Rabies - a seroepidemiological study on dogs

Rabies is one of the oldest and highly fatal viral diseases transmissible to humans. WHO reports 55,000 human deaths every year due to rabies across the world including highest number in Asia and Africa. In Pakistan the average number of reported cases of human rabies is 10,000 per year however, still there is a need to develop a complete data regarding incidence rate of animal rabies. Dogs are considered the major source of rabies spread in Pakistan in this context it has been observed that during previous years public concern has also been increased about the vaccination of pet animals especially dogs and every day a large number of pet dogs is vaccinated at various government and private clinics. It is a concept that vaccination of 75% dog population can eliminate rabies from an endemic area. On the contrary to this concept IPH Lahore reports 99% of their human rabies vaccination cases are dog bitten (52% by pet dogs and 48% by stray dogs). This situation seems to be the matter of concern for the pet dog owners and now it is the demand of prevailing circumstances to initiate extensive research work and public awareness efforts for rabies prevention and control. There are various factors that can be involved in high incidence rate of canine rabies in spite vaccination. In this regard post vaccination immunoprofile is of immense importance. In Pakistan currently there are various monovalent (single) and polyvalent (multiple) vaccines against rabies which are known for proven immunogenic efficacy and are extensively used for the vaccination in dogs. It is internationally recommended that determination of post vaccination immunoprofile should be mandatory in rabies endemic areas. Rapid Florescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) is the only WHO reference gold standard serological assay that is used to determine the immunity status of humans and animals on the basis of RVNA level. As this test facility is not available in Pakistan that is why no attention is being paid to immunoprofile studies. Consequently there is insufficient awareness about the immunogenic efficacy of different vaccines and immunity status of the vaccinated pets. Field study was carried out on 300 pet dogs of different breeds, age, and gender with different vaccination histories while experimental study was carried out on 16 previously non vaccinated dogs maintained under controlled conditions for one year and vaccinated with most commonly used monovalent and polyvalent vaccines of dogs. The diagnostic work was mainly carried out on blood (serum). For that purpose blood samples were initially processed at UVAS and stored at -80 C. The present study came up with the findings that can be of immense importance for the veterinary professionals, pet owners and future researchers. According to these findings only 58% vaccinated dogs could elicit protective rabies immunity while 33 % dogs were suffering vaccine/immunity failure. It was also observed that only 20 % young puppies below 3 months age exhibited maternal rabies immunity while 20 % puppies showed maternal immunity failure. Remaining puppies exhibited immunity below protective level. On the basis of these findings it is concluded that there is a high incidence rate of immunity failure that can be associated with inconsistencies of vaccination schedules, poor immunogenic efficacy of vaccines, inappropriate vaccination protocols. The study has highlighted a need for further investigations on the same lines and it is felt that there is a dire need of RFFIT in Pakistan. In this regard efforts have been made by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore to establish collaboration with K-State Rabies Lab., Kansas State University, USA. This collaboration will prove a dynamic development in the field of diagnostics and will be helpful in prevention and control of rabies in humans and animals. Following suggestions have been drawn from this study for the public awareness especially dog owners, that can be an effective contribution in the ongoing and future endeavors of veterinary professionals for the rabies prevention and control. Always get your pets vaccinated by qualified veterinary professional according to his/her prescribed schedule and keep the entire vaccination record of your pet maintained. In case you purchase a pet or adopt it dont forget to collect its vaccination record issued by a registered veterinarian. I shall suggest that instead relying on previous vaccination history owners should try to get their pet vaccinated again under their own supervision for the surety of vaccination record. Never freeze the vaccines: If your pet is bitten by any dog immediately wash the wound with soap (preferably carbolic) and visit the concerned doctor and never delay the vaccination. Rabies vaccination of pups of non vaccinated dams commences at 3 months age with primary vaccination followed by annual booster doses. Puppies from non vaccinated dams can be vaccinated before 3 months. Purchase the vaccines from well reputed stores that practice the proper handling of vaccines under refrigerated conditions.

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