Authors : Neung-Hee Kim, Seung-Hun Lee, Min-Goo Seo, Doo-Hwan Kim, Ju-Hyung Lee and Dongmi Kwak
Abstract: Outbreaks of rabies in South Korea are no longer limited to the demilitarized zone or non-residential areas. Vaccination is a key factor for preventing virus transmission. The present study was conducted to measure the level of antirabies antibody in dogs from animal shelters in Seoul, South Korea. A total of 1,750 sera samples (999 collected in 2011 and 751 collected in 2012) from dogs kept at abandoned animal shelters in Seoul were tested using a commercial ELISA kit. The overall rate of antirabies antibody prevalence was 24.0% (420/1,750) in 2011 to 2012. The rate of antirabies antibody prevalence was 25.6% (256/999) in 2011 and 21.8% (164/751) in 2012. When analyzing the data according to age, the prevalence rates for young (≤1 year), adult (>1 and ≤5 years) and older (>5 years) dogs were 12.7, 26.4 and 30.8%, respectively in 2011. These rates were 4.5, 17.7 and 30.4%, respectively in 2012. These results demonstrate that prevalence of the rabies virus increased with age (p<0.005). The prevalence rates between male and female dogs were 25.9 and 25.3%, respectively in 2011 and 22.3 and 21.2%, respectively in 2012. When the data were evaluated according to region, the prevalence rates of dogs from the North and South of the Han River were 27.2 and 24.4%, respectively in 2011 and 21.9 and 21.8%, respectively in 2012. The prevalence rates were similar throughout the year with Spring and fall rates of 26.0 and 25.3%, respectively in 2011 and 22.0 and 21.7%, respectively in 2012. Since, an immunological barrier that prevents from spreading of rabies virus is considered to be >70% of dogs vaccinated, findings from the present study indicate that the prevalence of antirabies antibodies from shelter dogs in Seoul is still not sufficient for preventing transmission of the rabies virus. Thus, more intensive vaccination campaigns and programs for reducing the number of stray dogs are prerequisites for the prevention and control of rabies.
Neung-Hee Kim, Seung-Hun Lee, Min-Goo Seo, Doo-Hwan Kim, Ju-Hyung Lee and Dongmi Kwak, 2013. Serologic Detection of Antibodies Against Rabies Virus in Dogs from Animal Shelters in Seoul, South Korea. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 721-725.