CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Vaccination
of dogs generally is of utmost importance to us seeing that dog is man’s best
friend. Vaccinating dogs not only helps to save dogs from infections but it
also helps to protect man, seeing that we humans are in constant contact with
dogs and most Nigerians eat dogs. So therefore it is essential we take proper
care of dogs around us by vaccinating them appropriately.
Prompt Vaccinations protects dogs from specific diseases that can
make it very sick, disable or even kill it. They help to boost the dog’s immune
system against pathogens or disease causing organisms.
Vaccines create immunity that protects dogs from an infection without causing
the suffering of the disease itself.
Dog Vaccination is when a virus, or bacteria, is
deliberately administered to a dog (usually by injection) so that the dog’s
immune system can prepare to fight a future infection (Adams 2005). There are vaccines to help prevent many illnesses that
affect dogs. Vaccinating your dog
has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help him live a long and healthy
life. Not only are there different vaccines for different diseases, there are
different types and combinations of vaccines in Nigeria today. Regular and
prompt vaccination of dogs have contributed both to the health
of dogs and to the public health.
In countries where routine rabies vaccination of dogs is practiced, for
example, rabies in humans is reduced to a barest
minimum.
Generally in Nigeria, we have two
major types of dog vaccines in Nigeria namely, the killed vaccine which is
locally made here in Nigeria and the modified live vaccine (MLV) which is often
imported into the country (Obi 2005).
1.1. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PROBLEM
Generally
in Nigeria, dog vaccination has had its fair share of inconsistencies
especially when it has a lot to do with vaccination of local dogs. The general
response of local dogs in Nigeria has come under intense scrutiny, thus leading
us to undertake this research work of statistically determining how local dogs
respond to the two major types of vaccines when used together with worm
expellants. When it comes to how local dogs respond to vaccines, it is
generally said that puppies respond faster to vaccines than adult dogs, being
researchers, we do not make assertions that are not statistically proven. There is also this major concern about the
potency of these two vaccines as to which of the two is more effective when
used to vaccinate local dogs; this is also a major concern which led to this
statistical survey or research.
1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed
at the following:
1. To
find out if the antibody titer of each dog would keep increasing ,remain
constant or decrease when any of the
vaccines ( killed vaccine or Modified live vaccine ) is used n both puppies and adult dogs if each
of the vaccines are repeatedly used.( most important)
2. To
find out which among the two vaccine used would give the best result on local
dogs (both adult and puppy dog). That is comparing the effect of two types of
vaccines on the dogs.
Which one of the de-worming drugs gives the
best result when used on the local dogs?
3. General
response of local dogs to vaccination.
4. To
know the best combination of drug and vaccine that would have more effect on
local dogs.
5. To
enlighten local dog breeders and veterinary doctors.
6. To
know if the response to these dogs to vaccination is sex or gender based.
1.3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
importance of this study is mainly to ascertain the response of local dogs to
vaccination. Another important
Significance is to determine which of the two vaccines has greater effect on
local dogs, to know if the response of these local dogs to vaccination is age
or gender based; that is, do adult or puppy dogs respond differently or alike
when vaccinated?. The same goes for male and female dogs. Another equally
cardinal significance is to know which combination of drug and vaccine would
have more effect on local dogs so that we can enlighten our local dog breeders
and veterinary doctors on the recent development.
1.4. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE
STUDY
For
the purpose of this study as the topic depicts, the scope of the study will be
focused on how local dogs respond to vaccination, which de-worming drug when
used with any of the vaccine has more effect on the local dogs. Another scope
is to determine if the response of these dogs are age or gender based, that is
if adult or puppy dogs response to vaccination is the same or different. The
scope of this study would also be focused on which de-worming when used with
vaccines has more effect on the local dogs and finally to know which of the two
vaccines under study here is more effective when used on local dogs. In the earlier stage of
the study there is a detailed coverage of the techniques and methods used in
judging whether a dog responded well or not to vaccination by looking at their
antibody titer.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
It
is necessary to mention some of the limitation of this research work. The chief
limitation is the difficulty in obtaining relevant information in that a few of
our values were missing but these missing values were not statistical significant enough to be noticed.
Notwithstanding, in the
highlighted limitation above, it is hoped that this research will be
useful to dog breeders, veterinary clinics
and other similar organization that may want to know the general response of
local dogs to vaccination.
1.5. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Vaccine: a
sub-substance that is put into the blood and that protects the body from a
disease.
Vaccination:
Injection of a killed microbe in order to
stimulate the immune system against the microbe, thereby preventing disease.
MLV: Modified live vaccine.
Antibody titre:
this is a test that detects the presence and measures the amount of antibodies
within a person’s blood.
Antibody:
this is a protein made by the body that latches unto foreign bacteria and
viruses to make them in effective.
1.6. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The
research hypotheses are as follows:
HYPOTHESIS
1
H0:
there is no significant relationship
between the antibody titre and the sex of the local dog.
H1: there is a significant relationship
between the antibody titre and the sex of the local dog.
Level of significance: 0.05
Decision rule: reject H0 if p-value is
less than the level of significance. Accept H0 if otherwise.
HYPOTHESIS
2
H0: there is no significant difference in
the performance of the de-worming drugs on the local drugs.
H1: there is significant difference in the performance of the
de-worming drugs on the local dogs.
Level of significance (α): 0.05
Decision rule: reject H0 if the p-value
is less than the level of significance (α) accept H0 if otherwise.
HYPOTHESIS
3
H0 : there is no significant relationship
between the age of the local dog and the rate of vaccination
H1 : there is a
significant relationship between the age of the local dog and the rate of
vaccination
Level of significance (α): 0.05
Decision rule: reject H0 if the p-value
is less than the level of significance (α) accept H0 if otherwise.
HYPOTHESIS
4
H0 : there is no significant difference in
the effects of MLV and KILLED vaccines
when used with de-worming drugs on the local dogs.
H1 : there is significant difference in the effects of MLV and
KILLED vaccines when used with de-worming drugs on local
dogs.
Level of significance (α): 0.05
Decision rule: reject H0 if the p-value
is less than the level of significance (α) accept H0 if otherwise.