Simposio: Enfermedades zoonóticas (rabia, hidatidosis, entre otros)

SIMPOSIO

Enfermedades zoonóticas (rabia, hidatidosis, entre otros)

COORDINA: Nidia Aréchiga & Graciella Santillán

Enfermedades zoonóticas (rabia, hidatidosis y otras zoonosis)

Una Salud es un enfoque esencial que integra la salud humana, animal y ambiental. La conciencia sobre la interconexión entre ellas es clave para desarrollar estrategias más eficaces en la lucha contra las enfermedades. En este Simposio se abordarán la Rabia, la Equinococosis quística (Hidatidosis) y otras enfermedades zoonóticas desde la perspectiva de Una Salud, y se discutirán los desafíos que representan para su prevención y control.

Rabia

La rabia en gatos se ha convertido en un motivo de preocupación a nivel mundial, ya que los gatos domésticos actúan como vectores de diversos lisavirus prevalentes en sus regiones geográficas. Se han documentado casos de rabia humana vinculados a gatos en África, Asia, Europa y América. Como cazadores hábiles y solitarios, tanto los félidos silvestres como domésticos son susceptibles a la infección por lisavirus, la cual puede producirse a través de la interacción con presas infectadas, como los murciélagos, o mediante la transmisión por otros mesocarnívoros, incluidos perros, zorros, chacales, mapaches y zorrillos rabiosos.

Equinococosis quística / Hidatidosis

La equinococosis quística es un problema de salud pública en América del Sur. Está catalogada como una enfermedad desatendida por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, cuyo plan de acción para el control y erradicación de esta infección parasitaria incluye la vigilancia, diagnóstico, manejo y prevención de casos en humanos. Esto comprende la desparasitación de perros con praziquantel y la vacunación rutinaria de ovejas con la proteína recombinante EG95, o una combinación de ambas estrategias. También existen medidas complementarias, como el desarrollo de infraestructura sanitaria en los establecimientos rurales, la educación para la salud, y la búsqueda activa de casos asintomáticos y su tratamiento oportuno.

Palabras clave: rabia, hidatidosis, zoonosis.

Rabies in felines: emerging vectors in the urban rabies cycle in Mexico

GARCÉS, Fabiola¹; SALGADO, Aurea¹; ALMAZÁN, Cenia¹; OLAVE Ignacio²; AGUILAR, Alvaro³; LÓPEZ, Irma¹; ARÉCHIGA, Nidia¹.

¹ Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos. Mexico City, Mexico.
² Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Área Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico.
³ Programa de Maestría y Doctorado en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, Unidad de Posgrado, UNAM. Mexico City, Mexico
E-mail address: garces.fabiola23@gmail.com

Felines (wild-living and urban) are not natural reservoirs of rabies virus variants (RVV). However, they have become emerging transmission vectors to humans and other mammals in the Americas. In northern Mexico, between 2000 and 2021, six rabies cases occurred in pumas (Puma concolor), restricted to the states of Sonora and Chihuahua. They were antigenically and genetically characterized, and five out of six samples corresponded to RVV7 (associated with the Arizona gray fox) and one to RVV1, associated with dogs. Since the 1990s, there has been no evidence of RVV1 circulation in dogs in the northern states, skunk species now harbor this variant in the region. Although pumas are not rabies virus reservoir, they represent a risk of transmission for humans and animals. Their behavior enables them to spread the virus across multiple species over relatively large areas. Oral vaccination of rabies reservoir species, mainly gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and skunks species in Sonora and Chihuahua, may be the most viable alternative for controlling rabies in pumas. Furthermore, population growth in the state of Yucatan has led to construction in the Mayan jungle for residential spaces, tourist attractions, and agriculture. This coincides with an increase in cat (Felis catus) rabies cases between 2003 and 2022, with 9 registered cases. Three antigenic variants have been identified in the region: RVV1 associated with dogs (n=1), RVV3 associated with vampire bats (n=1), and the canine-originated atypical variant (n=7). Phylogenetic analyses suggest two epidemiological cycles of the virus. The first one involves hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus), which harbor the rabies virus in the state, and the second one corresponds to a mammalian terrestrial cycle. The atypical variant is believed to have its reservoir in wild-living species, particularly skunks. Since this variant is canine-originated, there is a high risk of reintroducing the virus into canine populations if vaccination coverage is not maintained. In recent years, in our country, there have been four cases of human rabies transmitted by felines, one by a puma in Chihuahua, and by cats in Quintana Roo (2) and Nayarit (1). This demonstrates that rabies in felines could represent a significant risk of transmission to humans, so it is important to maintain vaccination coverage in all susceptible species, especially dogs and cats. Epidemiologic surveillance is required to anticipate future rabies virus emergence and to identify new reservoir species.

Keywords: Rabies, Feline, Spillover.

Impact of Feline Rabies on the Transmission Dynamics of Zoonotic Diseases in Colombia

MERIÑO, Samir E^1-2

¹ IMPRONTA, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia Campus Ibagué-Espinal. Ibagué, Colombia.
² CENTAURO, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
E-mail address: samir.merino@campusucc.edu.co – samir.merino@udea.edu.co

Introduction: Feline rabies, although reported less frequently than canine rabies, represents an emerging and significant public health concern, particularly in countries like Colombia, where rabies cases continue to be reported in various regions. Unlike dogs, whose role in rabies transmission has been extensively documented and addressed through mass vaccination campaigns, the role of domestic and free-roaming cats has received comparatively little attention. However, cats can serve as important epidemiological links between sylvatic reservoirs—especially hematophagous and insectivorous bats—and human populations, acting as silent amplifiers within urban and peri-urban environments. The presence of unvaccinated and unregulated cat populations increases the likelihood of spillover events, especially in areas where interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans are frequent. Despite being underreported, feline rabies cases have been associated with documented human exposures, underscoring the need to reevaluate current rabies prevention strategies. Incorporating cats into systematic surveillance and vaccination programs is essential for reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission and aligning control efforts with a One Health perspective. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of feline rabies on the transmission dynamics of zoonotic diseases, particularly in urban and peri-urban contexts with high levels of cat–human interaction. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of rabies surveillance data reported in Colombia was conducted, including the identification of confirmed feline rabies cases. This information was complemented with spatial mapping and risk modeling to detect areas of increased human exposure and interspecies transmission events. Results: Clusters of rabies cases in cats were identified, associated with an increase in human exposures, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage, high bat presence, and unregulated feline populations. Peri-urban zones showed the highest levels of risk. Discussion: The findings highlight the emerging role of cats as amplifying hosts in the transmission dynamics of rabies. Gaps in control programs, limited vaccination coverage in felines, and the absence of policies for the management of community cats pose significant challenges for prevention. Conclusions: Feline rabies plays a critical role in zoonotic transmission in Colombia. It is essential to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, systematically include cats in rabies vaccination campaigns, and implement integrated strategies under a One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

Keywords: Rabies, Zoonoses, Feline.

Changing epidemiological profile of rabies in Brazil: emergence of human cases caused by bat variants transmitted by cats

ROCHA, Silene Manrique¹, VOIETTA, Fernanda Pinna¹

¹ Ministry of Health, Secretariat of Health Surveillance and Environment, Brasília, Brazil.
E-mail address: Silene Manrique Rocha _silene_rocha@hotmail.com

While dog-mediated urban rabies has been largely controlled in Brazil, sylvatic rabies remains a significant public health concern. Since 2000, there has been a marked epidemiological shift, with bat-associated antigenic variant 3 (AgV3) now responsible for the majority of human cases. From 2000 to 2025, 51.9% of the 212 confirmed human rabies cases were linked to AgV3; 4.6% of these were transmitted by domestic cats. In the same period, 408 cats tested positive for rabies, and approximately 10% of genotyped samples were associated with bat variants.Cats are increasingly recognized as secondary vectors for bat-derived rabies, primarily due to their predatory behavior and ecological overlap with bats in urban areas. This trend reflects broader environmental and societal changes, including deforestation, urban expansion, and habitat disruption, which have facilitated the adaptation of bats to urban ecosystems. These factors, combined with limited public knowledge about feline rabies risks and post-exposure prophylaxis, contribute to increased vulnerability.This scenario calls for integrated, multisectoral strategies grounded in the One Health approach. Priorities include improving rabies vaccination coverage among cats, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, raising public awareness about feline rabies, and addressing the environmental factors that drive interspecies viral transmission. The growing interface between bats, cats, and humans—especially in urban settings—represents a key challenge for rabies prevention and control in Brazil.

Keywords: Cats, Zoonoses, One Health

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