Fig. 1 Respondents bitten by dogs in the last 12 Months Deaths in Humans due to Rabies and Public Health Significance of Rabies Antigens in Brain Tissues of Dogs Slaughtered for Human Consumption in Nigeria. Otolorin, Gbeminiyi Richard*, Umoh J.U, Dzikwi A. A, Aiyedun J. O, Mshelbwala P. P, Ameh, V. O, Dipeolu, M. A and Danjuma F.A Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna State, Nigeria. Correspondence: Otolorin G.R, drniyiotolorin@yahoo.com, +2348065959406   INTRODUCTION Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that affects humans primarily by bites from rabies infected dogs [1, 2]. The virus causes an acute progressive encephalomyelitis and has one of the highest case fatality rate of most infectious disease in humans. Dog meat processing for human consumption predisposes the transmission of rabies virus to dog handlers and dog meat processors. The detection of rabies viral antigen in domestic dogs in Nigeria is of public health importance. Of utmost concern is the increasing rate of dog bites in humans across the country [3]. Published researches in Nigeria have reported deaths in humans due to rabies infection signifying the devastating nature of this disease although under-reporting, religious/cultural beliefs, poor or inadequate rabies diagnostic units and poor knowledge on the mode of transmission of the disease are factors leading to under-reporting of the disease. TABLE 1 . Information obtained from dog meat processors Questions Frequency (%) (12 respondents) 1. How long have been involved in dog meat processing? 1 – 5yrs 5 (41.7) >5yrs 7 (58.3) 2. Where do you source dogs from? Within the state 6 (50) Outside the state 6 (50) 3. Can rabies be spread by bite of rabies infected dog? Yes 3(25) No 9(75) 4. Do you wash dog bite wounds with soap and water? Yes 0(100) No 12(0) 5. Do you use personal protective equipment? Yes 1 (8.3) No 11(91.7) 6. What do you do when bitten by a dog? Go to the hospital 1 (8.3) Employ traditional treatment 8 (66.7) Do nothing 3 (25) OBJECTIVE To detect the presence of rabies antigen in the brain tissues of dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Aba , Abia State Nigeria and review human deaths due to rabies across various health care institutions in various states in Nigeria spanning from 1980 to 2014 as obtained in published articles from high profile Medical journals SUMMARY OF RESULTS There was a 7% prevalence rate of rabies infection in dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Aba, Abia state Nigeria. Majority of the dog meat processors do not know or believe that rabies can be transmitted through dog bites and employ traditional means in treating dog wound. Also most of them do not use personal protective equipment and have been bitten by dogs within the last 12 months. Result of human deaths due to rabies gotten from 10 States in Nigeria, gave a total of 78 deaths due to rabies. All of which were not confirmed by laboratory techniques only by clinical presentation s/n States in Nigeria Health Institutions Year under study Laboratory confirmed cases No of death recorded in humans 1 Bauchi Veterinary health services 1987- 2010 nil 5 2 Cross-river University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Jul -Oct 2012 10 3 Edo U. Ben Teaching Hospital 1997- 2008 Modic Medical Centre 1994 -2005 4 Ekiti Federal Medical Centre Ido‑Ekiti 2009 - 2011 Kaduna State Health Veterinary Services 1999-2009 9 A.B.U Teaching Hospital 2000 - 2010 6 Kano A.K Teaching Hospital, Kano 1996 - 2005 7 Kwara State U.Ilo Teaching Hospital 2002 - 2008 17 8 Ogun veterinary and human hospitals in the state 1997- 2007 12 Plateau Jos university teaching hospital 1998-2007 Sokoto Health care centres in Sokoto 1980-1998 11 Total 78 MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 185 brain samples from slaughtered dogs were collected from various dogs slaughter points in the study area using method described by Kaplan and Koprowksi [4] and was transported to the Viral Zoonoses Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for Fluorescent Antibody Test as described by Dean et al. [5]. Pretested questionnaire were designed and administered to dog meat processors/handlers to determine their basic practices and knowledge about rabies. A Review on Human Deaths Associated with Rabies in Nigeria was carried out by literature review search of published articles from health care institutions across Nigeria spanning from 1980 to 2014. DISCUSSIONS The detection of Rabies antigen in dog brain tissues in the study area is of public health significance as this indicates the endemicity of the disease in the country and that dogs meat processing is a possible means of human infection. Most of the individuals involved in dog meat processing do not utilize personal protective equipment and also the method of slaughter predisposes these dog meat processors to bites from dogs during handling There is inadequate post exposure prophylaxis treatment including wound management, rabies immune globulin administration, human anti-rabies vaccination of dog bite victims reported across the country. There is need for a national rabies control programme that will be planned and executed jointly by both Veterinarians and human health workers, this programme should be supported and funded appropriately by relevant government agencies to ensure its success RESULTS Detection of Rabies Antigen From Slaughtered Dog Brains In Aba, Abia State Rabies antigen was detected in 13 samples out of the 185 dog brain samples examined using the Direct Fluorescent Antibody Technique giving a prevalence rate of 7%. Fig. 1 Respondents bitten by dogs in the last 12 Months REFERENCES 1.Dzikwi AA, Garkida AD, Umoh JU (2011) World Rabies Day: Efforts Towards Rabies Awareness in Zaria, Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 32: 133-136. 2.Lembo T, Hampson K, Kaare MT, Ernest E, Knobel D, et al. (2010) TheFeasibility of Canine Rabies Elimination in Africa: Dispelling Doubts. PloS Negleted Tropical Disease 4: 626. 3.Otolorin GR, Umoh JU, Dzikwi, AA (2014) Cases of dog bite in Aba , Abia state Nigeria and its public health significance. International Journal of Tropical Disease and Health 4: 1097-1103 4.M.M Kaplan and H. Koprowski “ rabies”, “ Scientific America, vol 2, pp 103-114, 1980 Dean, D. J., Abelseth, M.K. and Atanasiu, P. (1996). The fluorescent antibody test (4th ed., pp. 88-95).WHO. 5.Dean, D. J., Abelseth, M.K. and Atanasiu, P. (1996). The fluorescent antibody test (4th ed., pp. 88-95). Geneva:World health Organization