Immunization Coverage and Antibody Retention against Rabies in Domestic Dogs in Lusaka District, Zambia
Chiho Kaneko,
Michihito Sasaki,
Ryosuke Omori,
Ryo Nakao,
Chikako Kataoka-Nakamura,
Ladslav Moonga,
Joseph Ndebe,
Walter Muleya,
Edgar Simulundu,
Bernard M. Hang’ombe,
George Dautu,
Masahiro Kajihara,
Akina Mori-Kajihara,
Yongjin Qiu,
Naoto Ito,
Herman M. Chambaro,
Chihiro Sugimoto,
Hideaki Higashi,
Ayato Takada,
Hirofumi Sawa,
Aaron S. Mweene,
Norikazu Isoda
Affiliations
Chiho Kaneko
Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Michihito Sasaki
Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Ryosuke Omori
Division of Bioinformatics, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Ryo Nakao
Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Hokkaido University, North 18, West 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan
Chikako Kataoka-Nakamura
Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Ladslav Moonga
Department of Para-Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Joseph Ndebe
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Walter Muleya
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Edgar Simulundu
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Bernard M. Hang’ombe
Department of Para-Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
George Dautu
Virology Unit, Central Veterinary Research Institute, P.O. Box 33980, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Masahiro Kajihara
Division of Global Epidemiology, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Akina Mori-Kajihara
Division of Global Epidemiology, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Yongjin Qiu
Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Naoto Ito
Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Herman M. Chambaro
Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Chihiro Sugimoto
Division of Collaboration and Education, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Hideaki Higashi
Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Ayato Takada
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Hirofumi Sawa
Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Aaron S. Mweene
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Norikazu Isoda
Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
Rabies remains endemic in Zambia. Despite conducting canine vaccinations in Lusaka district, the vaccination coverage and actual seropositivity in the dog population in Lusaka district are rarely evaluated. This study estimated the seropositivity-based immunization coverage in the owned dog population in Lusaka district using the expanded program on immunization cluster survey method. The time-series trend of neutralizing antibodies against rabies in vaccinated dogs was also evaluated. Of 366 dogs in 200 dog-owning households in Lusaka district, blood samples were collected successfully from 251 dogs. In the sampled dogs, 42.2% (106/251) had an antibody titer ≥0.5 IU/mL. When the 115 dogs whose blood was not collected were assumed to be seronegative, the minimum immunization coverage in Lusaka district’s owned dog population was estimated at 29.0% (95% confidence interval: 22.4–35.5). It was also found that a single vaccination with certified vaccines is capable of inducing protective levels of antibodies. In contrast, higher antibody titers were observed in multiple-vaccinated dogs than in single-vaccinated dogs, coupled with the observation of a decline in antibody titer over time. These results suggest the importance of continuous booster immunization to maintain herd immunity and provide useful information to plan mass vaccination against rabies in Zambia.
