Assessment of anti Rabies post-vaccinal immunity in domestic carnivores pets in low resources setting

Abstract

Objective Rabies is a zoonotic disease transmissible to humans mainly by dogs. It is a vaccine preventable disease. In Ivory Coast, canine rabies is a prioritary and notifiable animal disease since 1962. Evaluation of post-vaccination immunity against rabies was undertaken between 2003 and 2009 by an immunoenzymatic test Platelia Rabies II ELISA Kits (Bio-Rad). We aim to investigate anti Rabies vaccination efficacy in Ivory Coast, using data obtained purposely for antibody quantification prior to international movement of pets. Results A total of 527 dogs and cats sera were analyzed. Generally cats had developed higher level of post vaccinal immunity than dogs. We have found that more than 95.80% (114/119) of cats had a serum with antibodies titer above 0.5 EU /ml so like 74.75% (n = 305) of dogs. Undetectable or insufficient level of seroconversion was noted either in the canine specie (25.25%) or in cats (4.2%). Multivaccined Dogs, older than 4 years, represented the most important group (62.25%) of seronegative dog population. Associated with vaccination, serological results were used as data based-evidence in compliance with official requirements governing free movements of pets from rabies-infected to rabies-free european countries. Keywords : Ivory Coast, Rabies, ELISA, post-vaccinal immunity, dogs, cats