Rabies Infections in Animals and People in Russia: A Comparative Historical Analysis

A comparative historical analysis of the role of mammals in infecting animals and people with rabies in Russia from 1534 to 2023 is conducted. Before the early 19th century, people were infected by only four species: dogs, wolves, foxes, and horses. All farm and domestic animals were susceptible to the disease. From 1825 to 1942, rabies in foxes ceased to be registered in the country (with a few exceptions). In 1951–2023, active antiepidemic work reduced the number of people infected by 23 times. The number of infected animals decreased only 2.2 times. This was explained by the existence of natural foci of rabies. The foci were studied in 1966–2023. The natural infection rate of different species of mammals obtained in field expeditions and collected from hunters was determined (n = 24 582 individuals). The average infection rate varied from 0.07% in rodents to 10.1% in arctic foxes. In foxes it was 0.2–5.4%, raccoon dogs 4.5%, corsac foxes 2.5%, wolves 1.1%, and mustelids 0.55%. The rabies infection rate in rodents (0.07%), bats (0.4%), lagomorphs (0.5%), and insectivores (0.1%) was very low and was explained by accidental infection, overdiagnosis, or laboratory contamination. All cases of rabies in land mammals were caused by the Lyssavirus rabies pathogen. This pathogen was not detected in bats, but the following pathogens were identified: Lyssavirus hamburg, Lyssavirus irkut, and Lyssavirus caucasicus, which were not recorded in dogs, cats, foxes, wolves, or other land animals. The first two viruses were known to cause death in people. The rates of rabies registration in wild animals depended on their behavior. In 2023, veterinarians registered about 40% of wild foxes infected with the disease and 1–2% of wolves, raccoon dogs, and corsac foxes. The last two species, participating in the circulation of the virus in nature and in its transmission to dogs, cats, and farm animals, unlike rabid foxes, usually died without coming into the field of view of people. Bites of humans by rabid wolves were 28–36 times more dangerous than dog bites.