|
Client Library Article
RABIES VIRUS
| About the Rabies
Epidemic |
| All warm blooded animals, including cats, dogs,
wildlife, & humans, can become infected by the Rabies virus, and once
infected, there is no cure. The lethalness of Rabies makes it a
very important disease to control through timely vaccination of all pets.
The rabies virus is spread through animal bites and contact with saliva of
infected animals. Massachusetts State law mandates that all wounds of
unknown origin be considered suspect for rabies, and be treated
appropriately. The disease develops slowly and clinical signs
can begin to show anywhere from ten days to several months after
infection. Rabies is a lethal virus that attacks the nerve tissue.
Clinical signs of rabies occurs in two stages, the first being
"furious" rabies, where animals
roam, snap, hypersalivate, and become unnaturally aggressive, followed by
“dumb” rabies, where the victim avoids contact
with other animals and humans, looses local muscle function causing
excessive drooling, and lower jaw paralysis. Death is
eventually due to paralysis of the diaphragm, the muscle used for breathing.
In North America, a rabies outbreak is currently occurring in the raccoon,
skunk, fox, and bat wildlife populations, and there have been a small number
of documented cases of rabies in dogs, cats, horses, and cows. |
| Symptoms- furious stage |
- Unnatural aggression
- Roaming behavior
- Snapping, biting
- Hypersalivation
(foaming at the mouth)
|
| Symptoms- dumb stage |
- Local muscle incoordination
- Convulsions
- Excessive drooling
- Looses ability to swallow
- Death- due to paralysis of diaphragm & respiratory arrest
|
| Diagnosis |
| The only way to confirm a diagnosis of rabies is to examine
brain tissue under the microscope. Animals should be highly suspect if
it has bite wounds or wounds of unknown origin, and are currently
showing abnormal neurologic behavior. If the animal has bitten a
human, many states require that the animal be euthanized and the brain
tested. |
| Treatment- there
is no treatment for rabies |
| An infected animal usually dies within ten days of first
showing clinical signs, however it may take up to six months for the virus
to reach the brain after initial infection. All animals that are currently
up to date on their rabies vaccine should get an immediate rabies booster.
Wounds should be thoroughly cleaned. Humans are advised to cleanse their
hands thoroughly after handling an animal with a possible exposure to
rabies.
Rabies control is based on PREVENTION, with vaccination, and prompt
attention after a possible exposure. |
| Prognosis |
| Prognosis is grave. All animals with rabies die
within 10 days of showing neurologic signs. |
|
