Effect of Rabies Booster Vaccination on Antibody Levels in African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus).

Rabies is a highly virulent viral disease that has been associated with large-scale population declines of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Rabies vaccination may be a valuable conservation tool in this species, but studies indicate that a single dose does not always confer protective immunity. We examined 47 serum samples from 22 captive African wild dogs (sampled opportunistically for other purposes) to assess whether serum antibody levels after vaccination correlated with the number of doses received and whether other factors affected outcomes. Results of the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test showed that median antibody titers were 0.085 IU/mL prevaccination, 0.660 IU/mL after a single vaccination, and 22.150 IU/mL after a booster vaccination. Antibody titers above 0.5 IU/mL, internationally accepted as the threshold for seroconversion, were found in none of the samples taken prevaccination, 66.67% of samples taken after primary vaccination, and 90.90% of samples collected after booster vaccination. This study illustrates the probable protective benefit a rabies booster vaccination may provide in African wild dogs and serves as a basis for future research to improve vaccination protocols contributing to the conservation of this endangered species.

Comparative Study of Optical Markers to Assess Bait System Efficiency Concerning Vaccine Release in the Oral Cavity of Dogs.

Oral vaccination of dogs against rabies has the potential to achieve mass coverage and thus deplete the virus of its most important reservoir host species. There is, however, no established non-invasive method to evaluate vaccine release in the oral cavity, following bait ingestion. In this study, two pre-selected marker methods in conjunction with their acceptance were assessed in local Thai dogs. Shelter dogs (n = 47) were offered one of four randomized bait formulations; bait type A-, containing Green S (E142) in a fructose solution; type B-, containing Patent Blue V (E131) in a fructose solution; type C-, containing the medium used for delivery of oral rabies vaccine in baits commercially produced; and type D-, containing denatonium benzoate, which was to serve as the negative control, due to its perceived bitterness. Patent Blue V was found to possess overall stronger dyeing capacities compared to Green S. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the acceptance or bait handling of Patent Blue V baits compared to those containing the oral rabies vaccine medium alone, suggesting the potential use of this dye as a surrogate for rabies vaccine when testing newly developed bait formats.

Effect of alarm therapy on conditioning of central reflex control in nocturnal enuresis: pilot study on changes in prepulse inhibition (PPI).

BACKGROUND: Alarm therapy is a long-established first-line therapy for nocturnal enuresis (NE). Desamino-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) as alternative first-line therapy was shown to increase the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle reflexes, thus supporting the hypothesis of a maturational delay of reflex inhibition in NE. Effects of alarm therapy on PPI have not yet been investigated. METHODS: The PPI of startle reflexes was measured in 20 children with NE (13 boys, 7 girls, median age 8.5 years, range 5-13) before and after at least 6 weeks of alarm treatment and compared with repeated PPI measurements in 11 healthy controls (7 boys, 4 girls, median age 8 years, range 6-13). RESULTS: In the NE patients, PPI increased from a median baseline of 20-46% under alarm therapy (p = 0.005), with a reduction from a median of 7 to 2 wet nights per week (p = 0.002). The controls showed no difference in PPI (52% median at first, 40% at second measurement, p = 0.966). CONCLUSIONS: The increase of PPI trough alarm therapy was comparable with that under dDAVP, suggesting an analogous method of action and explaining the alternative or synergistic effect of both therapies. In addition, it further substantiates the hypothesis of a maturational delay of reflex control in NE.