A Retrospective Study on the Epidemiology of Anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Rabies in Bangladesh, 2010-2012

<div><p>Anthrax, foot and mouth disease (FMD), haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and rabies are considered to be endemic in Bangladesh. This retrospective study was conducted to understand the geographic and seasonal distribution of these major infectious diseases in livestock based on data collected through passive surveillance from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. Data analysis for this period revealed 5,937 cases of anthrax, 300,333 of FMD, 13,436 of HS, 247,783 of PPR and 14,085 cases of dog bite/rabies. While diseases were reported in almost every district of the country, the highest frequency of occurrence corresponded to the susceptible livestock population in the respective districts. There was no significant difference in the disease occurrences between districts bordering India/Myanmar and non-border districts (p>0.05). Significantly higher (p<0.01) numbers of anthrax (84.5%), FMD (88.3%), HS (84.9%) and dog bite/rabies (64.3%) cases were reported in cattle than any other species. PPR cases were reported mostly (94.8%) in goats with only isolated cases (5.2%) in sheep. The diseases occur throughout the year with peak numbers reported during June through September and lowest during December through April, with significant differences (p<0.01) between the months. The annual usages of vaccines for anthrax, FMD, HS and PPR were only 7.31%, 0.61%, 0.84% and 11.59% of the susceptible livestock population, respectively. Prophylactic vaccination against rabies was 21.16% of cases. There were significant differences (p<0.01) in the administration of anthrax, FMD and HS vaccines between border and non-border districts, but not PPR or rabies vaccines. We recommend that surveillance and reporting of these diseases need to be improved throughout the country. Furthermore, all suspected clinical cases should be confirmed by laboratory examination. The findings of this study can be used in the formulation of more effective disease management and control strategies, including appropriate vaccination policies in Bangladesh.</p></div

Map of Bangladesh showing 64 districts (top left): 1) Bagerhat, 2) Bandarban, 3) Barguna, 4) Barisal, 5) Bhola, 6) Bogra, 7) Brahmanbaria, 8) Chandpur, 9) Chittagong, 10) Chuadanga, 11) Comilla, 12) Cox’s Bazar, 13) Dhaka (the capital), 14) Dinajpur, 15) Faridpur, 16) Feni, 17) Gaibandha, 18) Gazipur, 19) Gopalganj, 20) Habiganj, 21) Jamalpur, 22) Jessore, 23) Jhalokathi, 24) Jhenaidaha, 25) Joypurhat, 26) Khagrachhari, 27) Khulna, 28) Kishoreganj, 29) Kurigram, 30) Kushtia, 31) Laksmipur, 32) Lalmonirhat, 33) Madaripur, 34) Magura, 35) Manikganj, 36) Meherpur, 37) Moulvibazar, 38) Munshiganj, 39) Mymensingh, 40) Naogaon, 41) Narail, 42) Narayanganj, 43) Natore, 44) Nawabganj, 45) Netrokona, 46) Nilphamari, 47) Noakhali, 48) Norsingdi, 49) Pabna, 50) Panchgarh, 51) Patuakhali, 52) Pirojpur, 53) Rajbari, 54) Rajshahi, 55) Rangamati, 56) Rangour, 57) Satkhira, 58) Shariatpur, 59) Sherpur, 60) Sirajganj, 61) Sunamganj, 62) Sylhet, 63) Tangail, 64) Thakurgaon.

<p>The maps illustrate district distribution of the estimated number of diagnosed cases of anthrax, foot and mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, peste des petits ruminants and dog bite/rabies cases reported in livestock (cattle, goats, sheep and buffaloes) in the country, 2010–12.</p

Estimated number of diagnosed cases, death cases and vaccination coverage of anthrax, foot and mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, peste des petits ruminants and dog bite/rabies in livestock (cattle, goats, sheep and buffaloes) in Bangladesh, 2010–2012.

<p>*CI = Confidence intervals.</p>δ<p>Calculated based on the number of livestock (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats) examined, which is 1,576,562 in 2010; 1,896,815 in 2011; and 1,255,145 in 2012 (only sheep and goats 576,936 in 2010; 695,845 in 2011; and 415,007 in 2012).</p>†<p>Calculated based on susceptible livestock population (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep) in Bangladesh, which is 42,594,399 <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0104435#pone.0104435-BangladeshBureauof1" target="_blank">[5]</a>.</p>‡<p>Calculated based on goat and sheep population only, which is 17,459,061 <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0104435#pone.0104435-BangladeshBureauof1" target="_blank">[5]</a>.</p>θ<p>The term “dog bite” is used for a suspected rabies case as every animal bite (mostly dog bite) is potentially suspected as rabid animal bite, as the rabies control program in animals is nonexistent in Bangladesh <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0104435#pone.0104435-Hossain1" target="_blank">[22]</a>.</p><p>Calculated based on reported dog bite cases assuming that all death cases are from rabies.</p

Monthly distribution of animal diseases and vaccination status in Bangladesh, 2010–2012.

<p>It represents the estimated number of diagnosed cases and vaccination of anthrax, foot and mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, peste des petits ruminants and dog bite/rabies reported in livestock (cattle, goats, sheep and buffaloes) in the country.</p

Species distribution of estimated number of diagnosed cases and death cases of anthrax, foot and mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, peste des petits ruminants and dog bite/rabies in livestock in Bangladesh, 2010–2012.

δ<p>Abbreviated: FMD = Foot and mouth disease, HS = Haemorrhagic septicaemia, PPR = Peste des petits ruminants.</p>θ<p>CFR = Case fatality rate.</p><p>*Statistically significant at the p<0.01 level.</p