title: [Characteristics of biting animals submitted to rabies diagnosis, São Paulo State, Brazil, 1993-2007].
abstract: Epidemiological factors related to animal bites in humans and other animals were obtained from a database with 10,616 records of animal specimens sent for rabies diagnosis in northwest São Paulo State, Brazil, from 1993 to 2007. Of this total, 61.5% contained information on the bites, and among the biting animals (25%), the majority were dogs (67%), followed by cats (21.8%), and bats (8.1%). In 92.1% of the reports the victims were humans, and 82.3% of the animals were home pets. The majority of the biting dogs were less than a year old. There was a significant association (p < 0.0001) between aggressiveness and gender (with male animals more aggressive than females). Of the rabies-positive animals, 75.9% (183/241) were biters. The data are important for establishing bite prevention programs based on the profile of both victims and biting animals, besides identifying risk factors for animal bites.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rua Clóvis Pestana 793, Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Sartore
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Buso
authors.forename: Caris Maroni
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Luzia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Queiroz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011818:Rabies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines