Serological surveillance of plague in dogs and cats, California, 1979–1991

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Abstract

Following natural infection both cats and dogs develop antibodies to plague which can be measured for several months after infection. Besides being helpful in the diagnosis of plague in domestic carnivores, the antibody titer has important implications in outbreak investigation and surveillance programs. We report the first serological survey for plague in domestic carnivores conducted in California between 1979 and 1991 in five different settings or programs. A total of 4115 dogs and 466 cats were tested for plague antibody by the passive hemagglutination test. 86 dogs (2.09%) and 15 cats (3.22%) had plague antibody titers ⩾ 1:16. The percentage of positive dogs and cats were respectively 3.96% and 0% on reservations, 3.27% and 1.39% on military bases, 0.74% and 1.25% in Los Angeles County and 0% and 4.61% in veterinary clinics, but 41.38% and 41.2% from outbreak investigations. Titers ranged from 1:16 to 1:4096 in dogs and cats, but were low in dogs and cats in the Los Angeles County survey and on the military bases. Serologic testing of pets during human case investigation or increased rodent mortality should be regularly implemented, as well as dog surveys on reservations. Surveys of pet dogs in veterinary clinics did not appear worthwhile, even if selected from plague endemic regions. Veterinarians should report suspect cases in cats to public health authorities, that will improve plague surveillance and reduce the risk of humans contracting the disease from their pets.

Résumé

Lors d'une infection pesteuse, les chats et les chiens développent des anticorps qui peuvent être détectés pendant plusieurs mois. Le dépistage sérologique d'une telle infection est particulièrement utile lors d'une suspicion clinique animale ou humaine et pour les enquêtes et programmes de surveillance épidémiologique. Une surveillance sérologique de la peste chez les carnivores domestiques fut réalisée au sein de cinq programmes ou enqut̀es différentes en Californie, USA, de 1979 à 1991. 4.115 chiens et 466 chats furent testés par hémagglutination passive pour rechercher la présence d'anticorps anti-pesteux. 86 chiens (2,09%) et 15 chats (3,22%) possédaient des anticorps antipesteux à un titre ≧ 1:16. Les pourcentages de chiens et de chats séropositifs étaient respectivement de 3,96% et 0% dans les réserves indiennes, 3,27% et 1,39% sur les bases militaries, 0,74% et 1,25% dans le Comté de Los Angeles et 0% et 4,61% dans les cliniques vétérinaires enquètées, mais étaient de 41,38% et 41,2% lors d'investigation de contamination humaine ou de cas suspects. Les titres en anticorps variaient de 1:16 à 1:4096, mais ils étaient faibles chez les chiens et chats testés dans le Comté de Los Angeles et sur les bases militaires. La surveillance sérologique systématique des chiens, en particulier ceux présentés dans les cliniques vétérinaires en région d'enzootie pesteuse, s'avère d'un intérèt limité. A l'inverse, la surveillance dans les réserves indiennes et lors de suspicion d'infection humaine ou d'augmentation de la mortalité des rongeurs doit être maintenue. De même, les suspicions cliniques chez les chats doivent impérativement être déclarées aux autorités sanitaires ce qui améliore la surveillance vis-à-vis de la peste et rŕduira le risque de contracter la maladie à partir d'animaux.

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