Olugasa B O, Okeke O S, Ishola O O
Afr J Med Med Sci. 2014 Dec;43 Suppl:79-86.
Accessibility of street food source to dogs in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria was examined in relation to spatial patterns of animal bite injuries in the city.
Retrospective data on animal bite injuries were retrieved from records of selected hospitals in Enugu and its environs during the period 2005-2011. Victim's residence and street point where animal bite incidence occurred were geo-referenced. Street food sources, including garbage disposal points, meat markets, slaughter facilities and public vehicle terminals in the city were observed and geo-referenced. Thematic maps were designed usingArcGIS 10.1. Spatial scan statistics was used to identify cluster pattern of animal bite injuries and fatal rabies cases. Coefficient of area correspondence (Ca) in spatial cluster with selected variables was computed.
One hundred and thirty one cases of animal bite injury cases were retrieved with traceable addresses. These comprised cat bites (n = 1, 0.76%), goat bites (n = 1, 0.76%), monkey bites (n = 2, 1.5%) and dog bites (n = 127, 96.98%). Fatal outcomes (n = 4, 3.15%) were recorded. Males within the age group, 0-15 (46.5%) were at the highest risk. A diffused spatial pattern showed that majority of the study area experienced animal bite injury during the study period. A primary cluster of 15.03km radius and a secondary cluster of 1.11 km radius traversed residential and non-residential areas were identified as rabies high- and low-risk areas. Interspecies bites from non-carnivores (goats and monkeys) and resultant deaths with neurologic signs were pathognomonic for rabies-like-illness in Enugu State. High Ca (0.8) showed a strong correlation between access to street food sources for dogs and the distribution of animal bite injuries on humans.
While access to street food may support the population of free-roaming dogs, it was also shown to be partly explanatory to spatial patterns of dog bite injury. Public education about responsible pet ownership, waste management, enforcement of animal control regulations and vaccination of free-roaming dogs is critical.
在尼日利亚东南部埃努古州首府埃努古，针对城市中动物咬伤的空间分布模式，对流浪狗获取街头食物来源的情况进行了调查。
从埃努古及其周边地区选定医院2005年至2011年期间的记录中检索动物咬伤的回顾性数据。对受害者的居住地以及动物咬伤发生地点的街道位置进行地理定位。对城市中的街头食物来源，包括垃圾处理点、肉类市场、屠宰设施和公共汽车终点站进行观察并地理定位。使用ArcGIS 10.1设计专题地图。采用空间扫描统计法来识别动物咬伤和致命狂犬病病例的聚集模式。计算空间聚集与选定变量之间的面积对应系数（Ca）。
共检索到131例有可追溯地址的动物咬伤病例。其中包括猫咬伤（n = 1，0.76%）、山羊咬伤（n = 1，0.76%）、猴子咬伤（n = 2，1.5%）和狗咬伤（n = 127，96.98%）。记录到有4例（3.15%）出现致命后果。年龄在0至15岁的男性风险最高（46.5%）。一种分散的空间模式表明，在研究期间，研究区域的大部分地区都发生过动物咬伤事件。确定了一个半径为15.03公里的主要聚集区和一个半径为1.11公里的次要聚集区，它们横跨居民区和非居民区，分别为狂犬病高风险区和低风险区。来自非食肉动物（山羊和猴子）的种间咬伤以及伴有神经症状的死亡是埃努古州类似狂犬病疾病的特征。高Ca值（0.8）表明狗获取街头食物来源的情况与人类动物咬伤分布之间存在很强的相关性。
虽然获取街头食物可能会使流浪狗数量增加，但这也部分解释了狗咬伤的空间分布模式。开展关于负责任养宠物、废物管理、执行动物控制法规以及给流浪狗接种疫苗的公众教育至关重要。
