Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dog demographics and husbandry practices related with rabies in Cameroon

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dog demographics are considered as one of the main factors in the control of rabies. Having reliable data on dog population and husbandry practices on how they are managed is a key point in the elaboration of any control program to fight against human deaths due to rabies which are mainly due to dogs. However, the lack of data regarding dog population is one of the main hindrances to elaborate effective fighting projects in developing countries, particularly in Africa. In order to contribute for reliable data on dog demographics and husbandry practices related to rabies, this study was carried out in the cities of Ngaoundéré, Garoua and Yaoundé, respectively located in Adamaoua, North and Centre regions of Cameroon from October 2013 to April 2014. A survey was conducted within 2500 households selected randomly to which 45 questions were addressed, while the vaccine status of dogs was checked in the houses by verifying the vaccination booklet and in public and private veterinary clinics. Various aspects of dogs such as dog population, husbandry practices, ownership and age distribution were assessed. Out of these households, 45% of them (1118) had exploitable data. From these, 46% of them owned at least 1 dog for a total of 707 dogs, with a dog per household ratio of 6.3:10 for a dog per human ratio of 1.16:10. The age distribution of these dogs showed that the mean age of male and female was around 2 years with a male per female ratio of 29:10. The estimation of roaming dogs gave a ratio of 2.3:10 per human. Concerning the reasons for having a dog, the main motivation was guarding (76%) and company (17%). Husbandry practices applied to these dogs were a complete restrained (52%), semi-restrained (29%) and a complete roaming (18%). In relation to rabies, only 34% of dog owners were able to prove the effective vaccination of their dogs and no reason was given to explain the non-vaccination by the majority (78%) of the owners. So this study provides for the first time a baseline on dog population for an objective fighting program but also shows that the husbandry practices applied by the owners can be a hindrance to a fighting program against rabies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali, A., Eshetu, Y. A. et Sifer, D. (2013). A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of rabies among residents in Addis ababa, Ethiopia, Ethiopian Veterinary Journal, 19–35

  • Awah-Ndukum, J. (2003). Ecological aspects of dogs in relation to rabies control and public health significance in North-west Cameroon. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of sciences, vol3 N°1, 25-31

  • Awah-Ndukum, J., Tchoumboue, J. et Tong, J. C. (2002). Canine and human rabies in Cameroon. Tropical Veterinarian, 20(3), 162–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Awah-Ndukum, J., Tchoumboue, J. et Zoli, A. (2004). Involvement of communities in the control of dog-related public health hazards in the western Highlands of Cameroon. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, vol 4, 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUCREP. (2010a). Rapport de présentation des résultats définitifs. Yaoundé: BUCREP, 1–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUCREP. (2010b). 3e RGPH Activités économiques de la population (Vol. II tome 03) : BUCREP, 1–140.

  • Cleaveland, S., Kaare, M., Knobel, D., Laurenson, M.K. (2006). Canine vaccination providing broader benefits for disease control. Vet. Microbial. 117: 43–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fekadu, M., 1991. Canine rabies. In:George, M.B. (Ed.), The Natural history of Rabies, 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boston, pp. 367–378..

    Google Scholar 

  • Gsell, A. S., Knobel, D. L., Kazwala, R. R., Vounatsou, P. et Jakob, Z. (2012). Domestic dog demographic structure and dynamics relevants to rabies control planning in urban areas in Africa: the case of Iringa, Tanzania, BioMed Central Veterinary Research, 8:236, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamadou, S.E., Dzikwi, A.A., Kwaga, J., Kazeem, H.M., Umoh, J.U., Hambolu, D.A. (2014). Dog ecology and population in Lagos state, Nigeria. Global Journal of Health Science, 6(2): 209–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. (2013). Sexual differences in psychology and pet ownership. www.acac.org.au/pdf/PetFactBook_June6.pdf.

  • Kitala, P.M., Mcdermott, J.J., Kyule, M.N. et Gathuma, J.M. (2000). Community-based active surveillance for rabies in Machakos district, Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 73–85.

  • Kitala, P., McDermott, J., Kyulea, M., Gathuma, J., Perry, B., Wandeler, A. (2001). Dog ecology and demography information to support the planning of rabies control in Machakos District, Kenya. ActaTropica.78: 217–230.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knobel, D.L., Cleaveland, S., Coleman, P.G., Fevre, E.M., Meltzer, M.I., Miranda, M.E.G., Shaw, A., Zinsstag, J., Meslin, F.X., (2005). Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation. 83: (5), 360–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouri, J. (1985). Contribution à l'étude épidemiologique et de la prophylaxie de la rage au Cameroun. Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et de Médecine Vétérinaires-Université de Dakar, Thèse de Doctorat en Médecine Vétérinaire, 1–139.

  • Lembo, T., Hampson, K., Kaare, M. T., Knobel, D., Kazwala, R. R. et Haydon, D. T. (2010). The feasibility of canine rabies elimination in Africa: dispelling doubts with data. PloS Negl Trop Dis, 4(2), e626. doi.1371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mindekem, R., Kayali, U., Yemadji, N., Ndoutamia, A. G. et Zinsstag, J. (2005). la démographie canine et son importance pour la transmission de la rage humaine à N'djamena. Médecine Tropicale, 65(1) : 53–58.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nel, L. H. (2013). Discrepancies in data reporting for Rabies, Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases, cdc, 529–533.

  • Ngah Osoe B.F.P (2014) Prévalence, facteurs de risques et impacts socio-économiques de la rage dans les villes de Garoua, Ngaoundéré et Yaoundé-Cameroun. Ecole des Sciences et de Médecine vétérinaire-Université de Ngaoundéré, Thèse de Doctorat en Médecine Vétérinaire, 1–115

  • Njong, Tebug, S. F., Abia, W. A. et Yepka, A. Y. (2012). Dog-associated husbandry practices favouring the spread of zoonotic pathogens with reference to helminth parasites in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Scientific journal of Veterinary Advances, 1(5): 120–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oboegbulem, S. I. et Nwakonobi, I. E. (1989). Population density and ecology in Nigeria: a pilot study. Revue Scientifique Office International des Epizooties, 8: (3), 733–745.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, B. (1992). The epidemiology of rabies and its control in eastern and southern Africa. International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases, 107–121.

  • Prato-Previde, E., Fallani, G., Valsecchi, P. (2006). Gender differences in owners intercating with pet dogs: an observational study. Ethology, 112: 54–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangel, M. C., Cardenas, L. J. et Dealuja, A. S. (1981). The canine population of mexico city: an estimate study. Anim. Regul. Stud, vol 3, 281-290.

  • Ribadeau-Dumas, F., Dacheux, L. et Bourhy, H. (2013). La rage. médecine/sciences, 47–55.

  • Tchoumboue, J., Awah-Ndukum, J. et Tchadi, J. C. 2001, August 19-24. Factors affecting antirabies vaccination practice of domestic carnivores in Cameroon. Paper presented at the 10th International Conference of the Association of institutions for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (AITVM) Copenhagen, 1-9.

  • Touihri, L., Zaouia, I., Elhili, K., Dellagi, K., Bahloul, C. (2011). Evaluation of mass vaccination campaign coverage against rabies in dogs in Tunisia. Zoonoses and Public Health 58: 110–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (1987). Guidelines for dog rabies control. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO press, 83.43, 1–92.

  • WHO (2005). WHO Expert consultation on rabies (Vol. WHO technical report series 931). Geneva, Switzerland: WHO press, 1–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (2013a). WHO methods and data sources for global burden of disease estimates 2000–2011. Geneva: Switzerland, 1–90.

  • WHO. (2013b). WHO expert consultation on rabies. Geneva: WHO press (982), 1–146.

  • WSPA. (2007). Surveying roaming dog populations: guidelines on methodology. WSPA, 1–20.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dschang, Cameroon

    Freddy Patrick Ngah Osoe Bouli

  2. Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences (FASA), University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Freddy Patrick Ngah Osoe Bouli, Julius Awah-Ndukum & Joseph Tchoumboue

  3. School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon

    Julius Awah-Ndukum & Kilekoung Jean-Pierre Mingoas

  4. Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Mathurin Cyrille Tejiokem

Authors
  1. Freddy Patrick Ngah Osoe Bouli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julius Awah-Ndukum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kilekoung Jean-Pierre Mingoas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mathurin Cyrille Tejiokem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joseph Tchoumboue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Freddy Patrick Ngah Osoe Bouli.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bouli, F.P.N.O., Awah-Ndukum, J., Mingoas, K.JP. et al. Dog demographics and husbandry practices related with rabies in Cameroon. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 979–987 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02085-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02085-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation