QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF RABIES ANTIBODY IN DOGS PRE AND POST VACCINATION IN SOME COMMUNITIES IN PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

This study aimed to conduct a qualitative assessment of rabies virus antibody among domesticated dogs in some communities in Plateau State, Nigeria. A total of 45 domesticated dogs from eight (8) communities within Jos South and East local government areas (LGAs) were sampled. Two serum samples were collected from each dog, 1 pre-vaccination and the other 2 weeks post-vaccination, totaling 90. A serological assay was performed using a commercial IgG (Dog) ELISA kit acquired from Demeditec® Diagnostics GmbH, Germany, for the determination of IgG antibodies against rabies virus in the samples. The results revealed that 36 (80 %) of the dogs were positive for rabies immunoglobulin G, and 9 (20 %) were negative in pre-vaccination assessment across the communities. It also revealed a significant increase in the positive rabies immunoglobulin G post-vaccination by 96 %. Of the 8 LGAs studied, the dogs in 7 of the LGAs (90%) showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in positive (≥ 0.34) rabies antibody titer. Only 1 LGA (10 %) showed a level of antibody titer below < 0.34, which was considered significant.