The feasibility of canine rabies elimination in Africa: dispelling doubts with data

<p><b>Background:</b> Canine rabies causes many thousands of human deaths every year in Africa, and continues to increase throughout much of the continent.</p> <p><b>Methodology/Principal Findings:</b> This paper identifies four common reasons given for the lack of effective canine rabies control in Africa: (a) a low priority given for disease control as a result of lack of awareness of the rabies burden; (b) epidemiological constraints such as uncertainties about the required levels of vaccination coverage and the possibility of sustained cycles of infection in wildlife; (c) operational constraints including accessibility of dogs for vaccination and insufficient knowledge of dog population sizes for planning of vaccination campaigns; and (d) limited resources for implementation of rabies surveillance and control. We address each of these issues in turn, presenting data from field studies and modelling approaches used in Tanzania, including burden of disease evaluations, detailed epidemiological studies, operational data from vaccination campaigns in different demographic and ecological settings, and economic analyses of the cost-effectiveness of dog vaccination for human rabies prevention.</p> <p><b>Conclusions/Significance:</b> We conclude that there are no insurmountable problems to canine rabies control in most of Africa; that elimination of canine rabies is epidemiologically and practically feasible through mass vaccination of domestic dogs; and that domestic dog vaccination provides a cost-effective approach to the prevention and elimination of human rabies deaths.</p&gt

Prevalence of selected viral infections in various age groups of village chickens in Borno State, Nigeria

A preliminary survey for antibodies against some selected viruses in village chickens of various age groups was carried out in Barno State, Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty samples consisting of 160 sera from adult chickens, 60 sera from chicks and 100 yolk samples from embryonated chicken eggs were tested against Newcastle disease (ND), influenza (FLU) A and B viruses, and egg drop syndrome (EDS) - 76 viruses using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test; and infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus using the agar gel diffusion test (AGDT). Eighty-five percent of the samples tested positive to one or more viruses, with IBD having the highest percentage prevalence (45.7%) followed by FLU A (26.5%), ND (22.4%), EDS-76 (19.3%) and FLU B (0%). The percentage of mixed infectious among different age groups was highest among chicks. The importance of village chickens in the spread and maintenance of viral diseases of poultry are discussed from epidemiological point of view.Keywords: Viral antibodies, village chickens, Nigeri

Interference of Infectious Bursal Diseases (IBD) Virus and Vaccine with the Immune Responses of Guinea Fowls to Newcastle Disease Lasota Vaccination

The interference of Infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus and vaccine with the immune response of the grey brested guinea fowl (Numida meleagridis galeata palas) to Newcastle desease (ND) “LaSota” vaccine was studied using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for detection of ND virus antibody and agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) for the presence of IBD virus antibody. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in HI antibody response was noted between the group vaccinated with ND “LaSota” vaccine alone and those infected with IBD virus or vaccinated with IBD vaccine and later vaccinated with ND “LaSota”. The Newcastle disease “LaSota” vaccinated group showed highest Geometric Mean Titre (GMT) of HI antibody response of 80 while the IBD virus infected and IBD vaccinated group gave 32 and 19 respectively. Expectedly the IBD infected or vaccinated groups seroconverted to the IBD infection or vaccination. It is concluded that IBD virus or vaccine interfered with the immune response of the guinea fowls to ND “LaSota” vaccine

Competitive Elisa Rinderpest Virus Antibody in Slaughtered Camels ( Camelus Dromedarius ): Implication for Rinderpest Virus Elimination from Nigeria

Nigeria was declared provisionally free from Rinderpest (RP) disease in 1998 and vaccination against the disease was discontinued in the country since then. The Office of International des Epizooties (OIE) Scientific Commission approved the dossier on freedom from disease from Nigeria and issued the certificate to that effect on 25th May, 2005. However, the presence and activities of RP virus in Nigeria are yet to be sufficiently ascertained. In this study, we have used slaughtered camels ( Camelus Dromedarius ) that were never vaccinated against RP as sentinels to monitor the presence of the virus in Nigeria. Two hundred and twenty camel sera were tested for presence of RP and Pestes des petits ruminants (PPR) antibodies in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). Of the sera tested, 20 (9.3%) were found to be positive for RP antibody. None of the sera tested positive for PPR antibody. Camels could serve as putative foci for the maintenance and spread of RP virus in this environment

Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus antibodies in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibodies in camels presented for slaughter at the Maiduguri abattoir using a BVDV specific indirect enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ninety (90) serum samples collected from adult male and female camels were tested for BVDV antibodies. From the samples tested, 28 (31.1%) were positive for BVDV. The sex distribution of the positive samples showed 7 (33.3%) males and 21 (30.4%) females were positive for BVDV antibodies. The results showed no statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) difference in the sex prevalence of camels observed in the study. This finding demonstrates the presence of BVDV antibodies in camels in Maiduguri. Further studies will be required to elucidate the epidemiology of BVDV infection in camels and other livestock species in the study area

Outbreak of Peste Des Petits Ruminant in an Unvaccinated Sahel Goat Farm in Maiduguri, Nigeria

An outbreak of peste des petits ruminant (PPR) among unvaccinated Sahel goats was investigated in a farm in Maiduguri, Nigeria. The morbidity rate of 63% and mortality rate of 17% was recorded on the farm, giving a case fatality rate of 27%. The infected animals manifested serous to mucopurulent oculonasal discharges, coughing, crust on the lips, erosive and necrotic lesions on the gums, dyspnoea, diarrhea, congestion and hepatization of the lungs, congestion in the large intestine and death. PPR virus antigen was detected in swabs and tissues of infected animals using agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) and virus was isolated from same samples. PPR virus neutralizing antibodies was also detected in 75% of goats and 60% of incontact sheep. This report represents the first confirmed PPR outbreak among Sahel goats in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria

Response of Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia) to Experimental Infection with Chicken Isolate of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) Virus

The susceptibility of pigeons (Columba livia) to chicken isolate of infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus was investigated under arid zone condition. Thirty pigeons, 15 adults and 15 young ones were acquired from the Maiduguri Monday Market and some households in Maiduguri. The pigeons were divided into two groups thus: Group A, which is the experimental group and consisted of ten (10) adults and ten (10) young pigeons. Group B that served as the control group was made up of five (5) adults and five (5) young pigeons. Pigeons in group A were infected with 3 drops of IBD virus inoculum orally while those in group B were given same quantity of normal saline per os. All the pigeons in groups A and B did not manifest any clinical sign throughout the period of the study. However, some of the serum samples from the infected group were positive for presence of precipitin antibody on day 7 and 14 PI, while all the samples became negative on 21 days PI. The study revealed that pigeons (young and adults) are resistant to experimental infection with chicken isolate of IBD virus. However, the birds seroconverted following exposure to the virus despite the absence of clinical signs. This showed that there was “virus take” following exposure of the species to IBD virus. The possible role of pigeons in the epidemiology of IBD in Nigeria need to be further investigated. Keywords: Domestic pigeon, experimental infection, IBD virusSahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2006 pp. 59-6

Antibody profile following vaccination with thermostable (ND-I2) vaccine in village chicken that survived the Newcastle disease outbreak

The antibody profile of village chickens that recovered from clinical Newcastle disease infection were monitored following vaccination with thermostable (NDI2-HR) vaccine over a period of 5 weeks. The birds were grouped into two: vaccinated and non-vaccinated. Antibody profile was determined using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Seromonitoring result revealed a significant (p<0.05) seroconversion with rise in Geometric antibody titer (GMT) values of antibody among the vaccinated birds that survived the outbreak, with peaked at week two following vaccination and declined subsequently in both study groups. No significant difference was observed in the antibody profile of vaccinated and non-vaccinated group which is an indication of low response to vaccination. Vaccination of surviving birds following ND outbreak may be of little value in development of immunity to the disease

Natural outbreak of Newcastle disease in village chickens obtained from various sources in semi-arid region of Nigeria

An outbreak of Newcastle Diseases (ND) was investigated in caged local chickens that were obtained from various locations in and around Bama, Nigeria. A morbidity rate of 58% and morality rate of 60% were recorded among the affected birds. The birds started dying two days after the onset of clinical signs. The signs observed were consistent with ND and included respiratory distress with gasping and sometimes coughing; nervous signs such as paralysis, torticollis; loss of appetite, swollen head and wattles, sometimes ocular and nasal discharge, severe conjunctives and death after some days. The death peaked on day 5 following onset of clinical signs and ceased on day 13 after the onset. The histopathological lesions observed include congestion of the spleen, kidney and lungs, hemorrhages in the proventriculus and kidney. Majority 20/26 (76.9%) of the sera tested during the acute phase of the disease were negative of ND antibodies while those collected during the convalescent phase of the disease showed varying titres ranging between 1:20 and 1:80, suggested of a recent viral infection. All tissue samples collected from infected birds were positive for Newcastle disease virus haemagglutinating antigens and titers ranging between 1:2 and 1:6 were recorded. It was concluded that the outbreak might have been as a result of introduction of some in apparently infected chicken into the cage. It was recommended that the birds should be screened for the presence of ND virus before introduce into a new flock in addition village chicken should be obtained from source that are not infected with the virus and village chicken should be vaccinated routinely against ND