Ten-Year Study on Bovine Paralytic Rabies in Northwestern Argentina (2014-2024): Clinical, Epidemiological, and Pathological Insights

Abstract Paralytic bovine rabies is a fatal disease caused by the rabies virus (RabV), which is transmitted in Latin America primarily by the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus. In Argentina, rabies is a notifiable disease with a 100% mortality rate if untreated, affecting the central nervous system and causing neurological symptoms such as paralysis, excessive salivation, and death. This study examines the clinical, epidemiologic, and pathologic aspects of paralytic rabies in cattle and horses from northwestern Argentina between 2014 and 2024. A total of 84 neurological consultations were analyzed, with 38 confirmed outbreaks. These were primarily distributed throughout the province of Salta. Of the brains analysed, 48.5% were confirmed by a histopathological diagnosis and direct immunofluorescence; 14.81% were confirmed by DIF and biological testing; 11.1% were confirmed by DIF and RT-PCR; 12.96% were confirmed by RT-PCR alone; and 5.56% were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. It was estimated that approximately 430 animals died from paralytic rabies during the study period. Northern Argentina is endemic to the disease. Outbreaks are typically associated with bat bites, resulting in an estimated economic loss of approximately 430 dead animals and $500,000. These losses could be significantly reduced through vaccination, which highlights the importance of control strategies.