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Husein et al. One Health Implement Res 2023;3:16-29 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ohir.2022.32 Page 20

use for questions or reporting incidents such as adverse events. The other person offered the bait to the dog,
closely observing bait acceptance, bait puncturing (release of dye) and provided additional support to the
team leader. This person also collected any baits not accepted and the discarded vaccine sachets.

The animal registration and treatment record form were filled out for every baiting attempt, including
attempts where dogs refused the bait. The general assessment of the acceptance of each bait was based on a
number of variables, including whether the targeted dog showed interest or ignored the bait, the estimated
quantity of bait consumed, and the consumption or chewing time of each bait. An assessment of the
potential for efficient vaccine release from each bait type was also carried out by looking at whether the
sachet was perforated or not by the dog. In addition, an estimation of the success of oral vaccination in the
targeted dogs was also determined during this study based on defined variables, such as the release of the
placebo due to chewing, indicated by the appearance of blue coloration of the oral cavity and tongue
[Figure 2B]. See Table 2 for the list of parameters used during the study.

Additional information recorded for each dog included ownership, dog supervision, sex, age, size, and
whether individuals in the community contacted the placebo vaccine during and/or after bait distribution.

Human risk
To assess the potential for contact between persons and the contents of the bait, a number of methods were
used during and following the bait acceptance study. At the time of offering the baits, officers were vigilant
to note if there was any contact with the placebo vaccine either by dog owners or bystanders. A house-to-
house survey was also conducted on days 2 and 3 to ask owners whether they or household members had
contact with their dog when its tongue was still blue as a result of baiting. If applicable, the type of contact
(whether it was a lick or a bite) and which body part was contacted was recorded. Coordination with the
local public health center was also carried out to obtain information related to blue-tongued dog contact
during the study until the end of the week as a source of additional information.

Field staff questionnaire
Questions using Google Forms were given to all field officers involved comparing ORV with CVR using
nets to target free-roaming dogs. Field staff questioned were dog catcher team members and district
veterinarians, as well as rabies vaccination master trainers from staff at central, provincial, and district
governments. Respondents were asked what they liked or disliked about the ORV and CVR methods, what
suggestions they would make to improve these methods, as well as their opinion on which method was the
most preferred, and which was the best when it came to vaccinating free-roaming dogs also considering
animal welfare issues. The questionnaire aimed to support decision making in optimising future mass
vaccination strategies for dogs in Indonesia.

Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using univariate contingency table testing (Chi² - and Fisher’s exact test),
followed by the development of a multiple logistic regression model (MLR). The dependent variable was
determined as “vaccination success”; defined by the release of the contents of the sachet in the oral cavity
(yes/no). Independent variables were bait type, date, period of the day, day of the campaign, study area, and
team. As weather conditions can affect the behavior of dogs and subsequent bait handling, the date was also
taken as a variable. The period of the day impacts the activities of dogs, so this was also included with the
day being divided into four periods; early morning (06:00-09:59), late morning (10:00-12:59), early
afternoon (13:00-14:59), and later afternoon (15:00-18:00). As the teams gained experience in approaching
and offering bait to the dogs during the campaign, the day of the campaign in the two districts was also
nd
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considered as a variable: 1 , 2 , and 3 day. The effect of the two different districts (urban, rural) and the 10
st