Census versus Capture-recapture Method to Estimate Dog Population in Lumlukka District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, 2010

Wongphruksasoong, Vilaiporn; Santayakorn, S; Sitthi, Wathee; Ardkham, B; Pišek, Špela; Srisai, Prakit; Chumkasian, P.; Prarakamawongsa, T.; Salman, -; Lekjareonsuk, C; Siriarayaporn, P

doi:10.59096/osir.v9i1.263225

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Furthermore, we did not reach the desired sample size, and this might affect our analyses and true reflection of the study area. In addition, we recognize challenges of estimating free-roaming dogs and methods of estimating this canine population (distance sampling and capture-recapture), however smaller study areas provided an opportunity for direct observation [33,34]. Therefore, inaccuracies in the detection of stray dogs cannot be excluded, thus, careful consideration is recommended in interpreting the estimation of dog population.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Dog ecology and rabies control including canine vaccination coverage: Impacts from a survey in Madagascar

Rajoromanana,

Nyirenda,

Edosoa

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Rabies virus (RABV; species Lyssavirus rabies) is causing one of the oldest zoonotic diseases known to mankind, leading to fatal encephalomyelitis in animals and humans. Despite the existence of safe and effective vaccines to prevent the disease, an estimated 99% of human rabies deaths worldwide are caused by dog-mediated rabies with children at the highest risk of infection. Rabies has been endemic in Madagascar for over a century, yet there has been little research evaluating local knowledge and practices impacting on the rabies control and prevention. Thus, this study was undertaken to better understand the dog ecology including canine vaccine coverage and to assess knowledge and practices of dog owners and veterinarians. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 dog-owning households in thirteen fokontanys in Mahajanga from July 4 to September 13, 2016. Single and multi-member dog-owning households in the study area on the day of the interview were eligible for inclusion and purposively selected with the support of a local guide. The survey included a household questionnaire capturing information on the dog’s demographics, husbandry practices, knowledge and practices towards rabies and its control measures; the dog ecology questionnaire collected dog characteristics, vaccination status and husbandry practices. All households that reported a dog bite incident, were invited to participate in a dog bite questionnaire. In addition, direct observations of roaming dogs were conducted to assess dog population demographics and to document behavioural characteristics. Two veterinarians were purposively selected and took part in an interview during the survey period, providing information on rabies control activities, including dog-care practices in the area. Descriptive and inferential data analyses were performed using Epi Info version 7.1.5.0 (CDC Atlanta, USA). Results We recorded a total of 400 dogs, of which 338 (84.5%) were owned amongst 123 households. More than half (67.8%) of owned dogs were between 1 to 5 years old and 95.6% were kept for guarding purposes. 45% of the surveyed dogs had free access to roam outside the premises. The majority (85.4%) of dog owners were knowledgeable that a dog bite could potentially transmit RABV to humans. 19 dog bites were reported and of these 73.6% were caused by the owner’s or a neighbour’s dog. In 6 of the 19 cases, children between 7 and 15 years of age were the victims. Dog vaccination coverage against rabies was 34% among owned dogs. Of the participants aware of a veterinarian, the majority (55/82) indicated that they accessed veterinarian services at irregular intervals. The main obstacles to vaccinations cited by dog owners were limited financial resources and difficulty accessing veterinary care. Conclusion This study contributes to enhanced understanding of the dog ecology including canine vaccine coverage as well as knowledge and practices of dog owners in Madagascar. Most dogs in the study area were accessible for preventive vaccination through their owners, however only one third of the investigated canine population was vaccinated against rabies. Concerted national efforts towards rabies prevention and control should aim to address financial challenges and access to veterinary services.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Dog ecology and rabies control including canine vaccination coverage: Impacts from a survey in Madagascar

Rajoromanana,

Nyirenda,

Edosoa

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Use of photography to identify free-roaming dogs during sight-resight surveys: Impacts on estimates of population size and vaccination coverage, Haiti 2016

et al. 2019

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Highlights Reviewing photographs helped identify dogs seen on both survey days. Improved dog identification lead to a higher population estimate. Vaccination coverage did not vary between field-surveyor and photo-reviewer populations. Improved dog identification allowed for vaccination mark loss estimates, showing likely higher coverage.

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Spatial Distribution and Population Estimation of Dogs in Thailand: Implications for Rabies Prevention and Control

et al. 2021

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Poor management of dog populations causes many problems in different countries, including rabies. To strategically design a dog population management, certain sets of data are required, such as the population size and spatial distribution of dogs. However, these data are rarely available or incomplete. Hence, this study aimed to describe the characteristics of dog populations in Thailand, explore their spatial distribution and relevant factors, and estimate the number of dogs in the whole country. First, four districts were selected as representatives of each region. Each district was partitioned into grids with a 300-m resolution. The selected grids were then surveyed, and the number of dogs and related data were collected. Random forest models with a two-part approach were used to quantify the association between the surveyed dog population and predictor variables. The spatial distribution of dog populations was then predicted. A total of 1,750 grids were surveyed (945 grids with dog presence and 805 grids with dog absence). Among the surveyed dogs, 86.6% (12,027/13,895) were owned. Of these, 51% were classified as independent, followed by confined (25%), semi-independent (21%), and unidentified dogs (3%). Seventy-two percent (1,348/1,868) of the ownerless dogs were feral, and the rest were community dogs. The spatial pattern of the dog populations was highly distributed in big cities such as Bangkok and its suburbs. In owned dogs, it was linked to household demographics, whereas it was related to community factors in ownerless dogs. The number of estimated dogs in the entire country was 12.8 million heads including 11.2 million owned dogs (21.7 heads/km2) and 1.6 million ownerless dogs (3.2 heads/km2). The methods developed here are extrapolatable to a larger area and use much less budget and manpower compared to the present practices. Our results are helpful for canine rabies prevention and control programs, such as dog population management and control and rabies vaccine allocation.

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Census versus Capture-recapture Method to Estimate Dog Population in Lumlukka District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, 2010

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Dog ecology and rabies control including canine vaccination coverage: Impacts from a survey in Madagascar

Dog ecology and rabies control including canine vaccination coverage: Impacts from a survey in Madagascar

Use of photography to identify free-roaming dogs during sight-resight surveys: Impacts on estimates of population size and vaccination coverage, Haiti 2016

Spatial Distribution and Population Estimation of Dogs in Thailand: Implications for Rabies Prevention and Control

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