Rabies Content

8/6/2019 Rabies Content

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WHAT IS RABIES

Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis, a deadly animal disease caused by the rabies virus. It can happen in wild animals, including raccoons, skufoxes, or in dogs, cats or farm animals. People get it from the bite of an infected animal. It is fatal once sign and symptoms appear.

Signs and symptoms:

y Sense of apprehensiony Headachey Fevery Sensory change near site of animal bitey Spasm of muscles of deglutition on attempts to swallowy Paralysisy Delirium and convulsions

***Usual duration of symptoms is 2 6 days, when not treated; death is often due to respiratory paralysis.

2 kinds: Urban or canine rabies transmitted by dogs Sylvatic rabies a disease of wild animals and bats, which sometimes spread to dogs, cats and live stocks.

INFECTIOUS AGENT Rhabdovirus of the genus lyssavirus

RESERVOIR

Many wild and domestic Canidae, including dogs, foxes, coyotes, wolves and jackals; also cats, skunks, raccoons, mongooses, and other biting Bats, rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice are rarely infected. However, dogs remain the principal reservoir.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

Bites of a rabid animal whose saliva has the virus. Through a scratch or a fresh break in the skin that had contact with the saliva. Transmission from human to human is possible since the saliva of the infected human may contain virus. Airborne spread in cave with millions of bats have occurred, but rarely.


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INCUBATION PERIOD

2 8 weeks Can be as long as a year or several years depending on the severity of the wounds, site of the wound as distance from the brain, amount of viru

and protection provided by clothing.

PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY In dogs and cats, for 3- 5 days before onset of clinical signs (rarely over 3 days) ad throughout the duration of the disease.

SUSCEPTIBILITY AND RESISTANCE

All warm- blooded mammals are susceptible. Natural immunity in man is unknown.

METHODS OF CONTROL

Preventive measures

1.Licensing of all dogs; collection of ownerless animals and strays. Preventive vaccination of all dogs and cats. Education of pet owners and the necessity of restrictions for dogs and cats.

2. Ten- day detention and clinical observation of dogs and cats known to have bitten a person or showing suspicious signs of rabies; alternatively, un

and cats may be killed immediately and examined for rabies by fluorescent microscopy.

3. Immediate submission to a laboratory of intact heads packed in ice (not frozen) of animals that die of suspected rabies for testing for viral antigen.

4. Unvaccinated animals bitten by known rabid animals should be destroyed immediately; if detention is elected, hold the animal, in an approved poun

6 months and vaccinate against rabies 30 days before release. If previously vaccinated, revaccinate and detain for at least 90 days.

5. Individuals at risk, e.g. veterinarians and wildlife conversation personnel in enzootic areas, staff of quarantine kennels, laboratory and field perso

with rabies, should receive pre - exposure immunization.

Human diploid cell rabies vaccine orHDCV An inactivated virus vaccine prepared from virus grown in human diploid cells. It is given in three 1 mLdays 0, 7, and 21 or 18. If risk of exposure continues, single booster dose every 2 years.


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HDCV manufactured by Merieux ID administration of three 0.1 mL doses can be substituted for the 1 mL doses. But the mean antibody responseshorter duration than with 1 mL dose give IM.

6. Prevention of rabies after animal bites is based on physical removal of the virus by proper management of the bite wound and on specific im

protection.a. Cleanse and wash the wound with soap and detergent and water. It should not be sutured unless unavoidable for cosmetics or tissue and sup

Sutures should be loose, that should not interfere with free bleeding and drainage.b. Administer rabies immune globulin (RIG) to neutralize the virus in the bite wound, and give vaccine as soon as possible after exposure to d

immunity.c. Management of a animal bite, adopted from the 6

threport of the WHO Expert Committee on Rabies, the working group 2, 1978, and from

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (1948), is;

CHECKLIST OF TREATMENTS FOR ANIMAL BITES:

y Cleanse and flush wound immediately (first aid).y Thorough wound cleansing under medical supervision.y Rabies immune globulin and/ or vaccine is indicated.y Tetanus prophylaxis and antibacterial treatment when required.y N

o sutures or wound closure advised unless unavoidable.

References:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rabies.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rabies.html

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