Microbiología Médica y Diagnóstico

Incidences of Rabies in Domestic Animals and Consequent Risk Factors in Humans

Abstract

Tekki IS, Meseko CA, Omotainse SO, Atuman YJ, Chukwukere, Olaleye S and Okewole PA

Although rabies infects all warm blooded animals in nature, the primary hosts are domestic and wild dogs. Many other susceptible hosts include cats, foxes, and bats many of which also serve as reservoir and source of infection to other animals including human and livestock. Incidence of rabies in livestock is a re-emerging global phenomenon being reported in both rabies endemic and hitherto dog rabies free countries. We report cases of rabies in cattle, sheep and goat in Nigeria, highlighting the risk factors of human exposure due to handling and consumption the carcases. The food animals exposed to rabies exhibited the clinical signs including hyperactivities, aggression and drooling of saliva and were confirmed positive for rabies by Fluorescent antibody test. This implies that excess dog rabies goes into atypical hosts like these food animals. Though these animals are dead-end hosts, the consequence is that more human exposure, through these atypical means, is possible by direct bites, contact with saliva or other body fluids from slaughter and consumption of these animals. Control of rabies in domestic dogs and vaccination of other live stocks like cows, sheep and goats, is necessary to prevent untold economic loses and risks of humans exposure to rabies.