title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of veterinary facility owners regarding rabies preexposure prophylaxis--West Virginia, 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding rabies preexposure prophylaxis among veterinary facility owners in West Virginia and to compare facilities in counties where raccoon rabies virus variant (RRVV) is or is not enzootic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional telephone survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  124 owners of facilities licensed by the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, an owner of each licensed facility in West Virginia was contacted by telephone to complete a questionnaire regarding practice demographics, knowledge of rabies epidemiology, and preexposure prophylaxis policies. Data from facilities in counties where RRVV is enzootic were compared with data from facilities in counties where RRVV is not enzootic. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to quantify the strength of associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Owners of 124 of the 162 (77%) veterinary facilities participated in the survey. West Virginia veterinarians were knowledgeable of rabies epidemiology in the state. Respondents agreed that veterinarians (122/124 [98%]) and technicians and assistants (111/124 [90%]) should receive preexposure prophylaxis. Fifty-six (45%) respondents required that veterinarians receive preexposure prophylaxis, whereas 19 (15%) respondents required that technicians and assistants receive preexposure prophylaxis. A preexposure prophylaxis policy was in effect at 20 of 64 (31%) facilities in counties where RRVV is enzootic and 6 of 60 (10%) facilities in counties where RRVV is not enzootic. Concerns related to cost of preexposure prophylaxis were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Except for veterinarians, veterinary staff in West Virginia did not commonly receive preexposure prophylaxis or regular assessments of serum rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers. All veterinary practices are encouraged to consider revising or implementing a preexposure prophylaxis policy based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. tktdvm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tegwin K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.forename: Danae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bixler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006801:Humans; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000145:classification; D011821:Raccoons; D018634:Veterinarians; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines