ABSTRACT

Immune responses of mongrel dogs under the Nigerian environment, to the local and an imported anti-rabies vaccines (Provac^®) and to different courses of post vaccination vitamins-treatment were studied. Six groups (A, B, C, D, E, and F) of dogs aged ≥ 3 months were used. Groups A and B were vaccinated with the Nigerian anti-rabies vaccine (Low egg passage) while groups C, D, E, and F were vaccinated with Provac^R (imported vaccine). Groups B and F were treated with a vitamins-formulation (Vetzyme B+E^®) for 3 days, post vaccination. Group E was treated with the vitamins for 2 days post vaccination while Group D was treated with the vitamins for 1 day post vaccination.  Fifteen days post vaccination, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in mean rabies antibody titres of Nigerian mongrel dogs vaccinated with the local vaccine (40.00±10.73) and those vaccinated with the imported vaccine (24.80±10.91). Following post vaccination vitamins treatment for three days, Nigerian mongrel dogs vaccinated with the local vaccine had slight improvement (P>0.05) in their rabies antibody titres (from 40.00±10.73 to 41.60±9.60) while the group vaccinated with the foreign vaccine had significant (P< 0.05) increase in antibody titre (from 24.80 ± 10.91 to 140.73±0.14). Antibody responses of Nigerian mongrel dogs to post vaccination vitamins treatment for 0-3 days were: 24.74±0.08; 64.08±0.03, 89.29±0.17 and 140.73±0.14. It was therefore concluded that administration of vitamins, post anti-rabies vaccination enhances immune responses of dogs.