Detection of rabies antigen in the saliva and brains of apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption and its public health implications in abia state, Nigeria.

The study was carried out in eight dogs slaughtering outlets within four Local Government Areas of the State for the determination of rabies antigen in the saliva and brain of apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption. A total of one hundred (100) samples each of saliva and brain were collected before and after slaughter, respectively, between April to June, 2013, in the selected areas. The saliva was subjected to rapid immune-chromatographic test (RICT) while direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) was carried out on the brain samples. Structured questionnaire was administered to nineteen (19) dog meat processors comprising 18 males and 1 female in the selected areas. Sixty four percent of the samples tested were from female dogs while 36% were from males, 5% tested positive for rabies antigen with the use of both tests; there was no statistical association between sex and rabies status of the dogs sampled (P > 0.05). Butchers bitten during the course of slaughtering were 94.7% out of which 72.8% utilized traditional method of treatment and only 27.8% reported to the hospital for proper medical attention. This study has established the presence of rabies antigen in apparently healthy dogs in the study area.

Enhancing comparative rabies DNA vaccine effectiveness through glycoprotein gene modifications.

Enhancing DNA vaccine effectiveness remains a challenge, especially if the desired goal is immunization efficacy after a single dose. The glycoprotein gene from the rabies virus Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) strain was modified by mutation at amino acid residue 333 from arginine to glutamine. The modified and original unmodified glycoprotein genes were cloned separately and developed as DNA vaccines for immunization in mice. The intramuscular (IM) route using a single dose (100 microg) of a modified DNA vaccine showed virus neutralizing antibody induction by d30, and 80% of the mice survived a challenge in which 100% of unvaccinated controls succumbed. Similar results were obtained using a single dose (10 microg) by the intradermal (ID) route with one-tenth amount of the DNA administered. Administration of single dose of DNA vaccine with unmodified G did not result in the production of detectable levels of virus neutralizing antibody by d30. The results of the IM and the ID routes of administration were statistically significant (P<0.01). Based on these preliminary results, a modified glycoprotein gene from the ERA rabies virus strain may be an ideal candidate for DNA vaccine efficacy enhancement.

Clinical trial of long-acting oxytetracycline and piroxicam in the treatment of canine ehrlichiosis.

Forty-three dogs with canine ehrlichiosis were treated with long-acting oxytetracycline (TLA) at a dose of 20 mg/kg. In order to eliminate pain at the site of injection of TLA, varying doses of piroxicam were administered intramuscularly to the treated dogs. A minimum of 15 mg of piroxicam proved effective in eliminating pain and swelling at the TLA-injection sites, while fever was eliminated with a minimum of 10 mg of piroxicam 24 hours post-treatment. Rapid restoration or improvement of appetite in treated dogs was also observed after treatment with piroxicam and TLA. Both TLA and piroxicam were found to be suitable for use in dogs.

Serological evidence of infection of dogs and man in Nigeria by lyssaviruses (family Rhabdoviridae).

A survey was conducted for serum neutralizing antibodies against 3 members of the Lyssavirus group (rabies, Lagos bat and Mokola viruses) in Nigerian dogs and humans. Of 463 unvaccinated dogs sampled, 142 (30.7%) had antibodies against rabies; 39.2% of the stray dogs were positive. Of 241 dogs tested, 17.4% had antibodies against Mokola virus and 5.8% against Lagos bat virus. 28.6% of human samples tested had antibodies against rabies and, of 158 human samples tested, 12 (7.5%) had antibodies against Mokola virus and 4 (2.5%) had antibodies against Lagos bat virus.

Emergence of antirabies vaccine of unknown origin for human treatment in Nigeria.

Rabies is endemic in Nigeria. It is one of the most important and dreadful zoonotic diseases in the country and the dog is seen as the principal host and reservoir animal. Fatal human rabies resulting from dog bites has been reported. Dog bites in Nigeria occur regularly throughout the year and the rate of bite could be considered very high. The treatment of the exposed has been a matter of concern.

Experimental and clinical trials of long acting oxytetracycline in the treatment of canine ehrlichiosis.

Four splenectomized dogs were experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis and treated at the point of illness with long acting (LA) Oxytetracycline at different dosages. Terramycin LA, when given at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight (deep intramuscularly) twice, at a four-day interval, was found to have effectively controlled the disease and has replaced the usual 7-14 successive days' treatment regimen when other groups of tetracycline drugs are used. Predef 2X at the rate of 2 mg given intramuscularly concurrently eliminated the local inflammatory reaction caused by the injection of Terramycin LA. Twenty-four out of the 26 naturally infected dogs which were treated in a similar way were completely cured; one died before it could receive the full treatment, and another received a second medication five weeks after the first treatment, showing recurrent epistaxis; blood samples taken from this dog were negative for E. canis.

Rabies in Oyo State, Nigeria; 1971-1982.

Epidemiologic data gathered from recorded sources in Oyo State, Nigeria, indicates that people are at 2.1 times greater risk there than in Africa generally and 56 times greater than in the United States of America of dying from rabies. Women older than 30 years of age comprised 45% (5/12) of the analyzable rabies cases from 1971 to 1979. Two of these 12 cases were contracted from cat bites and both of these cases were women. The reason for the high rate of rabies in Women (7/12), especially older women, is not known although this may relate to their socio-economic role in this part of Nigeria. Nor is it understood why women are more likely to be bitten by rabid cats. Eighty-seven percent of rabid animals were dogs. Males were at greater wisk of being bitten by an animal than were females at a ratio of 1.8 to 1, but 57% of male and 49% of female bite victims were 14 years of age or lress. Women 35-39 years old were bitten more frequently than would be expected from the dminishing rate displayed with increasing age, and this may explain, at least partially, their involvement in fatal rabies. There were an average of 45 to 50 cases of animal bites reported in Oyo State each month from January 1978 through December 1981, and a drastic rise was seen in January through April of 1980. There was not a parallel increase in human rabies during this 4 month period, however. A wildlife reservoir for rabies was not evident from the Oyo State data and it must be presumed that dogs are the maintenance reservoir for the virus. Questionnaire surveys were not useful during this study, but personal interview and trace-back efforts to gather information were valuable. These latter efforts suggest that rabies is more prevalent than existing records indicate, probably by a factor ranging from 2 to 6 or more. Rabies control in Oyo State will require recording and systematic reporting of human and animal cases to develop meningful programs. These all in turn revolve around the societal recognition and determination to cope with the problem.