Cave dogs around major urban areas of Arequipa, Peru, threaten rabies elimination program.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the city of Arequipa, Peru, the government has implemented control measures against dog rabies virus since the detection of its reintroduction in 2015. The city was previously considered free of animal reservoirs, except for free-roaming owned dogs, animals with identifiable owners but allowed to move unsupervised, and stray dogs, which include both abandoned and street-born dogs that roam freely while relying on human settlements for food, within its urban boundaries. However, multiple reports from peri-urban residents have suggested the presence of feral dogs, a population living independently of humans on the city's outskirts. We aim to document the presence and dietary patterns of feral dogs adjacent to the city margins.

Methods

We conducted monthly field v

SUBMITTER: Castillo-Neyra R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12673202 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature