ISSN 2326-7291
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 107-109, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Risk of typical rabies in dog meat-eating human population, in Enugu, Nigeria
Eze UU1, Anene BM1, Chukwu CC1, Ogunkoya AB2, George SO3, Eze JI1, Animoke PC1 and Nwosuh CI4*
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Nigeria.
2Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
3Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Reproductive Diseases, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
4Rabies Laboratory, Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 13, November 2014
Abstract
This study was designed to ascertain if the rabies virus antigen found among apparently healthy dogs were viable and to which genotype they belong. One hundred and fifty two dog heads were randomly collected from markets and restaurants where dogs are slaughtered and consumed as delicacy in Enugu State, Nigeria. The brain samples from the heads were examined for the presence of rabies virus antigen by direct fluorescent antibody technique, while positive ones were isolated by the mice inoculation test. Viral genotypes of the positive samples were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Out of the one hundred and fifty two dog brain samples examined, six (4) were positive by direct fluorescent antibody technique and mice inoculation test. All the isolates belong to genotype 1 rabies virus. The result of this study showed that some of the apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for meat in Enugu state have classical rabies virus and possibly shed the virus in their saliva without showing obvious clinical signs. This has a serious public health implication and thus calls for a re-evaluation of rabies endemicity in Nigeria.
Key words: Rabies virus, Slaughtered dogs, DFAT, MIT, RT-PCR, Genotyping.