Silent victims: recognizing rabies in livestock and exotic pets – a clinician's dilemma

Rabies is a deadly zoonotic disease that affects not only domestic dogs but also livestock, wildlife, and exotic animals, making them “silent victims” in the fight against this fatal virus. Each year, an estimated 59,000 people die from rabies, and livestock losses, such as the over 842,000 cattle killed annually in Brazil, highlight the disease’s economic and public health burden. Farmers, veterinary professionals, and rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to close contact with infected animals, emphasizing the need for preventive measures. A One Health approach, integrating dog and livestock vaccination, wildlife monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and protective measures for farmers, is essential to reduce zoonotic transmission and safeguard livelihoods. Despite ongoing efforts, rabies persists in domestic and wild populations, underscoring the importance of timely intervention, regular immunization, and strengthened surveillance to achieve a rabies-free world by 2030.