Review of Oral Rabies Vaccination of Dogs and Its Application in India

Oral rabies vaccines (ORVs) have been in use to successfully control rabies in wildlife since 1978 across Europe and the USA. This review focuses on the potential and need for the use of ORVs in free-roaming dogs to control dog-transmitted rabies in India. Iterative work to improve ORVs over the past four decades has resulted in vaccines that have high safety profiles whilst generating a consistent protective immune response to the rabies virus. The available evidence for safety and efficacy of modern ORVs in dogs and the broad and outspoken support from prominent global public health institutions for their use provides confidence to national authorities considering their use in rabies-endemic regions. India is estimated to have the largest rabies burden of any country and, whilst considerable progress has been made to increase access to human rabies prophylaxis, examples of high-output mass dog vaccination campaigns to eliminate the virus at the source remain limited. Efficiently accessing a large proportion of the dog population through parenteral methods is a considerable challenge due to the large, evasive stray dog population in many settings. Existing parenteral approaches require large skilled dog-catching teams to reach these dogs, which present financial, operational and logistical limitations to achieve 70% dog vaccination coverage in urban settings in a short duration. ORV presents the potential to accelerate the development of approaches to eliminate rabies across large areas of the South Asia region. Here we review the use of ORVs in wildlife and dogs, with specific consideration of the India setting. We also present the results of a risk analysis for a hypothetical campaign using ORV for the vaccination of dogs in an Indian state.

Rabies is still a fatal but neglected disease: a case report

Background Rabies, caused by a lyssavirus, is a viral zoonosis that affects people in many parts of the world, especially those in low income countries. Contact with domestic animals, especially dogs, is the main source of human infections. Humans may present with the disease only after a long period of exposure. Nearly half of rabies cases occur in children <15 years old. We report on a fatal case of rabies in a Ghanaian school child 5 years after the exposure incident, and the vital role of molecular tools in the confirmation of the diagnosis. Case presentation The patient, an 11-year-old junior high school Ghanaian student from the Obuasi Municipality in Ghana, presented with aggressive behavior, which rapidly progressed to confusion and loss of consciousness within a day of onset. Her parents reported that the patient had experienced a bite from a stray dog on her right leg 5 years prior to presentation, for which no antirabies prophylaxis was given. The patient died within minutes of arrival in hospital (within 24 hours of symptom onset). Real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of cerebrospinal fluid obtained after her death confirmed the diagnosis of rabies. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed the virus to belong to the Africa 2 lineage of rabies viruses, which is one of the predominant circulating lineages in Ghana. Conclusion The incubation period of rabies is highly variable so patients may only present with symptoms long after the exposure incident. Appropriate molecular testing tools, when available as part of rabies control programmes, are vital in confirming cases of rabies.

Stray Dog Feeding and Self-Reported Stray Dog-Related Problems in Thailand.

Stray dog population leads to problems, which are directly related to humans and the environment, has transformed stray dog issues from a third world problem to a global, public health priority. Hence, this study aimed to determine factors related to the feeding of stray dogs and other factors, which influence the results of stray dogs-related problems. This was a community based cross-sectional study, performed in Bangdan village, Songkhla, Thailand. Data were collected through phone interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to measure the association between the independent variables and the problems-related with stray dogs. Among 168 participants, 137 participants (81.5%) were bothered by problems caused by stray dogs. The most common problem reported was garbage scavenging (62.5%), which occurred predominantly from the hours of 6 pm. to Midnight. Feeding stray dogs was significantly associated with stray dog-related problems (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.94 with 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-17.41). However, other factors; such as, gender, length of stay and owning pets had no statistically significant association. In conclusion, feeding stray dogs was significantly associated with stray dog-related problems, with garbage scavenging being the most common problem reported.

A Retrospective Study of Vertebral Fracture and Luxation in Dogs Presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2015 to 2017

To date, there is data paucity on canine vertebral fracture and luxation (VFL) in the local setting. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the geographical location and stray dog population would influence VFL cases in the University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH, UPM). This study aimed to describe the incidence and characteristics of VFL in dogs presented to UVH, UPM. Medical records, including radiographic images of 74 dogs between 2015 to 2017, were reviewed. VFL dominated the spinal cord disease in dogs at 49% (n = 36/74), exceeding intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE). Half of VFL cases were contributed by intact male, small breed dogs aged more than one-year-old, with 52% (n = 11/19) of cases caused by vehicular accidents. Almost two-thirds (n = 21/36) of dogs with VFL were outdoor or stray dogs, and the Th3-L3 region was the most susceptible (52%, n = 19/36) for VFL. More than 70% (n = 25/36) of the patients had unstable fractures, highly associated with severity. In conclusion, the occurrence of VFL in UVH, UPM is three times higher than reported in western countries and most likely contributed by a large number of outdoor and stray dogs.

Searching for Intimacy, Searching for Deleuze

In this article, the author is in Paris searching for Gilles Deleuze. She wants to become more intimate with him, spending slow time exploring his work. In her search for intimacy with Deleuze, she follows a map that she buys at a bouquiniste, and she chooses to take the roads toward an ontological conception of love, to an intimacy that blurs boundaries between public and private and between love and politics. Through this exploration, she develops an understanding of a diasporic intimacy that leads her further away from the structures of intimacy often found in the Oedipal home, to an intimacy that is more transient but not less significant. She finds that there is intimacy in the passing smile of a child, in the telling of a philosopher’s secret and from the offering of a paw from a stray dog. In these intimate gestures, she finds a strange and productive tenderness capable of redirecting becomings.

Rescue Pet Android Application

ResQ-Pet caring system is comprehensive system for welfare of stray dogs. In present scenario many stray animals do not have shelter and also starve for food. Very frequently some dogs meet with severe road accidents and necessary care to be taken is not known for many, in such cases it is hard to find emergency contact. There is a necessity to control the population of stray dogs because they act as carriers for various contagious diseases like rabies, brucella etc. Pet adoption is an efficient way to reduce stray dog population. This app helps is keeping track of number of dogs rescued and adopted, also displays some necessary actions to be taken during an emergency. This app also provides a payment portal for donation. The entire operations will be under administration of certain organizations that work for the purpose of stray dog welfare.

A Retrospective Study on Dog Bite Associated Rabies in Human and the Use of Post-exposure Prophylaxis in Nepal during 2008 to 2017

A 10-year (2008-2017) retrospective canine-mediated human rabies epidemiology was studied to assess the burden of rabies in Nepal. To this end, the number of dog bites, the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and human death records from 2008 to 2017 were retrieved from Sukraraj Tropical Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The findings revealed that the number of human rabies occurrences was consistent with minor fluctuations throughout the study period. There were 252,297 dog bite cases in humans recorded between 2008 and 2017. Every month, 2,102 people were bitten by mostly stray dogs. There was a gradual increase in PEP use throughout 10 years. On average, 36,995 PEP dosages were used per year for stray dog bites. The PEP consumption and the number of human deaths were negatively correlated. A total of 482 human rabies deaths were recorded in Nepal during the study period. On average, 49 people died of canine-mediated rabies each year. Although there was an increase in the use of PEP, the number of human deaths and street dog bites recorded were still high. The high mortality due to rabies could then be attributed to the flawed surveillance system and stray dog population management, and not merely the lack of PEP services. Hence, it is recommended that the government agencies and other concerned stakeholders should organize mass vaccination and population management program for stray dogs in order to reduce the country’s rabies burden.

Occurrence of Dog Bites and Rabies within Humans in Srinagar, Kashmir

Open garbage dumps and dog bite are public health impasse in the Kashmir region. In Srinagar city, there are more than 91,000 dogs. It’s making one dog for every 12 citizens. Conversely, there are more than 80,000 dog bites, are reported in the valley. The present study was conceded in Srinagar district. It is solidly colonized with stray dog population perhaps due to mismanagement of garbage. The mounting street dog population is leading increasing fright in the city. The information recorded for Dog bite cases was collected from SMHS. The mainstream victims were males. The majority were bitten in the age group of 30–40. The majority had reported at the same day to the hospital. The time of exposure was evening. The bulk had bites on legs. Category 3 bites were seen with the majority people. The majority receive immunoglobins. Open garbage dumps are a public health impediment and they instigate to stray dogs propagation in Srinagar. Individual’s information should be enhanced and their sanguine attitude might be translated into pertinent practices for preclusion of rabies.

Isolation of Dermatophytes from Infected Stray Dogs in Selangor, Malaysia

Background: Dermatophytosis is one of the most common skin diseases that affects cats and dogs. Geographic factors play an important role in determining prevalence, showing high rates of prevalence in warm and humid environments. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic identification of different types of dermatophytes present on stray dogs. Methods: The design of this study was laboratory-based research. Each sample was collected from an infection site (nail, hair, or skin) that was identified by conducting a physical examination of a stray dog that was infected with fungi. The skin scraping, nail clipping, and fur cutting samples were collected from infected dogs and then cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). The cultures were incubated at 26°C for five weeks. The isolates of fungi were then examined macroscopically and microscopically. The Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) staining technique was used for fungi morphology identification. Results: Overall, the most common type of dermatophytes that affected the dogs were Trichophyton spp. (64.70%), Aspergillus spp. (10.10%), Microsporum spp. (7.20%), and Curvularia spp. (5.60%). Conclusion: This study revealed the most common dermatophyte infections found on stray dogs in Selangor, Malaysia. This study can assist investigators in understanding the prevalence of the dermatophyte burden in stray dogs and help prevent further complication, such as the spread of illness, especially zoonotic infection.