Rabies Exam 2 Flashcards
Zoonotic
can be passed from animals to humans (or not as common-humans to animals)
Rabies
lethal zoonotic neurological disease
Who can get rabies?
any mammal
What countries has rabies been eradicated from?
-England
-New Zealand
-Iceland
(in humans/pets/etc. not bats)
What is the most common reservoir of rabies in KY?
skunks
What is the most common reservoir of rabies in the world?
bats
How is rabies transmitted?
to warm-blooded animals by the bite of an infected animal (fox, skunk, raccoon, bat, etc.)
-saliva gets deposited in broken skin from the bite and transmits the disease
What in the body holds most of the virus?
saliva
Transmission of rabies usually occurs between who?
an animals own species
What happens when rabies symptoms begin?
there is no cure/no going back
What is the most common reservoir on the east coast?
raccoons
What is the most common reservoir in the west?
skunks
What is the most common reservoir in the southwest/Hawaii?
fox
Why do opossums usually not contract rabies?
their blood temp is a little bit colder so the virus cannot survive as well in their bodies
If an animals behavior changes suddenly, what should you assume?
rabies (ex: a raccoon that is walking around during the day)
Are dead animals still transmissible with rabies?
yes
Where does the virus multiply in the victim once bitten?
in the muscle tissue around the bite site
What happens after the virus multiplies in the victim?
it travels to neurons and then travels to the spinal cord and brain (or through the cranial nerves to the brain) - then spreads throughout the body
How long is the incubation period of rabies?
weeks to 6 months
When does progression of rabies become rapid?
once transit has started in the peripheral nerves (because nerves are then straight connected to the brain)
What happens once rabies reaches the brain?
it passes centrifugally to tissues and organs and reaches the salivary glands and nasal secretions
When could incubation be shorter vs. longer?
if the bite site is closer to the brain, incubation could be shorter
How long do rabies victims survive for?
about 10 days
Clinical signs of rabies
-poor racing performance
-bizarre behavior
-lameness
-GI upset
-shifting weight
-ataxia
-weakness
-paralysis
-urine dripping
-flaccid tail/anus
-depression
-aggression
-self-mutilation
-tremors
-head-pressing
-seizures
-inability to drink (hydrophobia)
-salivation (a lot)
What is the most common symptom in horses?
self-mutilation
What did rabies used to be called and why?
hydrophobia because victims are very thirsty but physically cannot drink
How many people die from rabies annually?
~60,000 (furious form)
What are the two forms of rabies?
furious and dumb
Furious rabies
-aggressive form
-animals become enraged, hyperexcitable, fearful
-hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to stimuli)
Who gets furious rabies?
all carnivores (and horses and cattle)
Dumb rabies
-mental depression
-inappetance
-head pressing
-circling
Who can get dumb rabies?
cattle/horses
What is different in the rabies vaccine action vs. other vaccines
it is the only vaccine that can travel faster than the rabies disease itself
Rabies is often misdiagnosed with:
-EEE/WEE
-WNV
-EHV-1
-Hepatic encephalopathy
-EPM
-Colic
How is rabies diagnosed in animals?
-no definitive ante-mortem test
-testing needs to be done when the animal is dead
-send in the animals head for the brain to be tested
How often are horses vaccinated for rabies?
once a year
How often are dogs/cats vaccinated for rabies?
once a year or once every 3 years
How is rabies diagnosed in humans?
there are ante-mortem tests for the saliva, CSF, serum, and skin biopsies
What is looked at for the definitive way to diagnose rabies in animals (once dead)?
negri bodies
Can rabies be treated?
no
What occurs when horses are exposed to a confirmed case of rabies?
-re-vaccinated immediately
-observed for 45 days
What type of transmission is uncommon?
herbivore to herbivore transmission (usually carnivore to herbivore)
How to prevent rabies:
-vaccinate annually
-avoid wildlife contact, secure garbage cans, don’t leave food outside
