Mshelbwala PP, Abdullahi SU, Maikai BV, Onyiche ET and Ogunkoya AB
The study was carried out to evaluate two rapid diagnostic rabies diagnostic tests in South Eastern Nigeria. One hundred samples each of saliva and brains were collected before and after slaughter from apparently healthy dogs brought for slaughter. The saliva was subjected to rapid immune chromatographic test while the brain tissues were subjected Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT) and direct Rapid Immunohistochemistry Test (dRIT). Five (5%) tested positive for rabies antigen with the use of the three tests. Result obtained from this study have shown total agreement in the results of the entire tests used. This study therefore recommends the use of RICT and dRIT for rabies virus screening under field and laboratory conditions.