Rabies Flashcards
T/F: Rabies virus is neurotropic
T
what family of organisms does the rabies virus come from
Rhabdoviridae
what are the major wildlife carriers of rabies in US
Racoons
skunks
foxes
bats
are rodents considered reservoirs for rabies?
no
are dogs and cats in the US reservoirs for rabies?
NO
US has been declared free of canine rabies since _____?
2007
this DOES NOT mean that they can’t still get rabies
what is the primary rabies virus variant outside of the US
Canine rabies
imported docs are an ongoing concern
how is rabies virus transmitted?
through direct contact w/ fresh saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal
what are the 2 major categories of direct contact in rabies transmission
Bite
non-bite: contamination of open wounds with saliva from rabid animal
does indirect contact with rabies constitute exposure
No
examples of indirect contact w/ rabies
petting or handling an animal
contact w/ blood, urine, feces or skunk spray
contact of saliva with intact skin
between 2000-2020, ___% of human rabies infectious in US were bat-associated variant
82%
any direct contact w/ a bat should be considered potential rabies exposure unless
bat is tested negative
how can human-human rabies exposure occur
organ transplantation
is caring for a person with rabies considered exposure
no
_______period occurs from infection to virus shedding
latent
_____period is from infection to clinical signs. lasts 5 days longer than the latent period
incubation
T/F dogs usually shed rabies virus in their saliva for days before clinical signs develop
T
The infected animal usually dies within ____ days of clinical onset
7
incubation periods are dependent on what
site of bite wound/inoculation
wound care
previous vaccination/presence of antibodies
incubation period range ?
3-12 weeks
rabies virus binds to ______ receptors at the neuromuscular junction
nicotinic acetylcholine
initial clinical signs
variable, rapidly progressive neurologic course
- inappetence, difficulty swallowing (looks like choking), cranial nerve deficits, abnormal behavior, ataxia, paralysis, seizures
T/F: a normally nocturnal wild animal that is active during the day and showing less fear of humans is highly suspect of rabies
T
T/F: progression to death is usually rapid within a week
T
are there any effective rabies antiviral drugs?
no
what are the 3 stages of CNS infection
Prodromal
Excitative
Paralytic
Prodromal stage of CNS infection
1-3 days characterized by behavioral changes
Excitative stage of CNS infection (“furious rabies”)
3-4 days, animal tends to be hyper reactive
Paralytic stage of CNS infection
“dumb rabies” damage to motor neurons causes incoordination, drooling and difficulty swallowing, death usually by respiratory arrest
how is death usually caused in rabies
respiratory arrest
T/F: Rabies diagnosis can only be obtained post-mortem
true
guidelines for submitting head for rabies testing
include brainstem
refrigerated
not chemically fixed
symptoms of rabies in humans
early onset: nausea, headache, fever, sore throat
rapidly progresses into acute neurological phase
case fatality rate in humans w/ rabies
> 99%
how is rabies confirmed in humans
post mortem diagnosis of brain
NASPHV recommends rabies for what domestic animals
all dogs, cats, ferrets , horses and livestock (cattle, sheep) with frequent human contact
T/F: regardless of the age at initial vaccination, animals should be boosted in one year
true
T/F: in AZ, rabies Vx can be administered by a tech under DVM supervision
T
animals are considered immunized _____ days after vaccination
28
T/F: boostered animals are considered immediately immune
T
what is a typical vaccination schedule for dogs
initial Vx: 3 months of age
booster one year later
booster every 3 years
when can oral rabies vaccines be used
for mass vaccination of carnivores
are there any licensed parenteral rabies Vx for use in wild animals
no
Explain the Pre-exposure prevention (PREP) in humans
2 doses of RV (days 0 and 7)
serological testing every 10 years
post-exposure prophylaxis in humans is considered a medical _____, not an emergency
urgency
post-exposure prophylaxis includes
- wound treatment
- local infiltration of RIG
- vaccination
post-exposure regimen for humans previously unvaccinated
thorough wound cleaning
RIG w/ 1st dose RV
4 doses of RV days 0,3,7,14
post-exposure regimen for human previously vaccinated
thorough wound cleaning
RV on days 0,3
what to do if pet who is utd on RV gets exposed to rabies
revaccinate immediately, 45 day quarantine
what to do if pet is unvaccinated and exposed to rabies
euthanized unless owner unwilling then vaccinate and place in quarantine for 4 months
Post-exposure prophylaxis in animals
vaccinate within 96 hrs of exposure
boostered at 3rd and 8th week
quarantined 90 days
what state has a law that allows for Post exposure prophylaxis in animals
Texas
what to do if a pet is overdue for rabies vx booster WITH DOCUMENTATION is exposed to rabies
booster immediately followed by owner observation for 45 days
what to do if pet is overdue for booster WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION is exposed to rabies
treat as if unvaccinated OR prospective serologic monitoring
Explain prospective serological monitoring
Day 0 - blood sample taken before boostering. then booster animal and place in quarantine
day 5 (no later than day 7) collect second blood sample for titer
if adequate response - consider the animal vaccinated, 45 day quarantine
if inadequate response - consider unvaccinated and put into 6 month quarantine
what to do if unvaccinated livestock is exposed to rabies
euthanize
if Os unwilling, confine and observe 6 mo
what to do if currently vaccinated livestock is exposed to rabies
revaccinate and observe 45 days
commercial slaughter of livestock exposed to rabies is prohibited for ___months post exposure
8
What to do if an owned dog, cat or ferret bites a human
regardless of vaccination status, DO NOT VAX FOR 10 DAYS
if animal healthy after 10 days = no rabies exposure
if signs suggestive of rabies develop, euthanize
what to do if UNowned animals bite a human
euth and tested
does the human rabies Vx count as rabies exposure
no - killed virus
