Flash Notes Miscellaneous - Rabies

Question 1

what are the 3 basic forms of rabies?

Answer 1

1. cerebral - furious
2. brainstem - dumb
3. spinal cord - paralytic

Question 2

what is important to remember when coming up for differentials for rabies?

Answer 2

it’s essentially everything but the kitchen sink - so anything that causes behavioral changes & multifocal neuro deficits

Question 3

what are the main reservoir animals for rabies in north america? what about in africa, asia, & latin america?

Answer 3

north america - raccoons, bats, skunks, & foxes

africa, asia, & latin american - rabid dogs cause roughly 55,000 human rabies deaths per year

Question 4

what is the preferred test of choice for diagnosing rabies?

Answer 4

direct & indirect IFA performed on brainstem/cerebellum - shipped COLD

Question 5

what can be seen histopathologically in an animal infected by rabies?

Answer 5

variable - mononuclear infiltration, perivascular cuffing, lymphocytic foci, babes nodules, negri bodies (intracytoplasmic inclusions) NOT pathognomonic

Question 6

T/F: negri bodies are not pathognomonic for rabies

Answer 6

true

Question 7

T/F: immunohistochemistry is more sensitive than histopathology when trying to diagnose rabies

Answer 7

true

Question 8

how is rabies prevented/controlled?

Answer 8

pet immunization - minimize pet-wildlife contact

Question 9

T/F: worldwide, rabid dogs cause 99% of human rabies deaths mostly in africa, asia, & latin america

Answer 9

true

Question 10

successful rabies control focuses on what animal?

Answer 10

dogs

Question 11

what is the etiology of rabies?

Answer 11

lyssavirus, rhabdoviridae - vesicular stomatitis virus is also a rhabdovirus

Question 12

why is it important to remember that vesicular stomatitis has a related family to the rabies virus?

Answer 12

horses, cattle, & pigs are all affected by it - should be a very important differential for rabies