title: Laboratory data of dog rabies in southern Cameroon from 2010 to 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dog rabies is endemic in most African countries and the risk of human rabies is estimated to be high in Cameroon according to WHO estimations in 2010. This study aimed to describe the circulation rabies virus (RABV) among dogs in the southern regions of Cameroon from 2010 to 2013 in a context, where mass vaccination campaigns are launched annually in order to control rabies in domestic animals including dogs and cats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2010 to 2013, 93 animal specimens (dogs: 91, monkey: 1, pig: 1) originating from the southern regions of Cameroon were collected and tested for rabies virus at the Centre Pasteur of Cameroon by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and virus isolation. Of the total dog specimens, 69.2% (63/91) originated from the central part of the southern regions and 50.5% (46/91) were from the capital city Yaounde. Overall, 74.2% (66/89) of dogs' specimens that could be tested were found rabies-positive while specimens from the monkey and pig were tested negative. Overall, dog rabies was repeatedly detected in the southern regions of Cameroon especially in the nation capital, Yaounde even though low specimen submission and geographic bias did not permit major conclusions about its actual rate, geographical and over time distribution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that rabies is endemic in the dog population which is of public health concern. Therefore, coordinated rabies control program should be conducted to reduce the rabies incidence in dogs and in humans. In addition, proper rabies surveillance program including reporting system should be established to monitor the success of the control program in Cameroon.
authors.forename: Serge Alain
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sadeuh-Mba
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Besong
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demanou
authors.forename: Sévérin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loul
authors.forename: Amadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nchare
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Rue Dunant, B,P, 1274 Yaounde, Cameroon. njouom@pasteur-yaounde.org.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Njouom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005843:Geography; D000882:Haplorhini; D006762:Hospitals, Animal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines