Rabies

Question 1

Rabies is caused by the virus…

Answer 1

Rhabdovirdae

Question 2

Rabies can occur in all _____ animals

Answer 2

Warm-blooded (except possums)

Question 3

Rabies is usually contracted by…

Answer 3

bites from infected animals

Question 4

Horses highly at risk for rabies are those that…

Answer 4

• reside in endemic areas
• 24 hour pasture access (out at night)
• no history of vaccination

Question 5

Rabies incubation in horses is anywhere from ___ weeks to ___ months

Answer 5

3 weeks - 3 months

Question 6

The rabies incubation period is dependent on the ______ of the bite and the __________________

Answer 6

Location (distance from brain); amount of saliva deposited

Question 7

Rabies travels through the body via the…

Answer 7

Nervous system

Question 8

The three forms of rabies are…

Answer 8

1. Furious
2. Dumb
3. Paralytic

Question 9

Furious rabies is the _______ form, and symptoms include…

Answer 9

Cerebral; aggression, photophobia, muscle spasms, blindness, lack of appetite, seizures

Question 10

Dumb rabies effects the _________, and symptoms include…

Answer 10

Brain stem; blindness, abnormal vocalization, ataxia, depression, drooling (classic frothy mouth)

Question 11

Paralytic rabies effects the ______, and symptoms include…

Answer 11

Spinal cord; progressive ataxia, paralysis

Question 12

Phase 1 rabies is when the virus is being transported toward the ______, and is considered an _________ period. Goes from inital _______ to first symptoms. Lasts ______

Answer 12

Central nervous system; incubation; bite; 2-9 weeks (dependent on bite location)

Question 13

Phase 2 rabies occurs when the _____ is infected. Horses generally survive phase 2 for ______

Answer 13

Central nervous system (brain); 5-10 days

Question 14

Phase 3 rabies occurs when the virus has achieved __________. Most horses will/won’t reach this stage.

Answer 14

Centrifugal infection; won’t

Question 15

Additional symptoms of rabies include…

Answer 15

• signs of colic and lameness
• ataxia
• convulsions
• paralysis
• aggression and self-mutilation

Question 16

The only treatment for rabies is ______. Death from rabies will occur between __-__ _____. Rabies virus likes ____ weather but will die quickly in ____ weather. Diagnosis is difficult because…

Answer 16

Euthanasia; 5-14 days (but usually within a week); cold; hot; a brain tissue sample must be taken, which can only be done postmortem.

Question 17

Rabies vaccines are considered a _____ vaccination because…

Answer 17

Core; it is zoonotic, untreatable, and you can’t control exposure.