Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rabies vaccination and antibody levels in dogs in Abeokuta Nigeria
By Ishola, Olayinka Olabisi et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2021·Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rabies awareness among dog owners and detection of antibody levels against rabies in dogs presented for treatment at selected veterinary clinics in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Abeokuta, Nigeria, were tested for rabies antibodies to see how well they were protected against the disease. Out of 138 dogs, 82.6% had been vaccinated for rabies, but surprisingly, 76.3% of those vaccinated did not have detectable antibodies. In contrast, some unvaccinated dogs still showed positive antibody levels. Most dog owners were aware of rabies, but the findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine and the potential risk to public health. Regular testing of both vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs is recommended to ensure safety.
People also search for: dog rabies vaccine effectiveness · rabies awareness in dog owners · rabies antibody testing in dogs
Abstract
This study was conducted to profile the antibody levels to rabies in dogs presented at veterinary clinics and determine rabies awareness among dog owners in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Records of dogs' rabies vaccination were obtained to determine their vaccination status and number of times they had been vaccinated. Sera from 138 dogs of consenting owners were analysed using indirect ELISA technique to detect rabies antibodies. Structured questionnaire was administered to 138 dog owners to determine their awareness on rabies. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi‑square, ANOVA and t‑test at p ≤ 0.05. Of 138 dogs screened, 114 (82.6%) had history of vaccination against rabies. Of these 114, 87 (76.3%) were seronegative; however, 5 (3.6%) of the 24 unvaccinated dogs were seropositive. Overall, 32 (23.2%) comprising 15 (10.8%) males and 17 (12.3%) females had positive rabies antibodies level. Five (3.6%), 3 (12.1%) and 24 (17.4%) were seropositive among dogs of < 6 months, 6‑12 months and > 1 year of age, respectively. Dogs > 1 year had significantly higher antibodies than < 6 months (p < 0.05). Most (86.9%) of the dog owners were aware of rabies. The low seroconversion in vaccinated dogs and prevalence of rabies antibodies in unvaccinated dogs are of public health concern. There is need for regular sero‑profiling of vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34313100/