DOG ECOLOGY WITH REFERENCE TO SURVEILLANCE FOR RABIES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
DOG ECOLOGY WITH REFERENCE TO SURVEILLANCE FOR RABIES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
1986-04
Authors
OKOH, EKLE ANTHONY JOSEPH
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Abstract
Two aspects of rabies problem in Plateau State of
Nigeria namely the ecology of the domestic dog,
including attitudes towards dog ownership, and its
possible role in the perpetuation of rabies, and antigenic
characterisation of rabies virus isolates were
studied. The dog ecology study was carried out by
direct street counts and questionnaire survey of 10%
city streets in Jos selected by stratified random
technique. It was found that the estimated overall
population was 4,200 dogs by the street count technique,
and 10,560 by the compound questionnaire method. Dogs
were most numerous in the Jos Township and Native Town
(Jenta) which are in the centre of town and fewest in
the low density Government residential area (GRA). The
overall dog to human ratio was 1:4 but ranged from 1:3
in Jos Township and Native Town to 1.6 in the GRA. The
average number of dogs per compound was 4. Dog bites
were most common in residential areas with high dog
populations. Dog ownership was more common among civil
servants and farmers, compared with traders businessmen
and semi-skilled, self-employed artisans (mechanics,
welders, truck drivers, carpenters etc). Protection
and Security ranked highest among the reasons and fear
of transmission to humans was the most important
deterrent to dog ownership. Stray dogs were regarded as a major problem and was attributed to bree by
owned dogs which then escape from their compoun
because of poor care. The visibility c. stray dogs has
given the impression of overpopulation in certain
sections of the town. Immunization rate for rabies in
dogs and veterinary service utilization were highest in
Jos Township and the Government Residential Area (GRA)
but less in Angwan Rogo. However, the entire community
appeared to recognize the importance of immunizing dogs
against rabies.
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DOG ECOLOGY WITH REFERENCE TO SURVEILLANCE FOR RABIES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA, DOG ECOLOGY WITH REFERENCE TO SURVEILLANCE FOR RABIES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA