Could a better understanding of dog population ecology help efforts to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030? An African perspective

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of free-roaming dogs, little is known about the demographic rates of these populations, or the factors that affect them. Evidence from a number of studies in sub-Saharan Africa has shown that, despite appearances, the vast majority of dogs in these populations are owned. Understanding the population dynamics of free-roaming dogs, particularly the core demographic rates of birth, death and migration, is important for the development of evidence-based solutions for humane dog population management, but the importance for rabies control and elimination is less clear. In this talk I will present a qualitative overview of the link between dog population dynamics and rabies control by mass vaccination, and consider the question of whether a better understanding of the drivers of these dynamics could lead to improved control.

About the speaker

Dr. Darryn Knobel is a veterinarian whose research is focused on the epidemiology and impact of infectious diseases in populations at interfaces. Originally from South Africa, he is currently Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health and Director of the Center for Conservation Medicine and Ecosystem Health at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St Kitts in the Caribbean. He has worked extensively on the epidemiology and control of rabies in dogs and wildlife in Africa