Rabies

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Geographic incidence, Age predisposition, Cost considerations, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), 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, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Group eradication, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Stephen Barr BVSc MVS PhD DipACVIM
Dr Severine Tasker BSc BVSc DSAM CertSAM DipECVIM-ca MRCVS

Introduction

  • Virus disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
  • All mammals susceptible.
  • Reservoir hosts vary with country.
  • Signs : 'furious' and 'dumb' forms: furious form far more common in cats.
  • Treatment : none.
  • Prognosis : grave/hopeless.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

Prodromal phase
  • Commonly lasts few days only in cats.
  • Slight fever.
  • Change in temperament, seeking solitude/more affectionate.
  • Pupillary dilation.
  • After salivary secretion of virus begins, usually progresses to furious rabies.
'Furious' rabies
  • This form more common in cat than dog.
  • Aggression.
  • Drooling of saliva.
  • Biting or attacking without provocation.
  • Disordered wandering.
  • Intermittent hyperexcitability.
  • Depraved appetite/pica   →   gastritis (NB: pica more common in dogs).
  • Altered vocalization.
  • Occasionally progresses to either 'dumb' rabies (see below), or incoordination, convulsions, coma, death.
'Dumb' rabies
  • May follow prodromal stage 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.
  • Some cats have mild signs, recover, and remain as persistent excretors.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

Incoordination/paralysis/moribund
  • Aujesky's disease (pseudo-rabies  Pseudo-rabies  ).
  • Toxoplasmosis  Toxoplasmosis  .
  • CNS neoplasia  Spinal neoplasia  .
  • CNS trauma  Spinal cord: concussion 
  • Thiamine deficiency  Thiamine deficiency  .
  • Oral or pharyngeal foreign body  Esophagus: foreign body  .
  • Poisoning, eg lead  Lead toxicity  , organochlorine compounds  Organophosphorus poisoning  , benzoic acid , strychnine  Strychnine toxicity  .

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Grave/hopeless.

Expected response to treatment

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

Reasons for treatment failure

  • All affected cats should be euthanased.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references fromPubMed.
  • Frymus T, Addie D, Belak S, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Gruffydd-Jones Tet al(2009)Feline rabies. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.J Feline Med Surg11, 585-593PubMed.
  • Mansfield K L, Burr P D, Snodgrass D R, Sayers R & Fooks A R (2004)Factors affecting the serological response of dogs and cats to rabies vaccination.Vet Rec154, 423-426.
  • Esh J B, Cunningham J G & Wilkor T J (1982)Vaccine induced rabies in four cats.JAVMA180, 1336.

Other sources of information

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