Background& Objective: Animal bites are considered to be an important threat to human health. Ardabil province in north-western Iran has the highest incidence rate of animal bites in Iran. This study was an attempt to investigate the epidemiological features of animal bites in Ardabil province during a one-year period from April 1999 to April 2000.

 Methods: In this descriptive study a special questionnaire was filled for all cases of animal bites reported during a one year period in Ardabil province. The questionnaire included questions regarding rabies, age, sex, job, etc. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (release 9). Descriptive statistics was used in the form of frequency tables and graph in order to summarize the data.

 Results: The total number of exposed persons to animal bites were 4331. Males comprised 75% of cases (3259) and 1072 persons (25%) were females. The highest incidence rate was seen among 30-50 year-olds. Animal bites were more common in summer. In 3078 cases (17%), legs were the main site of bite. Dog bite was the most common type (95%).

 Conclusions: This study confirms that animal bite such as dog bite is an important public health problem in Ardabil province. Regarding the importance of this issue it is necessary to take serious measures in order to control and prevent this health thereat.

  Background & objective : The reason for attacks of wild canines are for hunting or defense or as rabies. Usually in the biting of rabid wolf there are so many victims and the wounds are deeper and more dangerous. The rabies probability in this wonnd is 15 times more than the other bites. This article is a report of 24 bites of a rabid wolf in a short period of time. It is considerable even after 3 years because of the large number of victims and the appropriate measures of health related systems, and lack of mortality .

  Materials and methods: The report consists of 24 wonnded patients from the health center of meshkin Shahr. All of the victims were interviewed, examined and followed up for 3 years.

  Results: In the summer of 2006 a rabid wolf, whose rabies later was confirmed by Pasteur Institute of Iran, attacked 7 contiguous villages in the southern part of Meshkinshahr and 24 of natives were wounded. Mean age of victims was 36.5 years old. The injured organs were as follow: head and face in 21 cases, hands in 12 cases, body and abodomen in 8 cases, neck in 3 case s, leg 3 cases, and buttock 1 case. In 14 cases the wound of claw and teeth were observed. In two cases the attack form was insability in bending fingers and in other cases there weren't any complications. All of the patients were treated with vaccine and anti rabies serum and if necessary with tetabolin. There wasn't any mortality and morbidity reported during the 3-year follow-up.

  Conclusion: T he manner of wolf attack was compatible with the rabid wolf's behavior. No death was reported due to sufficient support, health care centers' awareness, vaccination and serum injection and tetabolin