Laboratory-Based Surveillance of Animal Rabies in the Bono East Region of Ghana: A Six-Year Retrospective Study (2020 - 2025).

Abstract

BackgroundDog-mediated rabies remains a major neglected tropical disease and an important cause of preventable human mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite ongoing control efforts, limited laboratory-confirmed surveillance data hinder accurate assessment of the disease burden and the development of evidence-based interventions in Ghana. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of laboratory-confirmed rabies cases among suspected animal submissions and evaluated the contribution of routine diagnostic surveillance to rabies control. Methodology/Principal FindingsA retrospective analysis was conducted using laboratory surveillance records of suspected rabies cases submitted to a regional veterinary laboratory in Ghana between 2020 and 2025. Brain tissue samples were examined using Sellers staining, the direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Epidemiological information, including animal species, vaccination history, ownership status, bite history, and diagnostic outcomes, was extracted and analysed descriptively. Of the 51 suspected cases examined, 46 (90.2%) were laboratory confirmed as rabies. Domestic dogs accounted for 96.1% of submissions, while cats represented 3.9%. Most suspected animals were either unvaccinated (64.7%) or had unknown vaccination status (33.3%), and 90.2% had reportedly bitten humans before submission. Confirmed cases were detected throughout the study period, indicating sustained viral circulation and continued zoonotic risk within the study area. Conclusions/SignificanceThe consistently high proportion of laboratory-confirmed rabies cases demonstrates persistent transmission of rabies virus among domestic animals and highlights substantial risks to human health. The integration of conventional and advanced laboratory diagnostic methods strengthened surveillance and improved case confirmation. These findings underscore the urgent need to expand dog vaccination coverage, strengthen laboratory-based surveillance, improve bite reporting systems, and enhance collaboration between veterinary and public health sectors. Reinforcing integrated One Health strategies will be essential to accelerate progress towards the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Author SummaryRabies remains one of the worlds oldest and most devastating zoonotic diseases, which is fatal yet preventable, causing thousands of human deaths each year, particularly in Africa and Asia. In Ghana, domestic dogs are the principal reservoir of the rabies virus, but information on the epidemiology of animal rabies from routine laboratory surveillance is limited in many regions. We reviewed six years (2020 - 2025) of laboratory records from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Techiman, Bono East Region, to describe the epidemiological characteristics of suspected animal rabies cases and laboratory-confirmed infections. Of the 51 brain samples submitted for diagnosis, 46 (90.2%) were confirmed positive for rabies. Domestic dogs accounted for almost all submissions, and most confirmed cases involved animals that were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history. Furthermore, most suspected animals had reportedly bitten humans before laboratory investigation, highlighting the continuing public health risk posed by canine rabies. The study also documents how regional diagnostic capacity was strengthened through collaboration with national reference laboratories, enabling the routine use of internationally recommended diagnostic methods such as the fluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction. These findings provide valuable evidence to support enhanced rabies surveillance, increased mass dog vaccination, improved public awareness, and strengthened One Health collaboration. Such measures are essential for reducing human rabies deaths and supporting Ghanas contribution to the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.