Comparison of number of dog Rabies diagnosed at the Medical Research Institute before and after stray dog elimination cessation policy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Sri Lanka, elimination of stray dogs was completely halted in 2007 and has been replaced by animal birth control methods. Incidence of human Rabies is steadily declining even after this transition in Rabies control activities. However, effect of it on other Rabies related statistics remains undocumented. OBJECTIVES: To compare the number of confirmed cases of dog Rabies at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) before and after implementation of stray dog elimination cessation policy. METHODS: This cross sectional descriptive study analysed the data on dog brains sent to the MRI for Rabies virus diagnosis and found positive (confirmed cases of dog Rabies (CCDR)) for a period of 10 years from 2002-2011. The required information was extracted manually from the records maintained in the MRI, computerized and subjected to further analysis. RESULTS: Annual mean of 964.2 (SD±192.7) brain specimens from suspected cases of dog Rabies (SCDR) have been received at the MRI during the study period. Although the number has increased by 80% from 541 in 2002 to 975 in 2011, it was steadily declining from 2008 onwards. Despite this drop, the annual mean of SCDR was higher after (1094±86.9) stray dog elimination has been halted than 2007 and before (877.67±199.5). Of these SCDR, approximately two-thirds were confirmed by laboratory testing. This led to an annual mean of 577.3 (SD±111.19) CCDR during the study period. Similar to the trend seen with SCDR, although the number has increased by 40.1% from 391 in 2002 to 548 in 2011, it was steadily declining from 2009 onwards. Despite this drop, the annual mean of CCDR was higher after (629.25±77.8) stray dog elimination has been halted than 2007 and before (542.67±122.6). The percentage increase in SCDR (24.6%) during the study period was slightly higher than the percentage increase in CCDR (16%). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Annual mean of SCDR and CCDR at the MRJ has not grossly increased