Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Despite the existence of safe and efficacious human and animal rabies vaccines, millions of people remain at risk of exposure to this deadly zoonotic disease through bites of infected dogs. Sub-Saharan African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bear the highest per capita...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/7/3/98 |
| _version_ | 1828153021923590144 |
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| author | Céline Mbilo Jean-Baptiste Kabongo Pati Patient Pyana Léon Nlonda Raymond Williams Nzita Bobo Luntadila Badivé Badibanga Jan Hattendorf Jakob Zinsstag |
| author_facet | Céline Mbilo Jean-Baptiste Kabongo Pati Patient Pyana Léon Nlonda Raymond Williams Nzita Bobo Luntadila Badivé Badibanga Jan Hattendorf Jakob Zinsstag |
| author_sort | Céline Mbilo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the existence of safe and efficacious human and animal rabies vaccines, millions of people remain at risk of exposure to this deadly zoonotic disease through bites of infected dogs. Sub-Saharan African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bear the highest per capita death rates from rabies where dog vaccination and availability of lifesaving post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is scarce. Mass dog vaccination is the most cost-effective and sustainable approach to prevent human rabies deaths. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in a rabies-affected community in Matadi, DRC, to estimate the size of the owned dog population and dog bite incidence and assess knowledge and practices regarding rabies, as preparation for future mass dog vaccination campaigns. Our study revealed that the owned dog population in Matadi was almost ten times larger than assumed by local veterinary officials, with a large proportion of free-roaming unvaccinated dogs. The annual dog bite incidence of 5.2 per 1000 person years was high, whereas community rabies knowledge was low resulting in poor practices. Given these findings, human rabies deaths are likely to occur in this community. Lack of disease awareness could negatively affect participation in future mass dog vaccination campaigns. A public sensitization campaign is needed to promote appropriate rabies prevention (washing bite wounds and PEP) and control (dog vaccination) measures in this community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:19:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d200e81aaf4b4432918a0c244db010dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:19:31Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d200e81aaf4b4432918a0c244db010dc2022-12-22T04:00:14ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2019-08-01739810.3390/vaccines7030098vaccines7030098Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the CongoCéline Mbilo0Jean-Baptiste Kabongo1Pati Patient Pyana2Léon Nlonda3Raymond Williams Nzita4Bobo Luntadila5Badivé Badibanga6Jan Hattendorf7Jakob Zinsstag8Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversité Pédagogique Nationale de Kinshasa, BP 8815 Kinshasa, CongoUniversité Pédagogique Nationale de Kinshasa, BP 8815 Kinshasa, CongoClinique Vétérinaire d’Etat de Matadi, Matadi, CongoClinique Vétérinaire d’Etat de Matadi, Matadi, CongoUniversité Pédagogique Nationale de Kinshasa, BP 8815 Kinshasa, CongoUniversité Pédagogique Nationale de Kinshasa, BP 8815 Kinshasa, CongoSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandDespite the existence of safe and efficacious human and animal rabies vaccines, millions of people remain at risk of exposure to this deadly zoonotic disease through bites of infected dogs. Sub-Saharan African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bear the highest per capita death rates from rabies where dog vaccination and availability of lifesaving post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is scarce. Mass dog vaccination is the most cost-effective and sustainable approach to prevent human rabies deaths. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in a rabies-affected community in Matadi, DRC, to estimate the size of the owned dog population and dog bite incidence and assess knowledge and practices regarding rabies, as preparation for future mass dog vaccination campaigns. Our study revealed that the owned dog population in Matadi was almost ten times larger than assumed by local veterinary officials, with a large proportion of free-roaming unvaccinated dogs. The annual dog bite incidence of 5.2 per 1000 person years was high, whereas community rabies knowledge was low resulting in poor practices. Given these findings, human rabies deaths are likely to occur in this community. Lack of disease awareness could negatively affect participation in future mass dog vaccination campaigns. A public sensitization campaign is needed to promote appropriate rabies prevention (washing bite wounds and PEP) and control (dog vaccination) measures in this community.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/7/3/98Rabiesfree-roaming dogdog ecologydog bite incidencezoonosesDemocratic Republic of the Congo |
| spellingShingle | Céline Mbilo Jean-Baptiste Kabongo Pati Patient Pyana Léon Nlonda Raymond Williams Nzita Bobo Luntadila Badivé Badibanga Jan Hattendorf Jakob Zinsstag Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Vaccines Rabies free-roaming dog dog ecology dog bite incidence zoonoses Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title | Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full | Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_fullStr | Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_short | Dog Ecology, Bite Incidence, and Disease Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Survey among a Rabies-Affected Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_sort | dog ecology bite incidence and disease awareness a cross sectional survey among a rabies affected community in the democratic republic of the congo |
| topic | Rabies free-roaming dog dog ecology dog bite incidence zoonoses Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/7/3/98 |
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