Roaming Dogs Research Articles

Dog-Associated Road Safety Concerns: A Pre-COVID Survey of New Zealand Pet Owners

Aims: To investigate the road safety concerns associated with pet dogs in New Zealand. Methods: An online survey was developed and offered to New Zealanders via SurveyMonkey© from 8 January 2019 to 31 March 2019) using New Zealand residents aged ≥ 18 years. Questions about the demographics of respondents and their number of pet dogs along with those about dog transportation and dog roaming were asked. Results: Of 2744 respondents who completed the online survey, 1494 (65%) owned a dog. Of the total respondents, 1511 completed the question about how their dog or dogs travel in vehicles. Of these, 2% (n = 29) let their dog sit on the driver’s knee, and 12% (n = 179) allowed their dog to sit on the passenger’s knee. Only 7% (n = 105) allowed the dog to roam free throughout the vehicle, while 44% (n = 663) allowed their dogs to roam free in the backseat area only and 19% (n = 280) put their dog in the boot/hatchback area. A minority of respondents (2%, n = 22) indicated they let their dog travel unrestrained on the deck of a ute or truck. Approximately half, 51% (n = 767), of the respondents indicated that they restrained or crated their dogs in or on the vehicle. Respondents also expressed concerns about roaming dogs being a road safety hazard with the themes of responsible ownership, physical and psychological harm, and the dangers of rescue altruism emerging. Conclusions: Increased awareness about proper pet restraints during transportation and preventing dogs from roaming, especially near and on roads, is crucial to ensure traffic safety for humans and dogs.

Who let the dog out? Dog owner attitudes and economics regulate the potential negative impact of domestic dogs on wildlife in a reserve network

AbstractMany domestic animals have a profound impact on endangered species through complex interactions and spillover effects in and between coupled human and natural systems. A thorough understanding of the driving forces of human decisions regarding how domestic animals are kept is therefore critical to promote the synergy of human livelihood and biodiversity conservation. Working in the Qinling Mountains of China, we conducted a multidisciplinary study using a structural equation model (SEM) to link households' demographic and economic conditions, peoples attitudes and activities with their decisions, and further investigated how such process influences the potential negative impact of free‐ranging dogs on wildlife. Among 139 blood and saliva samples collected from dogs that were owned by local villagers but allowed to roam freely, 33.3% were positive for at least one of three viral infections, including canine distemper (28.2%), canine parvovirus (25.6%), and rabies virus prevalence (10.3%). SEM modeling revealed that human activity (β = 0.27, p = .012) has significantly increased dogs' potential negative impacts on wildlife by increasing the number of dogs and their direct contact with wildlife, as well as their larger movement range. Conversely, improvement in demographic and economic conditions (β = −0.22, p = .011) and human attitudes (β = −0.51, p = .013) suppresses the influence of free roaming dogs on wildlife. Meanwhile, livelihoods dependent on natural resources increased the likelihood of owners having dog practice that may negatively impact wildlife (β = 0.54, p < .001), without improving the economic conditions of the residents (β = −0.26, p < .001). Based on the above results, we recommend a program that combines educational and conservation efforts to encourages local residents in more responsible dog ownership and recommend reserve managers provide financial incentives to mitigate human‐wildlife conflicts.

Owned-Dog Demographics, Ownership Dynamics, and Attitudes across Three States of India.

This paper presents the demographics, dynamics, and attitudes of dog ownership across three states in India. The background of this research is set against the increasing significance of pet ownership in urban Indian contexts, with a particular focus on understanding the variations in dog-ownership patterns and their implications for public health and animal welfare. We employed a survey-based approach, gathering quantitative survey data from dog owners (n = 563) and non-dog-owners (n = 9282) across different socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds in seven Indian settlements. The results reveal notable differences in dog-ownership patterns, influenced by regional state. In particular, settlements in Gujarat were found to have significantly fewer dog-owning households than those in Tamil Nadu, with no differences found according to settlement size. Dog ownership was found to be more common in households of higher socioeconomic standing, and settlements in Uttarakhand were found more frequently to possess dogs for reasons other than companionship. Data from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, specifically, also indicate rapidly increasing rates of pet ownership. Sterilisation and rabies vaccination proportions were typically low and high, respectively, across all settlements, with few significant differences found among settlements. Confinement of owned dogs at night was significantly lower in Nainital than all other settlements. Differences in attitudes towards roaming dogs between dog owners and non-dog-owners were also examined, with the results indicating both positive and negative trends accordingly. Our results emphasise the need for region-specific strategies in public health and animal welfare policies, acknowledging the diverse nature of pet ownership in India. This research provides valuable insight for policymakers and animal welfare organisations, underlining the importance of tailored approaches to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Indian context.

Dog ecology and rabies control including canine vaccination coverage: Impacts from a survey in Madagascar.

Rabies virus (RABV; species Lyssavirus rabies) is causing one of the oldest zoonotic diseases known to mankind, leading to fatal encephalomyelitis in animals and humans. Despite the existence of safe and effective vaccines to prevent the disease, an estimated 99% of human rabies deaths worldwide are caused by dog-mediated rabies with children at the highest risk of infection. Rabies has been endemic in Madagascar for over a century, yet there has been little research evaluating local knowledge and practices impacting on the rabies control and prevention. Thus, this study was undertaken to better understand the dog ecology including canine vaccine coverage and to assess knowledge and practices of dog owners and veterinarians. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 dog-owning households in thirteen fokontanys in Mahajanga from July 4 to September 13, 2016. Single and multi-member dog-owning households in the study area on the day of the interview were eligible for inclusion and purposively selected with the support of a local guide. The survey included a household questionnaire capturing information on the dog's demographics, husbandry practices, knowledge and practices towards rabies and its control measures; the dog ecology questionnaire collected dog characteristics, vaccination status and husbandry practices. All households that reported a dog bite incident, were invited to participate in a dog bite questionnaire. In addition, direct observations of roaming dogs were conducted to assess dog population demographics and to document behavioural characteristics. Two veterinarians were purposively selected and took part in an interview during the survey period, providing information on rabies control activities, including dog-care practices in the area. Descriptive and inferential data analyses were performed using Epi Info version 7.1.5.0 (CDC Atlanta, USA). We recorded a total of 400 dogs, of which 338 (84.5%) were owned amongst 123 households. More than half (67.8%) of owned dogs were between 1 to 5 years old and 95.6% were kept for guarding purposes. 45% of the surveyed dogs had free access to roam outside the premises. The majority (85.4%) of dog owners were knowledgeable that a dog bite could potentially transmit RABV to humans. 19 dog bites were reported and of these 73.6% were caused by the owner's or a neighbour's dog. In 6 of the 19 cases, children between 7 and 15 years of age were the victims. Dog vaccination coverage against rabies was 34% among owned dogs. Of the participants aware of a veterinarian, the majority (55/82) indicated that they accessed veterinarian services at irregular intervals. The main obstacles to vaccinations cited by dog owners were limited financial resources and difficulty accessing veterinary care. This study contributes to enhanced understanding of the dog ecology including canine vaccine coverage as well as knowledge and practices of dog owners in Madagascar. Most dogs in the study area were accessible for preventive vaccination through their owners, however only one third of the investigated canine population was vaccinated against rabies. Concerted national efforts towards rabies prevention and control should aim to address financial challenges and access to veterinary services.

Bad dog, smart dog: Spontaneous discrimination of quantities in shelter dogs

Dogs’ co-domestication led to a series of modifications in their behaviour and cognition. Yet, how recent evolutionary history also interacts with developmental and experiential factors is often neglected. Here we tested shelter dogs in a two-alternatives free-choice task between different food quantities. Shelter dogs represent a heterogeneous population with high inter-individual variability, and we hypothesised that we could observe differences in cognitive performance between individuals depending on their attitude towards humans. Overall, we found that dogs preferred to approach the larger set of food (emmeans = 6.62. SE = 0.24, t = 28.17, p < 0.0001). However, consistently with our initial hypothesis, we observed that dogs that were evaluated as ‘less sociable’ by the keepers of the shelter succeeded already on their first trial (P(larger set) = 0.81, SE = 0.1, z = 2.31, p = 0.02), similar to what was observed in wolves and roaming dogs. Vice-versa, individuals that were evaluated as ‘highly sociable’ behaved at chance on the first trial and begun selecting the larger set only after a first interaction with the experimental setting (P(larger set) = 0.51, SE = 0.11, z = −0.7, p = 0.94), thus behaving alike to pet dogs. We discuss our results from both an experimental perspective, as in designing studies that account for multifaceted factors to reach a better understanding of cognition and behaviour in the Canis familiaris, and an applicative perspective, as in adding on current practices to facilitate the difficult process of inclusion of dogs in shelters, and possibly adoption.

Roaming Dogs, Intense Brown Dog Tick Infestation, and Emerging Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Tijuana, México.

A two decades-long epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in northern México reached the U.S. border city of Tijuana in 2021. Cases were near the city periphery in marginalized areas, some lacking infrastructure such as streets or utilities. We worked in the three census areas where human cases were reported and in 12 additional control Áreas Geoestadisticas Básicas. There were dogs, the primary tick host and Rickettsia rickettsii reservoir, in 76% of homes, with 2.2 owned dogs per home on average, approximately equal numbers of roaming dogs were seen, and 46.2% of owned dogs were allowed to roam in the street. Sixty-eight percent of people had heard of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), and 35% self-reported tick infestation, including 19% of homes without dogs. Ticks appeared to move among houses of adjacent neighbors. Of 191 examined dogs, 61.8% were tick-infested, with 6-fold increased odds if they were allowed to roam. Although no dogs were Rickettsia polymerase chain reaction-positive, we found one R. rickettsii- and 11 Rickettsia massiliae-infected ticks. The rickettsial IgG seroprevalence by immunofluorescence antibody assay was 76.4%, associated with unhealthy body condition, adults, dogs with >10 ticks, more dogs being seen in the area, and dogs being permitted in the street. Insufficient medical and canine management resources have contributed to a case fatality rate of RMSF that has exceeded 50% in areas. High canine seroprevalence suggests risks to people and dogs; unfortunately, herd immunity is impeded by high turnover in the canine population owing to the birth of puppies and high death rates. Binational One Health workers should monitor disease spread, enact canine population management and tick eradication, and provide prevention, diagnostic, and treatment support.

PROFILE OF STUDIES ON THE WELFARE OF DOGS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This systematic review of the literature investigates the characteristics of studies related to the welfare of dogs. A survey of the literature data was carried out using PRISMA criteria. It searched for scientific articles published in the electronic database PubMed between 1990 and 2021, in English or Portuguese, that offered free electronic access. We searched for the following descriptor terms: apartment dogs, confined dogs, dog welfare, dog well-being, free-ranging dogs, household confined dogs, indoor dogs, movement restrictions of dogs, roaming owned dogs, sheltered dogs, and spatial restriction of dogs. Using the PICO strategy included 4 components: studies on dogs (population); welfare assessment (intervention); studies that used positive behavior measures, such as interaction and behavioral responses, to assess dog welfare (comparator); peculiarities of studies referring to the welfare condition of dogs (result). In total, 44 articles published on PubMed were reviewed. Studies related to dog behavioral assessment comprising 50% of those reviewed. The studied population involved 85,492 animals, of which 75% belonged to the following categories: domiciled; free-ranging; and shelter. The descriptor term most cited in the articles was roaming owned dogs. We conclude that the behavioral assessment of dog welfare is fundamental to improving the relationship between humans and dogs and preventing abandonment.

Dog screening as a novel complementary guinea worm disease control tool to mitigate persistence in Chad: A modeling study

A free-roaming dog population remains one of the major public health problems in many developing countries. In this study, we investigated the potential impact of owned roaming and stray dogs on the persistence and possible eradication of Guinea worm disease (GWD) in Chad. We developed and analysed a multi-host of Guinea worm; and considered dogs as the definitive hosts, and fish as the intermediate hosts. Currently, GWD cases in the human population are low; hence, we ignored the human population in this study. We derived the reproduction number and explored how it depends on different model parameters that define it. We calibrated the proposed model with data from literature and validated it with recently reported GWD monthly data for dog infection in Chad from 2019 to 2022. Results show that detection and tethering of infectious owned free-roaming dogs combined with culling of stray dogs are effective disease management strategies. Hence, attainment of certain threshold levels for these interventions could lead to disease eradication. Overall, the study revealed how different factors could be applied to effectively manage GWD transmission in the dog population. Findings from this study could be used to support decision-making in GWD control strategies.Mathematics Subject Classification (2010): 92B05, 93A30, 93C15.

Research on the Ethology and Diet of the Stray Dog Population in the Areas Bordering the Municipality of Suceava, Romania.

This paper analyses aspects of the ethology and feeding of stray dogs in the areas bordering the city of Suceava and the nearby towns. The study area is located in the hunting grounds (HG), which are managed by the "Ștefan cel Mare" University in Suceava. Between October 2017 and April 2022, the behaviour and the types of food consumed by stray dogs captured in the outskirts of the localities in the study area were analysed. A sample of 183 stray dogs were used for the study, and the analysis established the distribution and density of the dogs in the free-range area compared to the density of the wild animals of hunting interest. The tracks and travel routes of the stray dogs were highlighted. Areas where packs of feral dogs camp were also identified. Observations were made of the individual and social behaviours of the dogs, their gregariousness and the way in which they hunt. The types of food consumed were analysed for each specimen. Through the collected and analysed data, the opportunistic predatory behaviour of the stray dogs was highlighted. Thus, stray dogs revert to the typical wild canid ways of behaving. As for food, our results showed the dogs' predilection for meat, both wild and domestic. On the other hand, the diet of roaming dogs is much more varied compared to that of wild canids. This is due to the fact that the way in which domestic dogs feed has changed over thousands of years as a result of living alongside humans.

The potential role of roaming dogs in establishing a geographically novel life cycle of taeniids (Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp.) in a non-endemic area.

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in humans and livestock in many pastoral communities in Kenya. The distribution of the disease is enhanced by several factors, including livestock trade, which has allowed for the spread of CE to non-endemic areas such as western Kenya. Dogs' roaming behaviour, with consequent contamination of the environment with intestinal parasites, could then lead to parasite establishment. This study examined dogs' infection levels with taeniid eggs and their potential role in contaminating the environment with intestinal parasites. We selected sixteen ruminant slaughterhouses in Busia and Bungoma Counties, and around each slaughterhouse we identified ten homesteads owning free-roaming dogs. We administered a questionnaire on dog management practices to the homestead owner and collected a faecal sample from the dog's rectum. In homesteads around 8 of the 16 slaughterhouses, we collared dogs with a GPS tracker to assess their movement patterns. The faecal samples were examined microscopically following zinc-chloride sieving-floatation technique for the presence of taeniid eggs and other canine intestinal parasites. Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene and sequencing were used to confirm taeniid eggs identified during microscopy. Additionally, the Coproantigen-ELISA was used to detect the presence of taeniid antigen in a sub-set of the faecal samples. Helminths detected in the 155 dogs sampled included hookworms (n=92; 59.4%), ascarids (n=15; 9.7%), and taeniids (n=1; 0.6%). Through Copro-PCR, 13 eggs extracted from the sample of the only taeniid infected dog were sequenced and identified as E. canadensis (G6/7) [n=1], Taenia multiceps [n=1], and Taenia serialis [n=6]; the remaining were indeterminate. Of the 77 faecal samples tested for E. granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) with the Copro-ELISA, 64 (83.1%) were negative, 12 (15.6%) were positive, while 1 (1.3%) was suspicious. The dogs travelled a median of 13.5km daily, and 28 dogs visited the slaughterhouses during the 5-day recording period. The results indicate a relatively high carriage of zoonotic parasites by free-roaming domestic dogs in western Kenya, which poses a risk to human and livestock populations. We report for the first time a domestic lifecycle of Echinococcus canadensis and Taenia multiceps in western Kenya, as well as a presumptive sylvatic cycle of coenurosis by T. serialis. We recommend an extensive and ongoing Copro-antigen survey of dog faeces, broader assessment of dog parasites with zoonotic potential, adherence to slaughterhouse management practices, and dog-ownership programmes to highlight the importance of deworming and restricted dog movements.

Physical assessment of free roaming dogs from Campo Magro – Paraná, Brazil

There are three categories of free roaming dogs: those with an owner, community dogs and abandoned dogs. These free-roaming dogs are vulnerable to animal cruelty and can cause traffic accidents and affect human health through transmission of zoonoses and bite injuries. The physical and ownership status of these dogs is unknown in most cities. The objective of this study was to report findings of physical evaluation and determine the ownership status of free roaming dogs in the municipality of Campo Magro, Paraná, Brazil. Whilst surveying stay dog populations to estimate numbers, observational physical assessment and interviews with passersby about the ownership of the animals were conducted. Of the 240 dogs counted, 46.7% (112/240) were classified as “dog with owner, 29.2% (70/240) as “community dog” and 24.2% (58/240) as “abandoned dog”; 63.8% (153/240) were male, 22.9% (35/153) were neutered. Most animals (75.4%; 181/240) had an ideal body score, but lower body condition scores were found in community and abandoned dogs (p &lt;0.05). Abandoned animals had significantly more skin nodules (p&lt;0.05) and higher prevalence of pruritus was observed in community dogs (p&lt;0.05). These results demonstrate the need for a population management program for dogs which includes strategies for reproductive control, animal health care and promotion of responsible guardianship.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in free roaming dogs from the Amazonian jungle

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there were several reports of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from human to animals, mostly to companion cats and dogs but also to free ranging wild species like minks and deers. Under this scenario, SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in domestic animals to assess the risk of transmission between species have been suggested by the OIE. Here we present a case report of SARS-CoV-2 infection in free roaming dogs, found at a rural indigenous community from the Ecuadorian Amazonia. Oral and nasal swabs samples were collected from three dogs found during a COVID-19 surveillance intervention in Amazonian indigenous communities where severe COVID-19 outbreaks were suspected. Total RNA was extracted from dog samples and detection of SARS-CoV-2 gene targets N, ORF1ab and S was performed. The three dogs tested positive for at least two SARS-CoV-2 viral targets. Moreover, there was a high SARS-CoV-2 infection rate of 87.2% within this community. Given that 17.1% of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals had an ultra high load greater than 108 copies/ml, transmission from humans to dogs likely occurred. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of SARS-CoV-2 positive free roaming dogs. Also, as those animals were found in the Amazonian forest, SARS-CoV-2 transmission to wild mammals is a potential concern. Given the high presence of free roaming dogs associated to rural and indigenous communities in South America, the potential role of these domestic animals on COVID-19 spread would deserve further surveillance studies involving SARS-CoV-2 detection by PCR and molecular epidemiology based on genome sequencing to confirm human to dog transmission.

Dynamic modeling of female neutering interventions for free-roaming dog population management in an urban setting of southeastern Iran

Understanding dynamics of free-roaming dog (FRD) population is critical for planning and implementation of dog population management programs. FRD population size estimation as well as dynamic modeling of dog population under different female dog neutering interventions were investigated in order to determine the most appropriate animal birth control approach. We performed population size estimate of dogs using sight-resight surveys by photography in a randomly selected 25 blocks of the city and all the suburbs of greater Kerman area. Main demographic features were characterized and the dog density distribution was mapped. A dynamic model was developed to predict free-roaming dog population variations after 5 and 10 years. Different scenarios based on 10, 30, 50, 60 and 70% female dog sterilization were considered to predict the effects of animal birth control measures. Free roaming dog population was estimated at 6781 dogs (65.3% males) in Kerman and suburbs with several major population hotspots. Analysis of the dog locations within the city showed that the largest proportion of the dogs were observed in the vacant lots (46.2%). Modeling predictions indicated that, in the absence of management, the free-roaming dog population could increase from a baseline of 6781 to 13,665 dogs (2.02 fold increase) in 5 years and to 19,376 dogs in 10 years (2.86 fold increase). Using a population dynamics model, we simulated five neutering coverages to explore the impact of female neutering on free-roaming dog population size. The 5-year projections of the model have shown that 50% annual female dog sterilization significantly reduced free-roaming dog population by 0.44 comparing to the baseline population. Findings of the present study improve our knowledge on the nature and extent of dog population dynamics in Iran. Effective population control and selection of the most appropriate neutering interventions require a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics and dynamics of FRD population.

A Comparison of Peripheral Blood Smears, Autologous Cell Cultures, and Reverse Line Blot Hybridisation in Screening for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia in Roaming Dogs and Symptomatic Dogs in Trinidad.

This study compared two methods to detect cases of canine ehrlichiosis in a field setting. One method was a polymerase chain reaction for the 16S rRNA gene followed by reverse line blot hybridisation with genera and species-specific probes for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia. The second method was an autologous cell culture of peripheral leucocytes isolated from heparinised blood and maintained in a homologous canine serum in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle medium without antibiotics. The cultures were examined under light microscopy for inclusion bodies after 48 h. Leucocytes were successfully propagated for 20 of the 34 samples submitted for autologous cell culture. Inclusion bodies were observed after cell culture in leucocytes of eight dogs. Two dogs were positive to the Anaplasma/Ehrlichia genera probe and six dogs were positive to the E. canis probe after reverse line blot hybridisation. There was acceptable agreement between reverse line blot hybridisation and cell culture results. Both reverse line blot hybridisation and autologous cell cultures can be used to detect E. canis in subclinical and clinical cases of disease. A definitive diagnosis of E. canis is best achieved by a combination of clinical signs, positive autologous cell culture, and reverse line blot hybridisation results.

Predictors of free-roaming domestic dogs' contact network centrality and their relevance for rabies control

Free roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) are the main vectors for rabies transmission to humans worldwide. To eradicate rabies from a dog population, current recommendations focus on random vaccination with at least 70% coverage. Studies suggest that targeting high-risk subpopulations could reduce the required vaccination coverage, and increase the likelihood of success of elimination campaigns. The centrality of a dog in a contact network can be used as a measure of its potential contribution to disease transmission. Our objectives were to investigate social networks of FRDD in eleven study sites in Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia and Uganda, and to identify characteristics of dogs, and their owners, associated with their centrality in the networks. In all study sites, networks had small-world properties and right-skewed degree distributions, suggesting that vaccinating highly connected dogs would be more effective than random vaccination. Dogs were more connected in rural than urban settings, and the likelihood of contacts was negatively correlated with the distance between dogs’ households. While heterogeneity in dog's connectedness was observed in all networks, factors predicting centrality and likelihood of contacts varied across networks and countries. We therefore hypothesize that the investigated dog and owner characteristics resulted in different contact patterns depending on the social, cultural and economic context. We suggest to invest into understanding of the sociocultural structures impacting dog ownership and thus driving dog ecology, a requirement to assess the potential of targeted vaccination in dog populations.

Investigation of protective level of rabies antibodies in vaccinated dogs in Chennai, India.

BackgroundRabies is still endemic in India causing an estimated 20,000 human deaths a year. Free roaming dogs and unvaccinated owned dogs play a major role in the maintenance of the disease. Dog vaccination is the most crucial aspect of rabies prevention and control strategies; therefore vaccine immunogenicity and longevity are important determinants of the efficiency of rabies control efforts.MethodsIn this study at Madras Veterinary College, India, a total of 297 serum samples were collected from owned dogs that were vaccinated against rabies. Data regarding age, gender, breed, neuter status and last date of vaccination were collected at the time of blood collection. The level of rabies virus neutralising antibodies in the sera of these dogs was measured through rapid focus fluorescence inhibition test. The factors associated with protective level of rabies antibodies in vaccinated dogs were investigated through multivariable regression analysis.ResultsThis cross‐sectional investigation shows that only 40% (119/297) of the all the dogs in the study showed presence of protective level of anti‐rabies antibodies, and 40% (72/180) of the dogs vaccinated within the last year showed presence of protective levels of antibodies causing concern about rabies vaccine quality and its impact on rabies control. The study also shows that older and neutered dogs are more likely to have protective titre among vaccinated dogs, while non‐descript breed dogs are less likely to have a protective titre compared to pure breeds.ConclusionIn this study 60% (108/180) of young prima dogs and adult dogs did not show protective levels of antibodies within the year of last rabies vaccination, although they had previous vaccination history. This high percentage of apparent non‐responders is a cause of concern of administration, distribution, storage, potency and quality management of vaccines in India.

Baseline epidemiology and associated dog ecology study towards stepwise elimination of rabies in Kwara state, Nigeria

Understanding domestic dog population dynamics and ecology is crucial to any effective rabies control program. This study was conducted as part of the baseline epidemiological studies necessary for the establishment of the Kwara Rabies Rapid Alert System “KRRAS”. This study aimed to determine the dog population structure of Kwara State by assessing the dog ownership, vaccination status, and prevalence of dog bites.A total of 1460 questionnaires were administered to respondents in the three senatorial zones of the state using Open Data Kit (ODK) between June 2019 to January 2020.Of the 1460 households surveyed, 293 (20.1 %) owned at least one dog with an average of 2.25 dogs per household. The male to female ratio was 1.9:1 and 79.3 % (n = 523/659) of the owned dogs were local breeds. A total of 785 dogs was enumerated (659 dogs from 293 households and 126 free-roaming dogs) and 7811 persons which resulted in a dog-human ratio of 1:9.95. The estimated dog population is 376,789 (95 % CI: 343,700 – 379,878). Only 31 % (n = 204/659) of households vaccinated their dogs against rabies. The prevalence of dog-bite was 13 % (n = 193/1460) of which only 27 % of the victims (n = 61/225) received post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Dog ownership was significantly impacted by the ethnicity of respondents. Hausa (OR: 3.76; 95 % CI: 1.15–12.4; p < 0.001) and Nupe (OR: 4.48; 95 % CI: 1.77–11.33; p < 0.001) respondents owned dogs than Yoruba respondents. The rabies vaccination status of owned dogs was significantly impacted by the level of education (OR: 5.03; 95 % CI: 1.50–16.83; p < 0.001); history of previous dog bite incidents (OR: 1.74; 95 % CI: 0.95–3.17; p < 0.001); the breed of the dog with exotic dogs being more vaccinated (OR: 2.79: 95 % 0.64–12.05; p < 0.001). Similarly, Male dogs (OR: 1.49, 95 % 1.03–2.86; p < 0.001) and partially confined dogs (OR: 1.09, 95 % 0.45–2.11, p < 0.001) were found to be vaccinated against rabies.The results of the study showed low dog vaccination coverage, and high number of free roaming dogs. Hence, a threat to public health. The low dog vaccination coverage is below the 70–80 % target recommended for herd immunity by the World Health Organization.

A Modified and Simplified Behavioral System Associated with Management Procedures for Assessing and Managing the Aggression Level of Free Roaming Dogs

A Modified and Simplified Behavioral System Associated with Management Procedures for Assessing and Managing the Aggression Level of Free Roaming Dogs

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HOOKWORMS INFECTION ON DOGS IN SUKABUMI REGENCY, WEST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Hookworms infection remains as an important parasitic infections affecting animal and human health worldwide. However, information on the prevalence and the risk factors of hookworm infection on dogs in Indonesia is very limited. A cross sectional study to estimate the prevalence and to identify risk factors of hookworms infection on dogs was conducted in rural area with different topography, Sukabumi Regency, Indonesia. A Total of 204 dog stool specimens were examined for hookworm eggs using simple flotation methods. The data of related risk factors namely type of topography area (high and low land), purpose of having dog, dog demography, dog reared management and deworming were collected through dog owners interview’s with completed a questionnaire. Those data were analyzed using the chi-square test (χ2) and logistic regression. The prevalence of hookworm on dogs in Sukabumi was 24.5 % (95% Confidence Interval [CI]=19.1-30.8). This prevalence was associated with topography of the area, the age of dog, and type of dog keeping methods. The prevalence of hookworms was higher in the high land area than low land area (OR=5.935, 95% CI=2.764-12.744 ). Logistic regression identified pupies as a high risk group to hookworms infection (OR= 2.041, 95%CI=1.035-4.055). The dog which kept in the cage/tied had higher risk than free roaming dog (OR=3.66, 95%CI=1.479-9.091).Key words: Dog, hookworms, prevalence, risk factors, Sukabumi.

Human rabies exposure outbreak investigation in Tembaro district, Ethiopia, 2018

Background: Rabies is a fatal viral infection that can infect all mammals. It poses a significant health problem in most of African countries including Ethiopia, where the majority of the cases result from dog bites. This study was conducted to assess the extent of the outbreak, to identify the exposing animals and risk factors for the transmission and to give technical support in the control and prevention measures. Methods and materials: Cross-sectional descriptive study design was used to conduct the study from April 28 to May 16, 2018. Line list of human exposure to rabies cases were collected from health facility. Case detection was actively done in the community. Structured questionnaire was used to assess awareness of the victims regarding rabies. Results: A total of 125 suspected rabies exposures and 9 suspected human rabies deaths were found. The rabies exposure crude attack rate (AR) was 90 per 100000 populations at risk. Age groups 15 to 45 were the most affected with age specific AR of 124 per 100000 populations. The highest AR occurred in Keleta kebele with AR of 85/10,000 population. Dogs, cats, donkeys, foxes, hyena and bat were found the responsible exposing animals. However; dogs were the most common, being responsible for 62 (50%) of the exposures. Among the dogs, 45/62 (72.5%) of them were stray dogs. Among the owned dogs, 54(88%) were not vaccinated. Brain tissue from two dogs was tested and became positive for rabies by Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT). Among 95 victims interviewed about rabies, only 33 (37%) of them know the symptoms, transmission, and prevention methods of rabies. Conclusion: There was high number of human rabies exposure due to animal bites in Tembaro district. Wild lives escaped from the forests around the Gibe river basin and high prevalence of free roaming and unvaccinated dogs were the likely risk factors for the increment of the rabies exposure. Inter-sectoral collaboration is needed among the district health office, wild life and environmental protection office and the livestock and fishery resource office. Mass dog vaccination and awareness creation in the community about rabies exposure are recommended.