humans’ cases [2].

The Tunisian revolution took place in January 2011 and many democratic gains were achieved. However, these political dynamics had impacted the performance of the health care system in a negative way which is common at moments of crisis or instability [3]. A significant upsurge in cases of rabies in dogs and humans was reported in many governorates and the epidemiological situation became alarming [12]. Instability and insecurity caused by the manifestations led to a decline in dog vaccination coverage and adverse consequences on the disease surveillance [2]. Veterinarians were unable to collect samples and a variation in reporting cases was noted [12]. Indeed, A drastic decrease in the number of submitted samples was observed ( 282 samples analyzed in 2011 compared to 415 in 2009) [13].

A mismanagement of stray dogs has also been noted since 2011. Stray dog proliferation and the inaccessibility to such population may have influenced the vaccination coverage and limit the result of the control program. The NRCP strategy to control stray dogs were based on slaughter aiming to reduce the risk of infection to humans. This controversial practice was debated after the revolution, between the government and the civil society resulting in its suspension and growth in stray dog population. Controlling the stray dog population is a municipality responsibility. However, the lack of resources and personnel may be a barrier to appropriately facing their responsibilities [14]. The overall coverage vaccination varies from a region to another. Kasserine governorate is one of the regions with a low vaccination coverage in Tunisia and where a reservoir for the disease is maintained [15]. Vaccination coverage was 59% in Kasserine with an only 48% coverage in the urban area compared to 70% and 71% in Mannouba and Siliana governorates respectively [16].

Few published studies are available about human exposures to animals before and after 2011 making it essential to measure the impact of the Tunisian revolution on rabies status.

Our study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of human exposures to animals over fifteen years and to assess the PEP practices in the governorate of Kasserine (Tunisia) pre- and post-revolution.

To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few studies to describe the epidemiological profile of human rabies and animal bites and to assess the PEP practices in a region of a developing country (Tunisia). It might provide a reliable epidemiology basis for further rabies control and prevention.

Our results showed that the overall incidence of animal bites was 441 per 100,000 inh in Kasserine. This incidence was much higher than other studies conducted in some endemic countries for rabies in the MENA region [3, 21, 22]. Our investigation showed that most exposures were attributed to dogs, suggesting that control efforts should focus on them.

Males were more frequently injured by animals than females. This was similar to results from other studies in Iran, Oman and Ethiopia [21‐23]. Children aged between 4 and 15 years had the highest exposure to suspected rabid animals in line with the WHO reports [24]. This could be attributed to the greater engagement in outdoor activities among this age group and might have thereafter a negative impact on the national economy [23]. A Nigerian study noted that a higher level of education of school age children was correlated with a lower risk of rabies [25]. Thus education of children on the dangers of dog bites, could play a role in reducing the burden of rabies [26].

Our data showed, a positive trend in the number of animal exposures from 2004 to 2018. Annual averages of animal exposures and bites were greater in post-2011 than in pre-2011. However, from Figs. 2 and 3, the most notable change occurred in 2014–2015. It could be the consequence of the political and social instability since 2011 reaching its peak in 2014–2015. The Tunisian revolution and its impact on the health system are involved in this alarming trend. This is comparable with the situation in Lebanon since the Syrian crisis [3].

Our data showed a decrease in bites from vaccinated dogs and an increase in those from unvaccinated ones which can reflect a decline in vaccination level. This could be explained by a decrease in the canine mass control and rabies monitoring in recent years.

Despite the free of charge vaccination for dog owners and the annual dog immunization campaigns, only a 59% coverage was obtained in 2011 in Kasserine Governorate [16]. This is far from the 70% recommended by the WHO for effective rabies control [27]. In fact the high turnover in dog population, could result in decreasing the herd immunity effect between vaccination intervals and so not reaching the rabies control rate [28]. Interventions that reduce the turnover like castration or contraception and enhancing life expectancy might slowdown the decline in dog vaccination coverage and thus, contribute to its improvement [29].

Other factors led to the low level of canine immunization in developing countries including Tunisia such as, the lack of appropriate public health laws and the poor implementation of existing legislation on animal ownership and immunization [26].

Interestingly, mass vaccination should target domestic dogs in order to have the highest impact in reducing rabies infection, explained by the fact that domestic dogs represent the main virus cycle maintenance in Africa [30, 31].

During our study period, the annual average of vaccine doses per bite was 2.4. This average was less than the 3 and 5 doses recommended by protocol B for unvaccinated and stray dogs which was the predominant status of culprit animal according to our database. In fact, culprit animals were mostly stray and unvaccinated dogs requiring protocol B1 and B2 with 3 and 5 doses recommended for each one respectively. However, the protocol A was the most adopted. This showed an inadequate prescription of protocols which could be explained by the complexity of the Tunisian PEP regimen causing ambiguity among health workers. Therefore, to make it easier and for a better compliance, protocols A and B may be replaced by a unique four or five-dose IM regimen as recommended by the WHO [32].

In addition, the lower averages of vaccination doses than recommended, could be explained by the lack of adherence to PEP by victims, because of the poor awareness of rabies severity or inadequate access to basic health care services in some rural areas [33].

Low annual averages of vaccine doses could also be attributed in part to the interruption of PEP because animals were healthy and alive after the observation period.

Poor management of wounds and poor adherence to PEP resulted in two fatal human rabies cases after 2011. In 2015, a 12-year-old boy died despite post- exposure vaccination from an unvaccinated dog bite. The RDPH investigation revealed a history of suturing the wound and a poor management of the injury as the cause of death. However, suturing of mammalian bites remains controversial [34]. A recent report from the WHO showed that wounds should not be sutured. However, if closure is necessary, suturing should be done after infiltration of the wound with RIG and should be loose and not interfere with free bleeding and drainage. Therefore, the management of dog bites need to be improved by health services in order to prevent tragic deaths from rabies, such as those reported in our study [26]. In 2017, another fatal case was notified due to a loss of follow up and an unfinished PEP protocol. Similarly, a recent study in Tanzania reported that rabies victims may not return to complete the full course of prophylactic vaccine [35].

Finally, this study highlighted the importance of the “one health concept” to achieve the goal of the WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to eliminate dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030. This concept looks at health in the context of human, animal and their shared environment. It requires collaborative efforts including without limitations physicians, veterinarians, the media, authorities and community’s involvement. Rabies-endemic countries such Tunisia needs to collaborate together and share their experiences in order to eliminate the disease. Special rabies control committees under the “one health prospective “should be implemented. To achieve 2030 goals, enforcing legislation, allocating resources and the assessment of the national rabies control programs weaknesses by governments are key solutions [36].

Interestingly, in the context of our rabies endemic country intradermal vaccination is an acceptable alternative to standard intramuscular vaccination as it is safe, immunogenic and dose and cost sparing [37].

Our study provided useful information on the epidemiology of rabies in an endemic region and contributed to assessing the PEP practices between pre- and post-2011 periods. However, our study had some limitations. Firstly, the under reporting of notified cases because of rabies passive surveillance system may under-estimate the real incidence rate of animal exposures to humans. Secondly the lack of consistency in the record keeping during the covered years, and potential modifications of administrative data collection led to database deficiencies especially with rabies risk assessment after observation. Another limitation of our study was the limited geographical coverage by incorporating data of one governorate which may not reflect the situation in the other regions of our country. Indeed, additional nation-wide studies are needed to better understand the characteristics of rabies in our country.

Rabies remains a major public health problem in Tunisia. Unfortunately, the promising results of the NCRP in the beginning of its implementation, have not been maintained and the Tunisian revolution in January 2011 had impacted the health care system and rabies control. It is crucial to apply and develop the appropriate preventive measures such as enhancing mass dog vaccination, controlling stray dog populations and training medical personnel to provide adequate PEP. In addition, public education on rabies prevention should be enforced through media and by organizing awareness days in order to decrease rabies risks. Many developing countries should be strict in applying recommendations on rabies control to achieve the WHO goal of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030.