What is Rabies
Rabies is a deadly infection caused by the rabies virus (Rabies lyssavirus), a neurotropic virus. Rabies is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal.
Rabies virus spreads through the saliva of infected animals like cats and dogs.
When an infected animal bites you, the virus enters your body through its saliva.
Rabies virus infects the central nervous system (CNS) of humans and other mammals.
Worldwide, more than 59,000 people die due to the rabies virus per year.
Rabies symptoms
Rabies signs and symptoms usually come within 3 weeks to 3 months. after being bitten by an infected animal.The incubation period of the rabies virus can also be more than one year.
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Hyper activity
- Difficulty swallowing
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Partial paralysis
- Fear of water (hydrophobia)
- Difficulty eating and drinking
- Excess salivation
- Weakness
- Itching
Cause of rabies
Domestic and wild animals both can spread the rabies virus e.g.
- Dogs
- Cats
- Wolfs
- Cows
- Goats
- Horses
- Ferrets
- Rabbits
- Beavers
- Foxes
- Monkeys
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Groundhog
- Bats
In very rare cases. Rabies virus can also spread to tissue and organ transplant recipients from an infected organ.
Risk factors
Rabies is a worldwide disease, but some regions have a higher incidence of the disease.
If you are live in this country and do you want travel where rabies virus is common. You are at increased risk for rabies.
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- South America
- Africa
Exposure to unvaccinated animals like cats and dogs
Working in a laboratory with the rabies virus
Wounds: Rabies can also spread if infected animals lick an open wound.
working in a veterinary hospital
Rabies Prevention
* Vaccinate your pets: Do vaccinate your pets, like dogs and cats, when they are three months old.
* Wash your wounds: Immediately wash any animals scratches and bites with soap and running water.
* Avoid contact: Avoid contact with wild animals and street animals.
* Take rabies vaccine: if you are work in veterinarian hospital take rabies vaccine.
* If animals bites you: go to hospital and take rabies vaccine.
Rabies diagnosis
FAT: fluorescent antibody test (FAT) this is a gold standard for rabies diagnosis in this test detect antigen WHO and OIE.
DFA : Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) in this test observation on brain that animals infected by rabies virus.
Negri bodies: Negri bodies help pathologists detect viruses in infected animal brain cells.
Biopsy: A biopsy is the most reliable test for the detection of the rabies virus during the first week. Pathology takes a biopsy from the nape of the neck and includes hair follicles.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) :( PCR) test is very effective test for detecting rabies virus.
Rabies vaccine
Rabies Treatment
Who discovered rabies vaccine
Rabies virus structure
• Family: Rhabdoviridae
• Genus: Lyssavirus
• Species: Rabies lyssavirus
• Realm: Riboviria
• Kingdom: Orthornavirae
• Phylum: Negarnaviricota
• Class: Monjiviricetes
• Order:Mononegavirales
• Shape: bullet-shaped.
• Rhabdoviruses 180 nm long and 75 nm wide. This virus genome encodes five l proteins: nucleoprotein (M), glycoprotein(N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (G) and polymerase (L).
• Virus have two major structural components: a helical ribonucleoprotein core (RNP) and a surrounding envelope.
• Genome: This virus genome is single-stranded RNA, antisense, nonsegmented, RNA of approximately 12 kb. There is a leader-sequence (LDR) of approximately 50 nucleotides, followed by N, P, M, G, and L genes.
Rabies virus diagram
