Immunization Coverage and Antibody Retention against Rabies in Domestic Dogs in Lusaka District, Zambia

Abstract

Rabies remains endemic in Zambia. Despite conducting canine vaccinations in Lusaka district, the vaccination coverage and actual seropositivity in the dog population in Lusaka district are rarely evaluated. This study estimated the seropositivity-based immunization coverage in the owned dog population in Lusaka district using the expanded program on immunization cluster survey method. The time-series trend of neutralizing antibodies against rabies in vaccinated dogs was also evaluated. Of 366 dogs in 200 dog-owning households in Lusaka district, blood samples were collected successfully from 251 dogs. In the sampled dogs, 42.2% (106/251) had an antibody titer ≥0.5 IU/mL. When the 115 dogs whose blood was not collected were assumed to be seronegative, the minimum immunization coverage in Lusaka district’s owned dog population was estimated at 29.0% (95% confidence interval: 22.4–35.5). It was also found that a single vaccination with certified vaccines is capable of inducing protective levels of antibodies. In contrast, higher antibody titers were observed in multiple-vaccinated dogs than in single-vaccinated dogs, coupled with the observation of a decline in antibody titer over time. These results suggest the importance of continuous booster immunization to maintain herd immunity and provide useful information to plan mass vaccination against rabies in Zambia.

Factors Associated with Dog Rabies Immunization in Changsha, China: Results of a Cross-Sectional Cluster Survey, 2015–2021

“…Serum antibody titers were low for two weeks after vaccination, and only after 21 d of immunization the body will gradually produce a higher concentration of antibody, while antibody titer was highest after 2–6 months of vaccination and gradually decreased after 7 months, which is in line with the law of reducing immunization antibody [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Furthermore, many studies have shown that a single subcutaneous injection of tissue culture vaccine in dogs does not guarantee that serum antibodies will meet international standards for the next year [ 28 , 30 , 43 ]. Therefore, a booster immunization is recommended 1 month after the initial vaccination and again annually after that.…”

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Rabies among Human and Animal Health Professionals in Senegal

“…As such, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on rabies PEP recommend three important aspects of treatment immediately after exposure to rabid animals: profuse washing of the bite wound with soap and water or detergent, or with water only; administration of the rabies vaccine; and infiltration of rabies immunoglobulin in and around the wound [11,12]. Furthermore, with integrated synergy within the "One Health" framework, rabies can be effectively addressed through integrated animal bite management and PEP, mass vaccination of dogs and community-based rabies awareness programs [13][14][15][16]. In the rabies control policy in Senegal, human and animal rabies is considered to be a notifiable disease.…”