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Rabies
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Rabies is a specific viral fatal
encephalomyelitis affecting all warm‑blooded animals (but
principally
carnivores) and characterized by the derangement of the
nervous system causing interference with the consciousness, nervous
irritability and
paralysis. All warm-blooded animals with the possible
exception of opossums are susceptible to rabies. However, of all
animals, dog is the principal species affected. Dogs, foxes, wolves,
raccoons, mongooses, coyotes, skunks and vampire bats all can serve
as reservoirs of rabies virus. Rabies virus is a bullet shaped
single-stranded RNA virus, having negative sense and nonsegmented
genome. |
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Transmission:
The
natural and the most common method of transmission is through bite
of an infected animal. Transmission can also occur through
contamination of skin wounds by fresh saliva of an infected animal.
The saliva of an affected animal has been shown to be virulent
several days (as long as fourteen days) before the appearance of
symptoms. Air-borne transmission and transmission through ingestion,
transplacental transmission as well as via drinking water has been
suspected.
Clinical Signs:
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The clinical signs of rabies are variable
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Cattle and buffaloes generally have the furious form of rabies
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The most striking signs are
fits of bellowing, general straining and tenesmus, but
they rarely bite.
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Many cattle will strain more or less constantly as if to
defecate. Usually air is aspirated into the rectum when there is
relaxation between the straining periods.
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Animals with furious form of rabies may show anger toward
objects in their environment or may run madly through fences and
doors. Such behavior may be produced by mild touch or sound.
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Salivation is seen in many but not in all cases
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As the disease enters the paralytic stage, the first sign is the
weakness in the hind legs followed by paralysis that takes over
the muscles of locomotion
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A frequent sign is knuckling over the hind fetlocks
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Death usually occurs after a period of paralysis and prostration
Pre
exposure Immunization:
One ml dose of Rabisin should be given according to given schedule.
Minimum age |
Booster |
Born of non-
vaccinated dam |
Born of
vaccinated
dam |
4 months |
9 months |
Annually or triennially depending
upon the level of risk of exposure |
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Copyrights © Dr. M Jassar
Aftab, All Rights Reserved |
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