Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan

FRDs pose a serious challenge in countries where dog-bite-related rabies is endemic. Understanding the size and core demographic characteristics of FRD populations is essential for the planning and implementation of effective dog-population and canine-rabies-control programmes. The photographic sigh...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nasiry, Zabihullah, Mazlan, Mazlina, Noordin, Mustapha M., Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi
Format: Article
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2023
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/107780/
_version_ 1848864988798648320
author Nasiry, Zabihullah
Mazlan, Mazlina
Noordin, Mustapha M.
Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi
author_facet Nasiry, Zabihullah
Mazlan, Mazlina
Noordin, Mustapha M.
Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi
author_sort Nasiry, Zabihullah
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description FRDs pose a serious challenge in countries where dog-bite-related rabies is endemic. Understanding the size and core demographic characteristics of FRD populations is essential for the planning and implementation of effective dog-population and canine-rabies-control programmes. The photographic sight–resight method was used to estimate the FRD population and evaluate its demographic characteristics in Herat city. A total of 928 free-roaming dogs (FRD) were identified through 3172 sightings, and the total free-roaming population was estimated to amount to 1821 (95% CI: 1565–2077), which led to the estimation of 10 dogs/km2 and the human-to-FRD ratio of 315:1. The male-to-female ratio was 2.85:1. The majority of them were healthy, with an ideal body score. Although the FRD density is considered low, it is still a concern and significant, since the majority of the people are unaware of the importance of canine populations in the transmission of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, and there were no specific measures for managing and controlling FRD populations. The information gained can be useful in animal health planning to design effective dog-population-control programmes, and for the planning of national rabies-prevention programmes.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T13:57:34Z
format Article
id upm-107780
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-15T13:57:34Z
publishDate 2023
publisher Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling upm-1077802024-10-30T02:41:39Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/107780/ Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan Nasiry, Zabihullah Mazlan, Mazlina Noordin, Mustapha M. Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi FRDs pose a serious challenge in countries where dog-bite-related rabies is endemic. Understanding the size and core demographic characteristics of FRD populations is essential for the planning and implementation of effective dog-population and canine-rabies-control programmes. The photographic sight–resight method was used to estimate the FRD population and evaluate its demographic characteristics in Herat city. A total of 928 free-roaming dogs (FRD) were identified through 3172 sightings, and the total free-roaming population was estimated to amount to 1821 (95% CI: 1565–2077), which led to the estimation of 10 dogs/km2 and the human-to-FRD ratio of 315:1. The male-to-female ratio was 2.85:1. The majority of them were healthy, with an ideal body score. Although the FRD density is considered low, it is still a concern and significant, since the majority of the people are unaware of the importance of canine populations in the transmission of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, and there were no specific measures for managing and controlling FRD populations. The information gained can be useful in animal health planning to design effective dog-population-control programmes, and for the planning of national rabies-prevention programmes. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2023-03-23 Article PeerReviewed Nasiry, Zabihullah and Mazlan, Mazlina and Noordin, Mustapha M. and Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi (2023) Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan. Animals, 13 (7). pp. 1126-1143. ISSN 2076-2615 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/7/1126 10.3390/ani13071126
spellingShingle Nasiry, Zabihullah
Mazlan, Mazlina
Noordin, Mustapha M.
Mohd Lila, Mohd Azmi
Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title_full Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title_fullStr Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title_short Evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in Herat City, Afghanistan
title_sort evaluation of dynamics, demography and estimation of free-roaming dog population in herat city, afghanistan
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/107780/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/107780/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/107780/