Rabies

Rabies is an acute, highly lethal encephalomyelitis caused by viruses in the genus Lyssavirus. Current
theories agree that the lyssaviruses probably originated in Old World bats (Banyard et al., 2014; Kuzmin
et al., 2011; Rupprecht et al., 2011; Hayman et al., 2016), which are confirmed reservoir hosts for 14 of
the 16 known viral species. Dog-maintained rabies lyssavirus (RABLV) occurs globally, but RABLV
associated with bats is only found in the New World (Kuzmin et al., 2011; Walker et al., 2015). The non-
rabies lyssaviruses have been implicated in only a handful of infections of humans, domestic animals,
and wildlife (Banyard et al., 2014). In contrast, RABLV lineages maintained and transmitted by domestic
dogs cause more than 60,000 deaths annually across the globe, with the majority of cases occurring in
Asia and Africa (Hampson et al., 2015; Shwiff et al., 2013).

Epidemiological Triad : Rabies

Agent
 Rhabdovirus
 Lyssavirus type 1
 Bullet shaped virus
 Size is 180*75 nm
 Has a lipoprotein envelope
 Matrix protein layer
 Knobs like spikes of glycoprotein G.
 Genome-unsegemented, linear,
negative sense RNA
Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus (a form of virus that causes encephalitis) that affects the saliva
and nervous system. Most cases of rabies in humans are caused by a bite or scratch from an
infected animal. It is possible, but rare, for people to get rabies if infectious material from a rabid
animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

At least two known cases of rabies has been contracted by breathing the air in caves where there
were a large number of infected bats. There have also been a few recorded cases of rabies
acquired by humans after cornea transplants from donors who had undiagnosed rabies.

Any mammal can get rabies. Wild animals typically thought to be carriers include raccoons,
skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Dogs, cats, and cattle are among the domestical animals that
may develop rabies.

Host
 All warm blooded animals including man
 Rabies is a man dead end infection
 People at risk – lab workers, veterinarians, dog handlers, hunters, pet owners
The initial symptoms may be a general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness, nervousness, anxiety,
insomnia, depression, loss of appetite, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting, and
pain at the site of exposure. Serious neurological symptoms usually present themselves two to ten days
after the initial symptoms. There are two types of syndromes that may develop during this neurological
period: furious(fear of water) and/or paralytic (sluggishness and early paralysis

Vectors
Mammals are the only natural vectors for the deadly virus rabies. The disease is
spread among mammals through the saliva and typically associated with a bite.
-fox,dogs, skunks, cats,jackals, wolves and bats

Environment
Urban

 Rabid dog/cat populated area

-stray dog/cats

Wildlife

 Wildlife
- Foxes, jackals, hyenas, skunks,
- Caves (bats)
- Transmit infection among themselves and to dogs and
man.

How epidemiologist control this disease

 Cost effective approach is the
elimination of stray dogs and
ownerless dogs combined with
mass immunization at least
80% of the area
 Registration and licencing of
domestic dogs
 Immediate destructions of
dogs and cats bitten by rabid
animals
 Restrain in public places
 Quarantine for 6 months of
imported dogs
 Health education
 Oral vaccine: immunization for
the foxes