Rabies and Rabies Vector Species (RVS) Flashcards
How is rabies transmitted
Through the saliva of infected animals. This includes bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membranes.
What are the two types of rabies, and their differences?
Furious rables: causes hyperactivity
Dumb rabies: causes paralysis
What causes acute neurological syndrome in rabies? Elaborate on presentation
Encephalitis or meningoencephalitis. This can be in the form of hyperactivity or paralysis, followed by respiratory and cardiac failure, coma, and death within 10 days.
What family and genus is the rabies virus from?
Family: Rhabdoviridae
Genus: Lyssavirus
Who can get rabies
Any mammal. It is not contracted by birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish.
What mammals rarely get rabies?
Coyotes and wolves, opossums, and rodents
How does rabies cause an infection
It replicates in the muscle and affects the axons of nerves in order to reach the CNS
What is the incubation period of rabies
Can be from 5 days to several years, but typically is between 2-12 weeks
What is the first symptom of rabies
Neuropathic pain at the site of the bite
Symptoms of dumb rabies (6)
-Depression
-Isolation
-Unusual friendliness
-Change from nocturnal to diurnal
-Signs of paralysis
-Change in tone of voice
Symptoms of furious rabies (5)
-Extreme excitement
-Aggression
-Gnawing own limbs
-Lower jaw hanging with excessive salivation
-Eating dirt, wood, or other objects
How is rabies diagnosed
Euthanasia. The only way to confirm is by testing brain tissue.
Top 4 Ontario species that get rabies
-Foxes
-Raccoons
-Skunk
-Bats
What strains of rabies are present in Ontario
-“Ontario Fox” strain
-Bat strains
-Raccoon strain
Humans can get any of these
PIC
Point Infection Control
Targeted depopulation around the site of a rabies case
