RESUMO
Understanding the structure of dog population and the evaluation of the accessibility of dogs to vaccination is essential to succeed in the fight against dog rabies and to adapt the strategy of its control. We studied the characteristics of the unowned and owned dogs using the beck method during a rabies vaccination campaign in randomly selected sectors (urban and rural sites) in the North West of Tunisia. During a door-to-door investigation of households, data on owned dogs were collected to describe the owned population dog. A photographic-recapture method was used to characterize and estimate the size of the unowned dogs. A total of 1432 households accounting for 5403 inhabitants were interviewed during the survey (1298 (90.6%) in the urban site and 134 (9.3%) in the rural site). The dog-owning households were significantly higher in the rural site (76.1% (102/134)) compared to the urban site (17.8% (231/1298)) (P < 0.000000). Of the 17.8% dog-owning households in urban site, 58.4% owned one dog and 9% between 4 and 8 dogs. While, of the 76.1% dog-owning households in rural site, 24.5% owned one dog and 32.3% owned between 4 and 10 dogs. The dog: human ratio was 1:11 in the urban site and 1:1.6 in the rural site. The dog population density was estimated at 16 dogs/km2 and 4 dogs/km2 in the urban and rural sites, respectively. The confinement practices varied significantly among the urban and rural sites (P < 0.000000). The percentage of free-roaming owned dogs was 51.1% in the rural site and 31.4% in the urban site. More than 60.0% of the owned dogs in the urban site were confined. The majority of dogs in the rural site were born in the house, although, a high percentage (56.7%) of owned dogs in the urban site was adopted from neighbours, others sectors, or countries. The vaccination coverage findings indicated that 77.8% and 84.2% of the owned dog were vaccinated in the urban and rural sites, respectively. The estimated size of the free-roaming dogs was 72 dogs in the urban site (Kalaat Senan) and 16 dogs in the rural site (Sod el Khir).
RESUMO
Sheep pox is a highly contagious disease causing significant economic losses on livestock farms, especially among young animals. Epidemiological analysis of retrospective data on sheep pox surveillance over ten years revealed the endemicity of the disease in Tunisia. Temporally, the prevalence of infected farms increased during the last five years analysed (2013-2017), despite control measures for the disease, which are based essentially on vaccination. Analysis of the seasonality of infection showed that most outbreaks occurred in autumn and winter. The geographical distribution and spatial analyses classified the governorate of Sidi Bouzid as the area most affected by sheep pox duringthe period of study. It was observed that vaccination coverage decreasedbelow the recommended value (80%) in the last four years (2013-2016).
La clavelée est une maladie extrêmement contagieuse qui se traduit par d'importantes pertes économiques dans les élevages, les jeunes ovins étant les plus touchés. Une analyse épidémiologique rétrospective des données recueillies sur la clavelée, au cours d'une période de dix ans, a révélé que la maladie est présente à l'état endémique en Tunisie. Les données temporelles ont fait ressortir une prévalence accrue des élevages infectés au cours des cinq dernières années de la période d'étude (2013-2017), malgré les mesures de lutte appliquées contre la maladie, essentiellement la vaccination. L'analyse de la saisonnalité de l'infection a montré que la plupart des foyers se déclaraient en automne et en hiver. Les données spatiales relatives à la distribution géographique des foyers ont révélé que le gouvernorat de Sidi Bouzid était la zone la plus affectée par la clavelée pendant la période étudiée. Il a été constaté que la couverture vaccinale est passée en dessous du seuil recommandé (80 %) au cours des quatre dernières années de l'étude (2013-2016).
La viruela ovina es una enfermedad muy contagiosa que afecta especialmente a los animales jóvenes y causa importantes pérdidas económicas en las explotaciones de producción pecuaria. El análisis epidemiológico retrospectivo de los datos de vigilancia de la viruela ovina correspondientes a diez años reveló que la enfermedad reviste carácter endémico en Túnez. Por lo que respecta a la secuencia temporal, la prevalencia de explotaciones infectadas aumentó en el curso de los cinco últimos años analizados (2013-2017) pese a las medidas instauradas para combatir la enfermedad, basadas esencialmente en la vacunación. El análisis de la estacionalidad de la infección puso de manifiesto que la mayoría de los brotes se declaraban en otoño e invierno. A tenor del análisis espacial y de la distribución geográfica, la zona más afectada por la viruela ovina durante el período de estudio fue la prefectura de Sidi Bouzid. Se observó asimismo que en los últimos cuatro años (2013-2016) la cobertura de vacunación descendió por debajo del valor recomendado (un 80%).
RESUMO
Among the 301 dogs vaccinated against rabies in a suburban area of Tunis, 165 were sero-surveyed for 13 months. One month after vaccination, 65% of the dogs less than 1 year of age and 76-84% of the older dogs had significant antibody titers. One month after annual revaccination, these percentages ranged between 92% and 100%. Puppies (less than 3 months old) responded to vaccination with no significant interference by passive maternal immunity. Based on these percentages, a 93% rate of protection may be expected for vaccinated dogs. This study confirms that all dogs (even those less than 3 months of age) must be vaccinated during mass campaigns. The expected protection conferred by locally produced potent vaccines reaches 79-99% based on the age of the dogs. The alleged relative inability of local dogs to respond to vaccination cannot explain the partial success of rabies control in Tunisia.
