Population Dynamics of Owned, Free-Roaming Dogs: Implications for Rabies Control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rabies is a serious yet neglected public health threat in resource-limited communities in Africa, where the virus is maintained in populations of owned, free-roaming domestic dogs. Rabies elimination can be achieved through the mass vaccination of dogs, but maintaining the critical threshold of vaccination coverage for herd immunity in these populations is hampered by their rapid turnover. Knowledge of the population dynamics of free-roaming dog populations can inform effective planning and implementation of mass dog vaccination campaigns to control rabies.

Methodology/principal findings

We implemented a health and demographic surveillance system in dogs that monitored the entire owned dog population within a defined geographic area in a community in Mpumalanga Pr

SUBMITTER: Conan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4636342 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature