RABIES : DOUBTS & FACT 

Dr. V.P. Chandrapuria

Professor

Deptt. of Surgery & Radiology

College of Vety. Sci & A.H.,

Jabalpur

Rabies is of course a fatal disease but people afraid more, without knowing the facts. The prevention requires more awareness not only amongst the pet owners and the Veterinarians.

I have tried best of my knowledge through the available literature and experience to clear few important doubts about the disease in this article through general questions.

Ques:  What is Rabies?

Ans :   It is a viral disease of animal and human caused by rhabdovirus. It attacks the central nervous system of animals.

In humans, it is also known as hydrophobia because patients exhibits fear from water. The patient becomes incapable of drinking due to paralysis of muscles of swallowing. It is not a feature in rabid dog who can drink and even swim across the river.

Ques:  Which animals are susceptible to this disease ?

Ans:    All warm blooded animals including human beings are susceptible to rabies. The degree of susceptibility my vary from animal to animal. Cattle, cats and foxes are highly susceptible while man and dogs are intermediate and opossums and fowl are   little resistant.

Ques: How do animals and man get infected by rabies?

Ans:  Infection occurs through bite by rabid dogs or animals.  Virus present in saliva and its contact on mucous membrane or wounds may cause infection. Aerosol route may also occur.

Ques: In how much time the disease develops?

Ans:  In man it takes usually 1-3 months to develop the sysmtoms. Though it may be as shorter as ten days to maximium time reported upto 3-5 years. The signs appear quickly if the bite is near the brain.  In dogs, sysmptoms may  appear within a weak or two.

Ques: At what age anti rabies vaccine shuld be given in dogs?

Ans:  it can be given at the age of six weeks. But normally it is advixsed at 3 mobths of age. Followed by a booster dose, then afer annually.

Ques:  Is fever and dullness normal after vaccination?

Ans:  Yes, in pups afer the firsat dose of vaccine fever and dullness may occur wich are normal but other allergic signs should not be seen.

Ques:  At first anti rabies vaccination is advised at three months of age and if a pup of two months bite to any family member then what can be done?

Ans:  The wound should be treated as the rabid dog bite wound. If the mother of pup was vaccinated hen the pup should be watched 10 -14 days for any abnormal signs like rabies.

If it remains normal generally vaccination is not required. A medical doctor should be consulted. If the pup shows signs of rabies post bite vaccination should be started immediately.

Ques: Can the bitten wound be sutured?

Ans : Preferably not. If suturing in unavoidable, after proper care wound can be apposed with provision of drainage.

Ques : Does the same vaccine used for prophylaxis be used for post bite vaccination ?

Ans :   Not at all. Only few vaccine can be used as post exposure vaccine for which Veterinarian could be consulted.

Ques :  Is rabies also transmitted through cow milk ?

Ans :    The chance of transmission through milk reported  is one in lac. How-ever virus is heat labile and proper boiling kills the virus.

Ques :  Whether post bite vaccination be advised if a vaccinated dog bites to –

(a)    Unvaccinated animal;

(b)     Vaccinated animal;

(c)     Unvaccinated dog bite to unvaccinated animal?

Ans :  The dog should be watched taking proper care for 10-14 days for any rabies like symptoms.

(a)    If the dog remains normal usually vaccinated of 0,3,7 are required to the bitten animal. If dog shows signs or dies, complete post bite vaccination should given.

(b)   If the dog remains normal upto 14 days , vaccination is not required. If shows signs or dies; immediately complete post bite vaccination should be started to bitten animal.

(c)    Immediately full post bite vaccination should be started, for other technical reasons. One must follow the advice of medical doctor.

Ques :  If a bitch exposed to rabid dog during pregnancy, what are the chances of disease in pups?

Ans: Newly born pups may harbour the infection.

Ques: Can a dog have infection without coming in contact with a rabid dog?

Ans: Yes. As for example, a dog is allowed for normal walk or exercise on ground or road where a rabid dog has shed its saliva. Normally due to habit dogs walks with smelling on ground and may get infection. There may be many similar reasons.

Ques: Mostly after dog bite people are referred by the medicos for the veterinarians advice for their treatment. What should be advised?

Ans: A veterinarian can only advise for the treatment of dog not for the human beings. The relevant information may be given to the people on humanitarian ground. But they should consult only medico for their treatment.

Ques: What precautions should be followed by the persons in contact with dogs?

Ans: All the dogs should be vaccinated in time with prophylactic doses from a registered veterinary doctor. In other situations veterinarians should be consulted. (Veterinarians specially in dog practise should have regular prophylactic vaccination). All the possible precautions during handling suspicious dogs should be practiced.

Ques: In how much time a dog gets immunised for rabies following vaccination?

Ans: Within three weeks approximately.

Ques: Can the antirabies vaccines be given to pregnant animals?

Ans: Yes, only few vaccines can safely be given to pregnant animals.

Ques: Do all animals show madness and furiousness in rabies?

Ans: No, madness and excitements is mostly seen in cattle, horse, pigs and dogs with furious from of rabies. While in dump from of rabies dog becomes dull clam and quit.

Ques: Does post bite vaccination make a person absolutely safe from rabies?

Ans: No it depends on type of contact with the rabid animal eg.-

Ques: After what time antirabies booster be repeated in dogs?

Ans: In country like India where rabies is epidemic, yearly booster is advised although few pharmaceuticals     claims three years protection for their vaccines.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER