Acceptability of local made baits for oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in the Philippines

Abstract

BackgroundIn the Philippines, traditional mass dog vaccination campaigns have only achieved limited and transient success in dog rabies control, mainly because a large segment of the dog population is not accessible for traditional parenteral vaccination. Oral vaccination of dogs has been suggested as a supplementary method to increase the overall vaccination coverage of the dog populations involved. For this purpose, it is necessary to identify a suitable bait that is readily accepted by local dogs and that can be prepared without high costs.

Field trial with oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in the Philippines

“…The vaccine container (± 6.5 × 3.0 × 0.7 cm), a polyvinyl chloride capsule with serrated edges and sealed with an aluminium cover foil, contained 3 ml SAD B19 (10 7.9 Foci Formatting Units [FFU] /ml). The capsules were slid into the baits; boiled sections of the large intestine of pigs [7]. The acceptability of these baits have been assessed during previous bait trials in the Philippines; 98% of all dogs accepted the bait without hesitation [7].…”

“…The capsules were slid into the baits; boiled sections of the large intestine of pigs [7]. The acceptability of these baits have been assessed during previous bait trials in the Philippines; 98% of all dogs accepted the bait without hesitation [7]. …”

“…The first steps for implementing OVD projects are; to select a candidate vaccine, to test its safety and efficacy, to select a bait well accepted by the local dog population, and to evaluate bait-uptake in the target population. Thus, prior to this field trial, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine virus candidate was tested in target and nontarget species (Estrada, unpublished results), and a bait made from cheap locally available material was identified and tested under field conditions [7]. It was decided to use a bait delivery system that maximizes bait-availability to the target population, meanwhile minimizing the possibilities of contact with the vaccine virus and/or vaccine baits by nontarget species, especially humans.…”

Evaluation of attractant flavours for use in oral vaccine baits for badgers (Meles meles)

“…Fish products have worked well as attractants for raccoons , skunks (Jojola et al 2007), mongooses (Creekmore et al 1994) and red foxes (Smith and Woods 2007), whereas offal has proved a useful attractant for dogs (Estrada et al 2001) and coyotes (Stolzenburg and Howard 1989). Peanuts, often mixed with syrup, have frequently been used to bait badger traps (Southey et al 2002).…”

“…Peanuts, often mixed with syrup, have frequently been used to bait badger traps (Southey et al 2002). Although meat-based baits have been used to attract mustelids and carnivores (Matter et al 1995;Estrada et al 2001;Smith and Woods 2007), their use has been discontinued due to concerns relating to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) (Novakofski et al 2005).…”