Rabies

Rabies is an acute, progressive viral an encephalomyelits that principally affects carnivores and bats although it can affect any mammal. The disease is fatal, once clinical signs appear. Rabies is found throughout the world, but a few countries claim to be free of  of the disease due either to successful elimination programmes or to their island status and enforcement of rigorous quarantine regulations. 

Etiology & Epidemiology:-

Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses in the Rhabdovirus family. From an epidemiologic perspective, it is common to use the name of the species acting as the reservoirs are also vectors of the  virus, but not all vectors are reservoirs for examples, cats can effectively transmit the virus, but no cat-to-cat transmission of rabies persist, and no unique feline rabies variant has been documented.

Transmission And Pathogenesis:-

Transmission almost always occurs via introduction of virus-laden saliva into the tissues, usually by the bite of a rabid animal. Usually, saliva is infectious at the time that clinical signs occur, but it is possible for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets to shed virus for several days before onset of clinical signs. 
The incubation period is both prolonged and variable. Typically, the virus remains at the inoculation site for a considerable time. Most rabies cases in dogs develop with in 21-80 days after exposure, but the incubation period may be shorter or longer. One reliably recorded case of rabies in human in the USA had an incubation period>6 years.
The virus travels via the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and ascends to the brain, then virus is shed in saliva through salivary gland. Virus is shed intermittently in the saliva.
Hematogenous spread does not occur under most circumstances, there is no danger of aerosol transfer of rabies virus.

Clinical Findings:-

Clinical signs of rabies are rarely definitive. Typical signs of CNS disturbance, behavioral changes may include sudden anorexia, signs of nervousness, irritability, hyper excitability. A normal docile animal may suddenly become vicious. Commonly, rabid animals lose their fear of humans. 

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