Estimation of Owned and Street Dog Population by Quesionnire Survey and Mark-Recapture Method in Three Urban Areas: Bishoftu, Dukem and Modjo Towns

Research Article

Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2022; 9(4): 1104.

Estimation of Owned and Street Dog Population by Quesionnire Survey and Mark-Recapture Method in Three Urban Areas: Bishoftu, Dukem and Modjo Towns

Tegegne D¹ and Mengesha A²*

1Amhara Regional State Field Veterinarian Health Practitioner, Ethiopia

2Ethiopian Veterinary Drug and Feed Control and Administrative Authority, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Ayehu Mengesha, Ethiopian Veterinary Drug and Feed Control and Administrative Authority, Ethiopia

Received: August 30, 2022; Accepted: September 30, 2022; Published: October 07, 2022

Abstract

The understanding of the structure of free-roaming and owning dog population’s estimation is of extreme importance for the planning and monitoring of dog population control strategies, animal welfare and health. The methods used to estimate the abundance of this group of dogs are more complex than the ones used with domiciled owned dogs. We point to enhancements necessary for the implementation of the studies and to potential updates and revisions to the recommendations of the World Health Organization with respect to the estimation of free-ranging and owning dog populations. Rabies is a fatal viral disease of animals and people. People usually infected via bites from an infected animal (e.g. dog). Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) has to initiate immediately after bite wounds of suspected rabid animals in order to avoid fatalities. The situation of rabies poorly known in Ethiopia. Questionnaire survey was conducted in selected blocks in Dukem, Bishoftu and Modjo towns in order to capture information on dog population size estimates using mark-resight surveys has provided useful baseline data for understanding the population dynamics of dogs at the study sites. Mark-resight surveys provide useful information for designing and managing the logistics of dog vaccination or assessing vaccination coverage and for evaluating the impact of neutering programs on the size and structure of dogs’ populations over time. As part of a dog born zoonosis disease risk assessment project, surveys conducted to estimate the size of the dog population and to describe dog management practices of households belonging to different ethnic groups. A markedrecapture method employed and the number of unowned dogs estimated. A total of 599 dog owning households and 276 non-dog household interviewed from at selected 19 blocks at study sites. Owned dogs were more likely male, local breed and for the purpose of used to guard. These households kept their dogs either fully restricted, semi and free roaming but full restriction have reported only at the higher percentage of the total dog households. By counted method, study the ownerless dogs higher than owning and semi-restricted dogs.

Keywords: Estimate dog population; free rooming dog; Rabies

Introduction

The domestic dog (Canisfamiliaris) is the most numerous carnivores in the world [15]. Dogs recognised to play a role in about 100 zoonotic diseases [49]. They have also been implicated as the source of infection for several disease outbreaks affecting wild carnivores, including Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and rabies [12,21], which have caused epidemics in wild populations [24,39].

Dogs are closely associated with humans, kept by households as companions and often considered as part of the family, especially in developed countries [46]. In some communities, for instance indigenous communities in Australia and some ethnic groups in Indonesia, dogs play an important role in the culture of the community [36]. However, when dogs not fully provided with food and shelter, then they will roam if not confined. Semi-roaming and free-roaming dog populations can create risks for public health due to zoonotic diseases, such as rabies [41]. Thus, understanding the dog–human relationship in a community is critical for planning rabies prevention and control. The demographic characteristics of host populations have a profound impact on the transmission and maintenance of microparasites (Grenfell and Dobson, 1995).

Although a great percentage of dogs are domiciliary and restricted, there are still a great percentage of dogs continuously circulating on the street [28] forming specific population groups, which named free roaming, stray, wandering, not domiciled or unrestricted. Stray dogs considered the primary victims of irresponsible owners who reject their pets into the streets [2].

The existence of free-roaming dogs considered an important problem, not only for the animal welfare but also for Public Health [22]. Adequate estimates of the size and of the characteristics of the population of free-roaming dogs are essential in planning and monitoring the effectiveness of strategies adopted for the control and for the welfare of the population [19], for the management of risks associated with their presence [16] and to quantify the prevalence of zoonosis and other diseases present in these animals. The methods used to estimate the abundance of domiciliary dogs, such as the assessment of veterinary records or sampling based on questionnaires toowners, are useful to estimate the abundance of free-ranging dogs [40].

Internationally, the control and prevention of urban rabies has based on dog vaccination and population management [37]. Both vaccination and population control programs require data on the distribution and numbers of free-roaming dogs. Thus, estimation of the free-roaming dog population size is a necessary first step in planning rabies control programs [3]. I initiated to study this title due to the presence of increased free roaming dog population in the study towns and conditional risk of dog borne diseases.

A. Therefore, the objective of this study wGeneral objective of the study

To identify and improve public health and welfare of owned and stray dog population by reduce numbers of stray dogs to an acceptable level in the study area.

B. Specific objectives of the study

1. To estimate the dog population to enable devising realistic plans for dog population management, zoonosis control and monitoring the success of future interventions.

2. To estimate the total dog population with owners and street dog in order to enable better planning of the control actions against diseases involving these animals.

Materials and Methods

Study Area

The study conducted in three towns found in central Ethiopia: from February to May 2017 in Dukem, Bishoftu and Modjo towns. Dukem is a town in central Ethiopia. It named after the Dukem River. Located in the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne of the Oromia Region, 37 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa and 10 kilometers northwest of Bishoftu, this town has a latitude and longitude 08N,48N and 38E,54E respectively and an elevation of 1950 meters above sea level and the climate is warm and temperate. The summers here have a good deal of rainfall, while the winters have very little. The average annual temperature is 18.7 °C and the average rainfall is 907 mm. Based on the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Dukem has an estimated total population of 8,704 of whom 4,095 are men and 4,609 are women [23].

Bishoftu is a town and separate woreda of Ethiopia, lying southeast of Addis Ababa. It formerly known as Debre Zeyit, However since the late 1990s it officially known by the Oromo name, Bishoftu [31]. This was its name until 1955. The town is located in the Misraq Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, Bishoftu is located 47.9 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa [23]. A cluster of volcanic crater Lakes and popular spiritual sites found around the town characterizes Bishoftu’s tourist offer. Because of its low altitude up to 1850 masl, Bishoftu for the Oromo people at Lake Hora has a warm climate. The major resort lakes are Lake Hora Arsade, Lake Bishoftu, Lake Babogaya, Lake Kuriftu, Lake Kilol and Lake Magarsa. The 2007 national census reported a total population for Bishoftu of 99,928, of whom 47,860 were men and 52,068 were women. The majority of the inhabitants said they practiced Ethiopian. Orthodox Christianity with 79.75% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 13.82% of the populations were Protestant and 4.98% of the populations were Muslim [5].

The three largest ethnic groups reported for this town were the Amhara (42.86%), the Oromo (39.4%) and the Gurage (8.3%), all other ethnic groups made up 9.44% of the population. Amharic spoken as a first language by 71.95% and 20.12% spoke Oromiffa, the remaining 7.93% spoke all other primary languages reported (Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia, 1994). The climate here is mild, and generally warm and temperate. In winter, there is much less rainfall in DebreZe it than in summer. The average annual temperature in DebreZe it is 18.7°C. In a year, the average rainfall is 892 mm [5].

Modjo is a town in central Ethiopia, named after the nearby Modjo River. Located in the Misraq Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of 8°39′N39°5′E with an elevation between 1788 and 1825 meters above sea level and climate here is mild, and generally warm and temperate. When compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. The average annual temperature in Modjo is 20.1°C and the rainfall here averages 863 mm. Based on the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Modjo has an estimated total population of 39,316 of whom 19,278 were males and 20,038 were females [14].

Study Design and Sampling

A cross-sectional study conducted from January to May 2017 in three town sin Dukem, Bishoftuand Modjo towns to estimate dog population to inform Rabies Prevention and control. The google map of each study town was downloaded from google website and the entire regions of the towns were divided in to non-overlapping an approximately equal sized blocks surrounded by wide asphalt or cobblestone roads on the map. Then each block was marked with four different colors and one of the colors randomly selected by lottery system. Since the work requires three persons per block including two enumerators to fill the questioners and conduct dog count, one ‘Keble’ or local administration representative and to mark dogs and dog owning households and limited human resource availability to include all selected 60 blocks of Bishoftu town, a random selection was made by lottery system and 15 selected blocks of 60 green colored blocks of Bishoftu were renumbered 1-10 and included in the study. The selected areas then visited to mark their boundaries on the ground using turning roads and fixed permanent posts such as hotels, building and long fences etc. as markers. The selected areas were non adjusted to be within one by two kilometer square when the boundaries made on the map larger than what can be covered by two surveyors, who administering questionnaires one whole day and conduct dog counts on the next day both in the morning from 6:00 to 8:00 AM and in the afternoon from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Questionnaire Design and Implementation

A structured questionnaire designed to obtain data on number of dogs owned, dog function, dog management and dog bites from dog-owning households. The questionnaire developed in English and translated into Amharic and oromifa. Then back to translate from Amharic and or omifa into English by a member of the research team. The questionnaire survey conducted from January to May2017. The team had a one -day training to become familiar with the dogmanagement questionnaire.