Regional
Rabies
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Background
Assam is a land-locked state of India, surrounded by 7 mountainous states in the country’s north-east, richly endowed with a wide range of wildlife. Its ecosystem favours an agriculture-based livelihood for the majority of inhabitants. While common livestock diseases of this region are prevented by vaccination, rabies remains a major threat to livestock and public health due to the ubiquitous presence of free-roaming dogs in urban and rural areas, besides the tea gardens and fringes of wildlife parks. Assam recorded 12 human deaths in 2022, 33 in 2023, 1 in 2024 and 1 in 2025 (January). In rural areas, folk medicine is still practised, and death cases go unreported. Despite national and state policies to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies, awareness of post-bite treatment is inadequate, and there is a lack of trained manpower for laboratory diagnosis.
Until now, the diagnosis of animal rabies has been mostly based on clinical signs and histopathology. The Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Assam lacked a designated rabies diagnosis facility. In the absence of a designated rabies diagnosis laboratory, animal samples were shipped to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences University (KVAFSU)-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory based at the Veterinary College in Bengaluru (which is the WOAH Reference Laboratory for rabies). This involves shipping costs, time loss, and the risk of sample damage during transit.
Capacity building initiatives
Given the situation, there was a need to establish diagnostic facilities in Assam to support rapid diagnosis and enhance the surveillance of animal rabies. Dr Jyoti B. Dutta, Professor and Head of the Veterinary Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Science in Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, with the support of Dr Srikrishna Isloor, Director of the WOAH Reference Laboratory in Bengaluru, led initiatives in 2019 to build local capacity to establish animal rabies diagnostic facilities in Assam. This included a 2-day workshop for field and wildlife veterinarians and researchers from Assam and the north-east region, where Dr Isloor and the team served as the resource experts. Participants were trained on the WOAH-recommended, non-invasive occipital foramen brain sampling technique that is a relatively simple process for collecting samples (see pictures).
(Assam, India) Participants of the 2019 regional workshop on rabies sampling and diagnosis for field and wildlife veterinarians at the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University (AAU).
Workshop participants learning brain sample collection technique by foramen magnum route under the guidance of Dr Shrikrishna Isloor, at the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University (AAU).
Mission Rabies provided a fluorescent microscope, diagnostic kits required for direct fluorescent antibody (FAT) tests and lateral flow assay (LFA) kits. The WOAH Reference Laboratory in India, led by Dr Isloor, provided the necessary training on brain sampling and use of LFAs and FAT tests.
The Animal Rabies Diagnosis Laboratory was formally inaugurated in the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Guwahati, Assam, by Dr B. N. Saikla, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science and Mr A. C. Deori, Director of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Government of Assam, on February 6, 2025.
Thanks to support from Mission Rabies, Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS), WOAH-KVAFSU CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory, and Just Be Friendly (JBF), Assam now has a facility for diagnosing animal rabies, thereby enabling rabies surveillance in animals of the northeastern states of India and neighbouring areas.
On an interim basis, Mission Rabies provides diagnostic logistics. Samples sent by field veterinarians are diagnosed in the laboratory, which is currently headed by Dr Dutta and supported by a PhD researcher, Dr Tinku Das, with a laboratory attendant.
The laboratory functions as a satellite laboratory under the technical guidance of the WOAH Reference Laboratory at Bengaluru. So far, 193 animal brain samples were received from various districts of Assam, Nagaland and West Bengal states, out of which 88 tested positive (45.6%). The test positivity seen in various species are as follows: cattle (87%), goat (41.7%), pigs (50%), horse (66.7%), dogs (65%), and jackals (50%). Pilot studies show that the region is highly endemic for animal rabies.
For post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the results of positive cases are immediately shared with the local Health Department through the JBF. Free-roaming dogs are also monitored for symptoms which possibly correspond to rabies.
Positive brain samples from the Animal Rabies Diagnosis Laboratory repository were shared with the Department of Microbiology, Gauhati Medical College for standardising the molecular test for human rabies diagnosis.
(Assam, India) Dignitaries from Assam Agriculture University with Dr Dutta at the launch of the rabies laboratory.
The plaque at the Animal Rabies Laboratory at AAU.
Future plans
AAU aims to expand laboratory diagnostic services and enhance animal rabies surveillance in the region. The school has approached the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) of the government of India, for funding support under the “Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) Programme”.
Research activities
Since 2018, with the guidance of Dr Dutta, several rabies related research under the post-graduate degree programme (self-funded) have contributed to greater understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and the epidemiology of dog-mediated rabies, economic impact on livestock, domestic-wildlife interface, and the prevalence of bat lyssavirus. Most of these studies were conducted with the technical support of the WOAH Reference Laboratory in India. The studies highlighted the magnitude of rabies burden in animals and gaps in knowledge on prevention and control measures. The KAP study revealed gaps in the knowledge of professional and general communities, and there was a lack of coordination among the stakeholders.
The AAU also conducted other activities, including capacity building initiatives for sample collection, awareness drives for rabies prevention, and pre-exposure immunization of veterinary students during observation of World Rabies Day events.
Public awareness
With limited funding, Dr Dutta also led public awareness programmes through camps in villages and collaborated with relevant institutes for outreach events, including mass media (television and radio).
During these awareness camps, information was shared about the signs of rabies in animals, the importance of vaccinating dogs and cats as companion pets, and the impact of rabies on livestock farming. Leaflets were distributed among school children on the prevention of dog and wild animal bites, seeking post-bite medical interventions and using post-bite vaccination instead of using traditional medicines for animal bites.
Villagers expressed concerns about the lack of knowledge about the risks of consuming milk from rabies-suspected cows and the risks of handling or feeding their animals suspected of rabies. Most people were unaware of the availability of effective vaccines for post-exposure prophylaxis, free of cost. It was clear that frequent and intensive awareness campaigns via public media are necessary to share information on rabies prevention and control in animals and humans.
for post-exposure prophylaxis, free of cost. It was clear that frequent and intensive awareness campaigns via public media are necessary to share information on rabies prevention and control in animals and humans.
(Assam, India) Dr Dutta providing information on rabies through the local television (Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati).
Dr Dutta raising awareness about rabies via local radio (Akashvani, All India Radio, Guwahati), 2025.
Dr Dutta interacting with villagers during the rabies awareness camps about jackal-mediated rabies in Mothpara and Bhatipara villages, India.
Dr Dutta organised awareness camps and interacted with villagers from Mothpara and Bhatipara villages of Kamrup Metro district, along with officials from the administration and forest department of West Kamrup Forest Division, Government of Assam, after an incident of a rabid jackal attacking many villagers in October 2023.
During World Rabies Day in 2024, free anti-rabies vaccination activities were conducted within the veterinary complex of Assam Agriculture University (see pictures below).
(Assam, India) Free anti-rabies vaccination activities during World Rabies Day 2024.
Final year students of AAU after receiving free pre-exposure vaccination.
Conclusion
Rabies is endemic in Assam and other northeastern states of India. It is crucial to provide field-level rabies diagnostic services to understand the true burden of animal rabies and enhance rabies surveillance. With the establishment of a rabies diagnostic facility at AAU, the hope is that rabies surveillance activities will be enhanced, and this will contribute to effective prevention and control of rabies in Assam and neighbouring states. Support is needed in terms of human, financial and laboratory consumables to sustain the laboratory diagnostic services.
Acknowledgements
Story submitted by: Dr Jyoti B Dutta, Professor & Head of Veterinary Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Science in Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam
Disclaimer
WOAH is not responsible for the correctness of the contents of this story, although efforts have been made to validate the facts.
