Estudo retrospectivo do perfil populacional e status vacinal antirrábico de gatos em 2025

Abstract

Rabies is an acute, progressive, and highly lethal viral zoonosis that represents an important public health challenge. Despite the reduction in cases associated with the urban cycle in Brazil, the persistence of the virus in wild reservoirs, especially bats, reinforces the importance of rabies vaccination in dogs and cats as the main preventive measure. This study aimed to evaluate the rabies vaccination status of cats treated at the Veterinary Clinic of the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás (PUC Goiás), as well as to characterize and investigate possible associations among age, sex, reproductive status, and vaccination history. This was a retrospective, observational, and descriptive study conducted through the analysis of 78 clinical records of cats treated between January and December 2025. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses using the chi-square test, adopting a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). A predominance of females (64.1%), fertile animals (57.7%), and young cats was observed. Regarding vaccination profile, 69.2% of the animals had a history of rabies vaccination, while 30.8% had no vaccination record. A significant association was observed between vaccination status and updated vaccination schedule (p < 0.0001), whereas sex, age, and reproductive status showed no association with vaccination status. The results highlight weaknesses in adherence to preventive measures, reinforcing the importance of tutor awareness, preventive veterinary medicine, and epidemiological surveillance for rabies control within the One Health perspective.