Epidemiology of stray and pet animal bite patterns in Mumbai using a cross-sectional comparative analysis

Animal bites are a significant public health challenge in India, accounting for 36% of global rabies deaths. The National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) outlines a multisectoral strategy to achieve elimination by 2030. Understanding bite demographics is crucial key to a One Health approach. This study aims to examines stray and pet bite profiles in Mumbai, focusing on bite characteristics and sociodemographic patterns. A cross-sectional study using record-based secondary data was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. Data were collected for all animal bite cases from May 2022 to April 2023. Sociodemographic and bite characteristics were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square tests to assess associations. Of 4,186 bite cases, 80% involved strays and 19.8% pet bites. Males comprised 78.6%, and 40.3% were aged 20–40 years. Category 3 bites accounted for 79.7%. Dog bites (86.2%) showed a significant association with bite type (p < 0.01). Unprovoked bites were significantly more common among strays (87.3%) than pets (74.7%) (p < 0.01). Pet bites were significantly more likely to be observable (65% vs. 22%, p < 0.01). Bite type was significantly associated with gender, animal type, provocation, and observability, but not with age or residence. Findings highlight a higher burden of severe, unprovoked, and unobservable bites from stray animals in urban areas. Strengthening surveillance systems, ensuring mass dog vaccination, and promoting responsible pet ownership and animal health awareness are crucial to rabies control. Improved observability and timely reporting can enhance post-exposure care and reduce risks of animal bite.