Rabies immune status in the stray and companion dogs in Korea

Yang, Dong-Kun; Yoon, Soon-Seek; Lee,  Kyoung-Ki; Byun, Jae-Won; Bae, You-Chan; Oh, Yoon-I; Song, Jae-Young

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2010;50(2):133-137.

Dong-Kun Yang, Soon-Seek Yoon, Kyoung-Ki Lee, Jae-Won Byun, You-Chan Bae, Yoon-I Oh, Jae-Young Song

National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service

Abstract

Rabies virus (family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus, RV) is the causative agent of rabies in mammals. We conducted a sero-epidemiological survey for RV using sera from South Korean stray and companion dogs in the present study. A total of 533 canine serum samples were collected between February 2006 and December 2007 and were screened for rabies immunity with a neutralizing peroxidase linked assay. Both companion (49.1%) and stray (60.1%) dogs demonstrated RV seropositivity. Regional RV antibody prevalence was measured in the Jeju (87.5%), Gyeonggi (62%), Gyeongsang (59.1%), Jeonra (42%), Chungcheong (37.9%), and Gangwon (30.4%) provinces. Prevalence increased with age but did not exceed 80% in any age group. Stray and companion dogs had RV antibody prevalence values of 26.7% and 23.7%, respectively. Seroprevalence was significantly associated with age $({chi}2;=;9.46;;p;=;0.024)$ for companion dogs, although this association was not evident in stray dogs. There were no significant differences in age between stray and companion dogs and no gender differences in RV seroprevalence. Our results suggested that a widespread and reinforced vaccination program must be applied to Korean dogs.

Key Words: companion dog, rabies, sero-epidemiology, stray dog