Rabies is a zoonotic disease, caused by a Lyssavirus, present in the saliva of infected mammals, and transmitted to humans by bites, scratches, and licking of the mucosa. In humans, the virus causes a virtually 100% fatal encephalitis. After exposure, the disease can be prevented with proper care of the lesion and the use of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin. If the prophylaxis is implemented immediately after the accident, it is very effective. Individuals frequently exposed, as veterinarians, should receive pre-exposure prophylaxis with an anti-rabies vaccine, and to be aware that it is recommended to take proper care with the lesion and to receive a booster dose of vaccine after an accident.

Objective:

Evaluate the vaccinal status and the occurrence of accidents with animals in a group of veterinary students.

Methods: During a lecture on rabies prevention, students were invited to fill a form with questions related to vaccine status and the occurrence of accidents with animals.

Results:

25 students answered, 24 (96%) were female, the mean age was 29 years. The majority were in the first year (12, 48%) and 5 (25%) were in the last year. 11 students related previous rabies vaccination, 5 referred they were not sure about the information. From those immunized, 8 (73%) received pre-exposure vaccination, however, only 5 (55%) received the completed schedule with 3 doses and only 2 collected samples for seroconversion analysis. From the 6 students that informed to participate in a traineeship, 5 (83%) reported previous accidents with animals, 3 of them more than once. The animals involved in the accidents were cats and dogs. After the accident, 4 students informed to have taken proper care with the lesion, just two received the vaccine after exposure, and one received immunoglobulin. Hands were the most frequent area of the accident (80%).

Conclusion:

In Brazil in the last years, all human rabies cases were related to bat variants of the rabies virus, even when the accidents were with dogs and cats. Therefore, even if rabies is considered controlled among dogs and cats, the virus circulation in bats and other small animals as marmoset monkeys, can infect those domestic animals, increasing the risk of humans being more frequently exposed as veterinarians. Despite the small sample in this group, the low rates of adequate vaccine coverage should be corrected before a fatal accident occurs.