Demographic and Ecological Survey of Dog Population in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Dog ecology is essential in understanding the distribution,structure,and population density of dogs and pattern of dog ownership in any given area.Across-sectional study was designed to study dog ecology in Aba,Abia state,Nigeria,from April to June 2013. The study revealed that the 500 households surveyed possessed 5,823 individuals and 747 dogs,giving a dog to human ratio of1:7.8; hence dog population in Abawas estimated to be 68,121. About 495/747(66.3%) of the dogs were exoticand 465/747(62.2%)were males.A total of 319/500(63.8%)ofthehouseholdshadfencesthatrestraineddogmovementandtherewasnoincidenceofdog bite in 447/500(89.4%)ofthehouseholdssurveyed.Therewerestatisticalassociationsbetweenvaccinationagainstantirabiesand breeds of dogs(𝜒2 = 79.8,df=2 , 𝑃 < 0.005).Exotic breed(adjustedOR = 0.39;CI= 0.23–0.65)and local breed of dogs(adjusted OR = 0.08; CI= 0.04–0.14) had less odds of being vaccinated as compared to crossbreed of dogs. About 126 dogs (2.5 dogs per street)wereestimatedfromstreetcountssurvey.Therelativehighdogtohumanratioandlowvaccinationcoverageofowneddogs populationposepublichealthconcernsrequiringadequatepublichealtheducationandproperantirabiesvaccinationcoverageof dogs in the study area.