RABIES IN A SET OF EIGHT-WEEK OLD PUPPIES IN NIGERIA: THE NEED FOR REVIEW OF CURRENT DOG ANTIRABIES VACCINATION SCHEDULE

Authors

  • Nanven Abraham Maurice Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Pam Dachung Luka Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. Plateau State, Nigeria;
  • Magdalene Nanven Maurice Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria;
  • Emmanuel Ochefije Ngbede Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria
  • Ponfa Nden Zhakom Rabies Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom., Plateau State, Nigeria;
  • Philip Paul Mshelbwala Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria;
  • Ishaya Sini Tekki Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria;
  • Utibe-Abasi Hilary Udoh Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Udoh Akpan Inyang Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Nsika Joseph Ekanem Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Okon John Ifut Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Philip A. Okewole Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • David Shamaki Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;
  • Lami Hanatu Lombin Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajid.v12i2.12

Keywords:

Puppies, Rabies, Vaccination schedule, DFAT, DRIT, RT-PCR, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Rabies is endemic in Nigeria with clinical cases reported mainly in dogs and occasionally in livestock from all the geo-ecological zones of the country. Detection of rabies virus antigen in puppies at the age of five to ten weeks and in apparently healthy dogs shedding the virus in their saliva have been reported in some parts of Nigeria. Material and Method: This report describes a clinical rabies in a set of eight weeks old puppies confirmed by antigen detection using the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT), the direct rapid immunohistochemical test (DRIT), and RT-PCR. Results: it was positive for all test used including the RT-PCR which amplified at 750 bp from the gel electrophoresis. Conclusion: Occurrence of rabies in puppies of this age, within which they are acquired and owned by other unsuspecting members of the public, is of grave public health consequences. People that love puppies, especially children, who are fond of carrying and playing with them, are also faced with the risk of exposure to rabies. Consequently, review of the existing dog antirabies vaccination schedule at twelve weeks of age in Nigeria, is recommended to ensure effective immunization of this age group of dogs and for the overall safety of the vulnerable members of the public.

Author Biographies

Nanven Abraham Maurice, Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Pam Dachung Luka, Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. Plateau State, Nigeria;

Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. Plateau State, Nigeria;

Magdalene Nanven Maurice, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria;

Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria;

Emmanuel Ochefije Ngbede, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria

Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria

Ponfa Nden Zhakom, Rabies Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom., Plateau State, Nigeria;

Rabies Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom., Plateau State, Nigeria;

Philip Paul Mshelbwala, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria;

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria;

Ishaya Sini Tekki, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria;

Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria;

Utibe-Abasi Hilary Udoh, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Udoh Akpan Inyang, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Nsika Joseph Ekanem, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Okon John Ifut, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Philip A. Okewole, Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

David Shamaki, Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Department of Diagnostic and Extension, National Veterinary Research Institute, Uyo Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;

Lami Hanatu Lombin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-18

How to Cite

Maurice, N. A., Luka, P. D., Maurice, M. N., Ngbede, E. O., Zhakom, P. N., Mshelbwala, P. P., Tekki, I. S., Udoh, U.-A. H., Inyang, U. A., Ekanem, N. J., Ifut, O. J., Okewole, P. A., Shamaki, D., & Lombin, L. H. (2018). RABIES IN A SET OF EIGHT-WEEK OLD PUPPIES IN NIGERIA: THE NEED FOR REVIEW OF CURRENT DOG ANTIRABIES VACCINATION SCHEDULE. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 12(2), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajid.v12i2.12

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Short Communication

License

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. View License Deed | View Legal Code Authors can also self-archive their manuscripts immediately and enable public access from their institution's repository. This is the version that has been accepted for publication and which typically includes author-incorporated changes suggested during submission, peer review and in editor-author communications.

Most read articles by the same author(s)