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. 2022 Jul 7;16(7):e0010522.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010522. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Heterogeneity in dog population characteristics contributes to chronic under-vaccination against rabies in Guatemala

David Moran  1 , Danilo Alvarez  1 , Loren Cadena  2   3 , Julie Cleaton  3 , Stephanie J Salyer  2 , Emily G Pieracci  3 , Leila R Camposeco  4 , Sulma Bernal  5 , Ryan M Wallace  3
Affiliations

Heterogeneity in dog population characteristics contributes to chronic under-vaccination against rabies in Guatemala

David Moran et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Guatemala has held dog rabies mass vaccination campaigns countrywide since 1984, yet the virus remains endemic. To eliminate dog-mediated human rabies, dog vaccination coverage must reach at least 70%. The Guatemala rabies program uses a 5:1 human:dog ratio (HDR) to estimate the vaccination coverage; however, this method may not accurately reflect the heterogeneity of dog ownership practices in Guatemalan communities. We conducted 16 field-based dog population estimates in urban, semi-urban and rural areas of Guatemala to determine HDR and evaluate the standard 5:1. Our study-derived HDR estimates varied from 1.7-11.4:1 (average 4.0:1), being higher in densely populated sites and lowest in rural communities. The community-to-community heterogeneity observed in dog populations could explain the persistence of rabies in certain communities. To date, this is the most extensive dog-population evaluation conducted in Guatemala, and can be used to inform future rabies vaccination campaigns needed to meet the global 2030 rabies elimination targets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Dog population density as determined by a 16-site dog enumeration study with stratified extrapolation based on human population density (https://www.naturalearthdata.com/tag/imagery/; https://www.naturalearthdata.com/about/terms-of-use/).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Free roaming counting transects path for SRS method in the study sites.
(Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation, and contains information from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation, which is made available under the Open Database License; https://www.openstreetmap.org/; https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Yellow lines indicates the transect path in the SRS surveys at the study sites. Sites code: R-1 = Chuiririn, SU-1 = El Rosario Patulul, U-5 = Gualan, U-2 = Jacaltenango, U-3 = Panajachel, U-1 = Petatan, SU-2 = Barahona, U-4 = VillaNueva.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Distribution of the Human:Dog ratio in the different types of surveilled communities in this study, and their comparison with the official 5:1 Guatemala Human:Dog Ratio.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Comparison of the Human:Dog ratio between the different surveilled communities in this study.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Ownership and roaming characteristics of the dog population among the surveilled communities.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Association between the free roaming dog population density and the human population density amongst the study sites, March—July 2018.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Projected HDR by Guatemala Health Areas based on the study results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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