Comparison between the Ministries regarding their top endemic zoonotic disease priorities.

<p>Comparison between the Ministries regarding their top endemic zoonotic disease priorities.</p

Development of capacities against emerging and endemic zoonoses per country.

<p>Seven capacities were assessed for each country. Countries are grouped by sub-region (South America, Central and North America, and the Caribbean). The first bar shows the average capacity development for all countries that responded to the survey (31). Regional averages are also shown for each region to allow comparisons between countries.</p

Top capacities that require improvement for each of the top five emerging priority zoonoses.

<p>The Ministries of Health and Agriculture and combined entities of Latin American and Caribbean countries listed capacities to improve primarily within five categories (control, <i>cont</i>; coordination, <i>coor</i>; diagnosis, <i>diag</i>; education, <i>edu</i>; and surveillance, <i>surv</i>). Responses that fell outside these categories were categorized as <i>other</i>. Percentage represents total respondents received per zoonosis.</p

Comparison of the top five priority emerging zoonoses of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

<p>Comparison of the top five priority emerging zoonoses of Latin American and Caribbean countries.</p

List of endemic zoonotic diseases and their frequency in regards to their prioritization by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and combined entities in Latin America and Caribbean countries.

<p>First, second, and third refer to the priority level of the zoonotic diseases and total is a sum of all the times that disease was prioritized in such categories.</p

Comparison of the top five priority endemic zoonoses for Latin American and Caribbean countries.

<p>Comparison of the top five priority endemic zoonoses for Latin American and Caribbean countries.</p

Top capacities that require improvement for each of the top five endemic priority zoonoses.

<p>The Ministries of Health and Agriculture and combined entities of Latin American and Caribbean countries listed capacities to improve primarily within five categories (control, <i>cont</i>; coordination, <i>coor</i>; diagnosis, <i>diag</i>; education, <i>edu</i>; and surveillance, <i>surv</i>). Responses that fell outside these categories were categorized as <i>other</i>. Percentage represents total respondents received per zoonosis.</p

Probability of introduction for the top emerging zoonotic diseases in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

<p>Probabilities were selected by the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and combined entities (<i>very improbable</i> (probability < 0.20), <i>improbable</i> (0.20–0.40), <i>moderate</i> (0.41–0.60), <i>probable</i> (0.61–0.80), and <i>very probable</i> (0.81–1.00).</p

An inter- laboratory proficiency testing exercise for rabies diagnosis in Latin America and the Caribbean

<div><p>The direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA), is performed in all rabies reference laboratories across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Despite DFA being a critical capacity in the control of rabies, there is not a standardized protocol in the region. We describe the results of the first inter-laboratory proficiency exercise of national rabies laboratories in LAC countries as part of the regional efforts towards dog-maintained rabies elimination in the American region. Twenty three laboratories affiliated to the Ministries of Health and Ministries of Agriculture participated in this exercise. In addition, the laboratories completed an online questionnaire to assess laboratory practices. Answers to the online questionnaire indicated large variability in the laboratories throughput, equipment used, protocols availability, quality control standards and biosafety requirements. Our results will inform actions to improve and harmonize laboratory rabies capacities across LAC in support for the regional efforts towards elimination of dog-maintained rabies.</p></div

Rabies panel composition and rabies virus variants used in this study.

<p>Rabies panel composition and rabies virus variants used in this study.</p