Abstract
BackgroundDog rabies is endemic in most African countries and the risk of human rabies is estimated to be high in Cameroon according to WHO estimations in 2010. This study aimed to describe the circulation rabies virus (RABV) among dogs in the southern regions of Cameroon from 2010 to 2013 in a context, where mass vaccination campaigns are launched annually in order to control rabies in domestic animals including dogs and cats.FindingsFrom 2010 to 2013, 93 animal specimens (dogs: 91, monkey: 1, pig: 1) originating from the southern regions of Cameroon were collected and tested for rabies virus at the Centre Pasteur of Cameroon by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and virus isolation. Of the total dog specimens, 69.2% (63/91) originated from the central part of the southern regions and 50.5% (46/91) were from the capital city Yaounde. Overall, 74.2% (66/89) of dogs’ specimens that could be tested were found rabies-positive while specimens from the monkey and pig were tested negative. Overall, dog rabies was repeatedly detected in the southern regions of Cameroon especially in the nation capital, Yaounde even though low specimen submission and geographic bias did not permit major conclusions about its actual rate, geographical and over time distribution.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that rabies is endemic in the dog population which is of public health concern. Therefore, coordinated rabies control program should be conducted to reduce the rabies incidence in dogs and in humans. In addition, proper rabies surveillance program including reporting system should be established to monitor the success of the control program in Cameroon.
Highlights
Dog rabies is endemic in most African countries and the risk of human rabies is estimated to be high in Cameroon according to WHO estimations in 2010
The results of this study indicate that rabies is endemic in the dog population which is of public health concern
Rabies is a viral zoonotic infection commonly caused by the rabies virus (RABV), and by other negative strand RNA viruses belonging to the Lyssavirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family [1,2]
Summary
Dog rabies is endemic in most African countries and the risk of human rabies is estimated to be high in Cameroon according to WHO estimations in 2010. The animal and human public health authorities are aware of the need for the control of dog rabies, the active rabies surveillance system is not yet in place. In Cameroon, any suspected rabies specimen originating from the 7 southern regions of Cameroon are tested at the Centre Pasteur du Cameroon (CPC) in Yaoundé, while the specimens originating from the northern regions of Cameroon (Extreme North, North and Adamaoua) are referred to the national veterinary laboratory (LANAVET) (Figure 1).
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