Canine Herpes Virus Infection: A Sero-Epidemiological Survey in Tunisia and Estimation of Vaccine Efficiency
We carried out, in the first part, a canine herpes virus infection sero-epidemiological survey by ELISA test on 49 reproductive bitches aged 2.9 ± 1.7 years and coming from Bizerte and Tunis regions. This survey has revealed a seropositive rate of 37%. No significant differences were found according to the sanitary status or the age of the dogs in the breeding units. In the second part, we carried out a medical prophylaxis against canine herpes virus infection in a canine centre. For that, we have used EURICAN® herpes virus vaccine produced by MERIAL Laboratories, Lyon, France. This study allows us to estimate vaccine efficiency by observing its impact on neonatal mortality. Twenty three reproductive females housed at a canine center were included in this study. These bitches were divided into 3 groups: The First group (control group) was made up of 6 bitches that did not receive any herpes virus vaccine but instead, they received a vaccine against other diseases (Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvoviruses and rabies). The second group: contains 10 females that have received a single injection of herpes virus vaccine at the end of pregnancy period according to the protocol proposed by Lanting (2004). The third group: comprises 7 bitches that have received vaccination according to the following protocol (Poulet et al. 2001):
First injection 10 days after mating
Second injection 10 days before delivery date.
The result of vaccinations has shown a decrease in neonatal mortality rate. In fact, in the control group (Group1) a neonatal mortality rate was of 43.33%, while in the vaccinated groups it was of 23.4% and 7% respectively in the second and the third group.