Detection of rabies virus antigen in 134 dog brain samples in Lishui

ObjectiveTo investigate the infection status of rabies virus in dogs by detecting the virus antigen in dog brain samples in the mountain area in Lishui, Zhejiang province. MethodsA total of 134 brain samples from the sick dogs, the suspected sick dogs and the dogs looking health were taken, and the virus antigen was detected by using direct fluorescent antibody method (DFA). ResultsNine samples were positive, accounting for 6.72%（9/134）, and eight were from the dogs which looked abnormal and bit people or other dogs causing human or dog rabies. Among 126 brain samples of the dogs looking health, one was positive with the positive rate of 0.79% (1/126). ConclusionIt was the first time to use DFA to detect rabies virus in Lishui, which indicated that rabies virus transmitted in dogs in the endemic area and the dog rabies epidemic was in expansion.