Rabies Surveillance in Mainland Tanzania: A Scoping Review of Animal Rabies Occurrences (1993–2023)

Animal rabies remains underreported in low-income countries, hindering effective control. This scoping review aimed to map reported animal rabies cases, identify key reservoir species, and assess gaps in surveillance coverage in mainland Tanzania from 1993 to 2023. Specifically, it addressed the distribution of cases, species involved, and the extent of surveillance coverage during this period. Literature searches in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were screened using Rayyan. Twenty articles published between 1993 and 2023 reported 7319 animal rabies cases across the Northern Zone (NZ), Southeastern Zone (SEZ), and Coastal Zone (CZ). In the NZ, domestic dogs accounted for most cases (5387), followed by jackals (225), cats (77), livestock (311), and various wildlife species including African wild dogs, bat-eared foxes, lions, cheetahs, and striped hyenas. Additionally, 102 cases involved unidentified animals. In SEZ, domestic dogs (588) were the primary source, followed by jackals (262), hyenas (8), cats (10), honey badgers (5), and leopards (2). In CZ, domestic dogs accounted for 94 cases. The findings confirm domestic dogs as the main rabies reservoir, highlighting the need for strengthened surveillance and control. The role of wildlife in rabies maintenance and spillover remains poorly understood and warrants further investigation, especially in enzootic hotspots.