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Infectious Diseases 2018
Journal of Prevention and Infection Control
ISSN: 2471-9668
Page 55
June 07-08, 2018
London, UK
8
th
Edition of International Conference on
Infectious Diseases
R
abies is acute and progressive encephalitis caused by
members of the genus Lyssavirus (Family:
Rhabdoviridae
order:
Mononegavirales
). An estimated 59,000 human deaths
occur annually inAfrica andAsia, with themajority of these deaths
due to dog bites. In this study, we undertook a cross-sectional
survey for the presence of lyssavirus antigen in brain tissues and
anti-rabies antibodies in sera of unvaccinated, apparently healthy
and rabies-suspect dogs slaughtered for consumption at local
markets in South Eastern Nigeria. Samples (both brain tissues
and serum) from 278 dogs were tested for lyssavirus antigen
and rabies antibodies, using the direct fluorescent antibody test
(DFA) and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA), respectively. Twenty three brain tissues (8.3%) were
shown to contain lyssavirus antigen, whereas 2.5% (n=25) of the
serum samples had anti-rabies antibodies. There was an inverse
relationship between the presence of lyssavirus antigens and
levels of rabies antibodies. The inverse relationship between the
presence of lyssavirus antigens and levels of rabies antibodies
underscores the notion of immune evasion following lyssavirus
infection. The low percentage of anti-rabies antibodies in the dog
population studied suggests a dog population susceptible and
at very high risk to rabies virus (RABV) infection. These findings
indicate a big challenge to local and global rabies elimination
efforts considering that most of the dog population in Africa is
confined to the rural areas where parenteral dog vaccination is not
routinely or adequately undertaken.
Boniface.anene@unn.edu.ngDetection of lyssavirus antigen and assessment of the levels of
anti-rabies antibodies in unvaccinated, apparently healthy and
rabies-suspect dogs in South Eastern Nigeria
B M Anene
1
, U U Eze
1
, E C Ngoepe
2
, R C Ezeokonkwo
3
, C Nwosuh
4
and
C T Sabeta
2, 5
1
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
2
Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa
3
National Veterinary Research Institute, Nigeria
4
University of Pretoria, South Africa
J Prev Infect Cntrol 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-8084-C1-003