Rabies:

• Viral disease and common to warm-blooded animals.
• Affects the nervous system hence animal shows abnormal behaviour.
• Death occurs within 2-10 days after first symptoms.

a) Etiology:

• Caused by rabies virus / Lysssa virus

b) Transmission:

• Through saliva ( bite of infected animal)
• Transplant of infected cornea
• Ingestion of infected material i.e. raw milk and meat.
• Incubation period: 21-80 days.

c) Pathogenesis:

• Bite of animal –> Local replication of virus in epithelial cells —->  Virus enters into nervous system through peripheral nerve —>  virus then reach to spinal cord —>  virus replicates in spinal cord and then spread to brain —> replication and dissemination of virus throughout brain ———>  virus then transmitted to salivary gland, cornea, etc. and gets spread

d) Symptoms:

• Animal goes into rages ( Violent anger)
• Hyper sensitive to sound and movement
• Aimless wandering, biting and slashing objects
• Dropping jaws
• Hoarse sound
• Profuse salivation and inability of swallow
• Paralysis progress to all parts of body

e) Diagnosis:

• Coroneal or saliva test
• Fluorescent antibody test
• Animal inoculation test

f) Treatment:

• Keep the dog in isolation
• Vaccination prior to infection