Factors associated with delayed rabies post-exposure prophylaxis among dog bite victims in Nyagatare District, Rwanda, 2017 to 2019

Background Rabies is an incurable zoonotic disease of public health concern. After exposure the only effective intervention is Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Surveillance data in Rwanda shows that a high number of dog bites do not get PEP in time. Objectives Determine factors associated with delays in post-exposure prophylaxis among victims of dog bites. Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Nyagatare District. It targeted people bitten by dogs and who attended Nyagatare district from January 2017 to December 2019. Review of registers and interview with victims were used to collected data using excel and analyze them using STATA version 15. Odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) were reported. Results Among 412 dog bite victims, 161 (39%) delayed getting PEP. The more likely to delay in getting PEP, were people living in rural areas, AOR = 3.54, 95%CI [2.12, 5.90], and those without medical insurance, AOR = 4.40, 95%CI [1.82-10.62]. Conclusion Seeking PEP among dog bites victims is subject to delay in Nyagatare district. Local leaders should establish initiatives to support people to get medical insurance while public health officers need to prioritize sensitization for PEP for people living in rural areas.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with canine dermatophytoses among dogs in Kwara and Osun States, Nigeria

Background: Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is a zoonotic fungal skin infection caused predominantly by Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton spp. It is highly transmissible and, while normally self-limiting, could be problematic due to its potential to cause disease in certain human populations. The occurrence and associated risk factors of dermatophytoses in dogs presented at three veterinary clinics in Osogbo, and Ilorin, Nigeria between July and November 2019 were investigated in this study. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 325 dogs with lesions suggestive of dermatophytosis, selected by simple random sampling from veterinary clinics of two hospitals, purposively selected for the study due to high patronage of the veterinary hospitals by dog owners. Using conventional mycological sampling techniques, plucked hairs and skin scrapings were obtained the dogs. The samples were emulsified in 10% potassium hydroxide, examined microscopically for fungal elements and cultured using standard mycological procedures. Information on dog demographic characteristics and risk factors for dermatophytosis were collected using structured questionnaire. The association between risk factors and demographic variables with the occurrence of dermatophytoses was determined using Chi-square test (with Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval) and p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Positive cultures for dermatophytes were obtained from samples of 48 (14.8%) dogs with M. canis 37.5% (18/48), M. gypseum 27.0% (13/48) and T. mentagrophytes 8.3% (4/48). Other fungi identified were Aspergillus flavus 12.5% (6/48) and Malassezia canis 12.5% (6/48). The age distribution of positive dogs were < 1 year (50.0%, n=24), 1-3 years (29.2%, n=14) and > 3 years (20.8%, n=10), while the risk factors associated with dermatophytosis included sex of dogs (p=0.0428), history of dermatophytosis (p<0.0001), clinical presentation (p<0.0001) and lesion type, especially kerion and pustular lesions (p=0.0297). Conclusion: These findings established the occurrence of dermatophytosis in dogs kept for companionship (i.e., pets), security and breeding purposes in one northern and southern States of Nigeria. Our findings underscore the need for routine mycological investigations in dogs to facilitate early detection of cases and prompt institution of treatment interventions, thereby preventing zoonotic transmission of dermatophytes to their owners, handlers and veterinarians.

Profile of dog bite injuries in patients presenting at Kimberley Hospital Complex's emergency and gateway centres, 2015 to 2017

Background: Dog bite injuries in humans remain a public health problem. There is limited nationally representative data on the magnitude of the problem and the epidemiological profile of dog bite injuries in South Africa. Aim: To describe the profile of dog bite injuries in patients presenting to Kimberley Hospital Complex (KHC) emergency and gateway centres. To determine the prevalence of dog bite injuries amongst all patients presenting to these centres and the compliance of mandatory notification of dog bites. Setting: Kimberley Hospital Complex emergency and gateway centres. Methods: A retrospective review of all dog bite cases who presented to KHC from August 2015 to July 2017. The total number of all patients who presented were taken into consideration for calculating the prevalence of dog bite cases. Results: During the study period, 433 dog bite cases were identified out of 107 731 patients seen at emergency and gateway centres, giving a prevalence of 0.4%. Of all cases, 62.4% were male patients and 37.6% were female patients. Most affected age group was between 10 and 19 years (19.6%). Category II exposure type accounted for the majority of the cases (59.4%). Unvaccinated dogs were incriminated in 61.9% of cases. Stray dogs were responsible for 83.1% of all injuries. More than half of the cases (47.9%) were notified by the treating doctors. Conclusion: Dog bite injuries in Kimberley were commonest in children and adolescents. The prevalence tended to decrease in adulthood with advancing age groups. Most bites resulted from unvaccinated stray dogs. Only about half of the cases were notified to the appropriate authorities. Prevalence of dog bite injuries amongst patients presenting at KHC resulted in the low rate of 0.4%. Awareness needs to be created amongst health care providers on the importance of notification of all exposure to rabies. More efforts are required at the prevention of dog bites in children and adolescents through stringent measures to limit the number of free-roaming dogs

Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in urban and rural dogs from southwestern Nigeria

Background: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are protozoans infecting a wide range of mammals; the etiologic agents of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis respectively; This study investigated the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs from southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 233 serum samples were obtained from both urban and rural areas of Oyo state; Nigeria and tested by the western blotting technique for specific IgG to T. gondii and N. caninum.Results: The seroprevalence obtained for T. gondii was 19% (44/233) and 2.1% (5/233) for N. caninum in the dogs examined. Overall; the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was more significant than for N. caninum (P 0.0001). T. gondii infection was also found to be more significant in roaming than in caged dogs (P 0.05). There was no significant association of other factors (age; breed; history of rabies vaccination; use of dog and the level of education of owner) with the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infection. Conclusion: This report revealed that T. gondii infection is more common than N. caninum infection in Nigerian dogs; it suggests that improper housing and feeding of dogs could increase the risk of exposure to T. gondii infection. This is the first study to investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in Nigerian dogs and T. gondii antibodies in dogs in southwestern Nigeria

Incidence of dog bite injuries and clinical rabies in a tertiary health care institution: A 10-year retrospective study

Background: It is widely recognized that rabies is grossly under-reported even though it is a notifiable disease and a lack of accurate figures has rendered rabies a low public health and veterinary priority. This study aimed at determining the incidence of dog bite injuries and clinical rabies in a tertiary health care centre.Materials and Methods: Case records of patients managed at the accident and emergency unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, between June 2000 and May 2010 with diagnosis of dog bite and rabies were retrieved. Relevant clinical data were extracted using a structured questionnaire designed for the study.Results: Eighty-one persons out of 24,683 consultations in the accident and emergency unit presented with dog bite injuries with two clinical cases of human rabies. Mean age of victims of dog bite injuries was 21.1 ± 14.3 years and the majority (55.6%) were children. Males were more affected than females with a male:female ratio of 4.8:1, lower limb/buttock injuries were significantly higher in children than adults, but the adults sustained significantly more severe (type III) injury. The majority of dog bite injuries were washed with soap and irrigated with water or saline and 87.7% of the victim of dog bite received postexposure anti-rabies vaccine.Conclusion: Hospital incidence of dog bite injuries was low, but the use of postexposure prophylaxis was high

Dog Bites to the Head; Neck and Face in Children

Dog bites are a poorly understood and complex public health problem. Children are most frequently the victims of dog bites and the face is often the favoured target. A review of dog bite wounds in small children presenting to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital was carried out over a period of 13.5 years (1991-2004). One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one dog bite wounds were admitted from a total of 125;677 patients treated. From 1;871 patients presenting with dog bite injuries; we identified 596 children who sustained injuries to the head; face or neck. Dog bites to the head; face or neck were responsible for 0.5of all trauma unit presentations and 32of all dog bite injuries. The mean age of the children was 5.1 years. Male children accounted for 68of the patients. The peak incidence was noted in children aged 2 to 4 years old. One hundred and seventy-two (29) bites occurred between the summer months of December and February. Two hundred and forty-nine (42) patients presented to hospital between the hours of 12:00 and 18:00 hours and 275 (46) children presented between 18:00 and 0:00 hours. A large proportion of all attacks occurred either inside or outside the victim's own home and at the home of friends or family. Superficial injuries were treated with wound cleaning; suturing and dressing. There were no fatalities. Dog bites are relatively common in small children; but do not represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality

Dog Bites to the Head; Neck and Face in Children

Dog bites are a poorly understood and complex public health problem. Children are most frequently the victims of dog bites and the face is often the favoured target. A review of dog bite wounds in small children presenting to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital was carried out over a period of 13.5 years (1991-2004). One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one dog bite wounds were admitted from a total of 125;677 patients treated. From 1;871 patients presenting with dog bite injuries; we identified 596 children who sustained injuries to the head; face or neck. Dog bites to the head; face or neck were responsible for 0.5 of all trauma unit presentations and 32 of all dog bite injuries. The mean age of the children was 5.1 years. Male children accounted for 68 of the patients. The peak incidence was noted in children aged 2 to 4 years old. One hundred and seventy-two (29) bites occurred between the summer months of December and February. Two hundred and forty-nine (42) patients presented to hospital between the hours of 12:00 and 18:00 hours and 275 (46) children presented between 18:00 and 0:00 hours. A large proportion of all attacks occurred either inside or outside the victim's own home and at the home of friends or family. Superficial injuries were treated with wound cleaning; suturing and dressing. There were no fatalities. Dog bites are relatively common in small children; but do not represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality

Ten-Year (1993 ­ 2002) retrospective evaluation of vaccination of dogs against rabies at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Record books in form of one thousand, four hundred and seventy eight (1478) registers, case notes and vaccination certificates of registered dogs were assessed for rabies vaccination and its booster coverage. The dogs which consisted of 850 males and 628 females were presented at the Small Animal and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Clinics, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan between January 1993 and December 2002. Among the registered dogs, 155 (10.5%) with annual mean of 9.1 + 9.1% were vaccinated. Although more females (83 or 13.2%) were vaccinated than male dogs (72 or 8.5%), the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Most vaccinated dogs (121 or 78.1%), were at the initial vaccination age of 3 months and had the highest vaccination coverage (51 dogs (males and females) or 44.3%) while 53 (males and females) dogs (43.8%) were adequately vaccinated. Also, 12 (35.3%) among 34 dogs with booster vaccination were adequately protected against rabies. The current study showed increase in registration of dogs and the cost of vaccination in the clinics. However declined vaccination and booster coverages were observed compared to the previous 5 ­ year observations of 36.5% vaccination and 59.5% booster coverages. These observations were far below the recommendation of WHO (1989, 1990, 2001) to prevent urban rabies epizootics and epidemics in the area. Since rabies is zoonotic, the study indicated increase danger of contracting rabies by veterinarians, their assistants, dog owners, their family members and the general public

Prevalence of Human Hydatid Disease in Southern Sudan

A total of 3443 people were screened by ultrasound to determine the prevalence of hydatid disease in southern Sudan. Hydatid cysts were found in 16 (0.5) of the people screened. Thirteen of the 16 hydatid cases were from among the Bouya people who showed an overall hydatid prevalence of 2by ultrasound. All ultra-sound positive cases were further confirmed by dot-blot ELISA. At the time of the survey; Chukudum Hospital had five cases with histories and clinical manifestations consistent with hydatidosis. However; on scan examination only three of them were confirmed to be cases of hydatid disease. The proportion of hydatid infected women in south-western Sudan was almost twice that of men (M:F ratio of 1:1.7); with most of those infected being women in the child-bearing age bracket. Dogs are common in this area and they could be the main reservoirs of Echinococcus granulosus in the Sudan. Due to the low prevalence of hydatid in humans in the study area; and the dispersed nature of the population; it is recommended that hydatid control measures for south-western Sudan include an educational component coupled with treatment of the infected people