Abstract:
Epidemiological analyses in time and space were carried out on all animal rabies cases
reported in South Africa for the period 1993–2005. Validation of state veterinary records was
done by comparing these with data from the 2 diagnostic laboratories mandated to test for
animal rabies. A discrepancy between state veterinary records and laboratory results was
found and is discussed. The total number of positive rabies cases reported to veterinary
services between 1993 and 2005 was 4767. During this period the proportion of domestic
animal rabies had increased to 79%(19%more than for the period 1980–1994), with 59%of
the total cases being domestic dogs. Of the domestic animal cases 74 % were canine and
only 21%were bovine;whencompared to the data from 1985–1994 there was an increase of
6%of rabies in canine anda3%decrease in bovine cases. A disturbing trend is the increase
in the incidence of rabies over the last 16 years in provinces neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal
province, where rabies used to be concentrated, and in Limpopo province.
