Rabies disease

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Geographic incidence, Age predisposition, Cost considerations, Pathogenesis, Etiology, Predisposing factors, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Epidemiology (population dynamics), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Histopathology findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Monitoring, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Alex Morrow MVB BA PhD MRCVS
Dr Bryn Tennant BVSc PhD CertVR MRCVS

Introduction

  • Cause : virus disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Signs : 'furious' and 'dumb' forms.
  • All mammals susceptible (to a variable extent).
  • Reservoir hosts vary with country.
  • Treatment : none.
  • Diagnosis : signs, confirmation on examination of brain at histopathology.
  • Prognosis : grave/hopeless.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs


Prodromal phase
  • Slight fever.
  • Pupillary dilation.
  • After salivary secretion of virus begins, progresses to dumb or to furious rabies.
  • Lick, chew or mutilate original bite site.
'Dumb' rabies
  • May follow prodromal stage (75%), or follow 'furious' rabies.
  • Change in vocalization: howling, bellowing.
  • Paralysis of lower jaw and eyelids (squinting).
  • Drooling of saliva.
  • Weakness of limbs, tail.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Hydrophobia is NOT a feature (only seen in man).
  • Coma → death.

'Furious' rabies
  • 25% of cases.
  • Aggression.
  • Drooling of saliva.
  • Attack without provocation.
  • Disordered wandering.
  • Intermittent hyperexcitability.
  • Depraved appetite/pica → gastritis.
  • Altered vocalization (howling).
  • Progresses to either 'dumb' rabies (see above), or inco-ordination, convulsions, coma, death.
  • Sensitive to noise → attack.
  • Some dogs have mild signs, recover, and remain as persistent excretors.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Canine distemper encephalitis Canine distemper disease
  • Aujesky's disease (pseudo-rabies Pseudo-rabies ).

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Grave/hopeless.
  • Some dogs with mild signs may recover, but remain persistent carriers.

Expected response to treatment

  • Gradual progression to death within 5-15 days of onset of signs.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • All affected dogs should be euthanased.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references from PubMed.

Other sources of information

  • Beynon P H & Edney A T B (1995) Rabies in a Changing World. In: Proceedings of a Joint Symposium held at the Royal Society of Medicine, London. 3rd May. Cheltenham: British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

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