RABIES

Rhabdoviridae
LYSSAVIRUS
Viral zoonotic disease which is usually
transmitted by a bite of a rabid animal
through its saliva. (warm-blooded
animals)
Example: canines, cats, bats, raccoons

 Acute CNS infection which causes

encephalitis
As the virus spreads through the
central nervous system, progressive,
fatal inflammation of the brain and
spinal cord develops

FACTS and INFORMATION

More than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa
and Asia, die from rabies every year - a
rate of one person every ten minutes.
Rabies is a neglected disease of poor. It
occurs mainly in remote rural communities
where children between the age of 514
years are the most frequent victims.
September 28 is World Rabies Day.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Fever, headache, weakness
Unusual tingling/burning sensation at
site affected sometimes itchiness
Anxiety/confusion/agitation
Insomnia/hallucinations

Stages
Prodrome
2-3 days
Vomiting,
fever ,
headache(fl
u-like
symptoms
Pain at site
affected
Salivation

Excitement/ange
Neurologic
r

2-4 days
Restlessness
Irritability
Aggression
Seizures

Paralysis
Delirium
Difficulty
swallowing
Hyperactivity
Aerophobia
and
Hydrophobia

Forms
Furious Rabies (Excitatory)
Hyperactive, agitation
Excess salivation
Hydrophobia and
aerophobia
Problem swallowing
Cardiac arrest

Paralytic Rabies
(Dumb)
Calm, no agitation
Difficulty breathing
Will slip into a coma
and will die slowly
Cardiac arrest

DEATH

Laboratory testing
Direct Fluorescent
Antibody
Reverse transcription
PCR (RT-PCR)
Histologic
examination/biopsy
(brain tissues/CSF)
Autopsy/post mortem
examination
Electron Microscopy

Negri bodies
Dr. Adelchi Negri
Cytoplasmatic
Inclusion
bodies
found
in
the
purkinje cells of the brain
in cases of rabies.
In about 75% of cases of
rabies these can be seen
on hematoxylin and eosin
stained
sections.The
presence of the Negri
bodies
are
practically
pathognomonic for rabies
and are an important
diagnostic finding.

Prevention
Pre and post exposure
prophylaxis
Vaccination of dogs and
pets
Animal control for stray
dogs
Avoid contact with wild
animals

Outbreak control

Epidemiology

Vaccines
Active immunization
Purified Verocell rabies vaccine
(PVRV)
Purified Duck Embryo Vaccine
(PDEV)
Purified Chick Embryo Cell Vaccine
(PCECV)
Passive immunization

 First known
survivor of
rabies with no
vaccination
Fatal but
preventable

Jeanna Giese