Age- and sex-specific mortality rates of owned, free-roaming dogs enrolled in a health and demographic surveillance system in South Africa.

Abstract

Canine rabies is still a problem in developing countries in Africa and Asia. Domestic dogs are, in the most parts of Africa and Asia, the main reservoir. Rabies in dogs and humans can be controlled through mass vaccination, this is based on the concept of herd immunity. The herd immunity depends on a number of factors, including the mortality rates. The aim of this study was to investigate the age- and sex-specific mortality rates of owned, free-roaming dogs enrolled in a health and demographic surveillance system in South Africa.