Rabies
Rabies is a viral infection of the muscles and brain that is
usually fatal if not treated. Globally, there are > 50,000 rabies fatalities
annually.
Summary
- Cause: Lyssavirus
- Transmission: Direct contact with infected animal (zoonosis)
- Symptoms: fever, malaise, headache, pain at bite site; hydrophobia;
neurological symptoms, including hallucinations, seizures, coma
- Pathogenesis: Virus infects nerve and muscle cells at bite site.
After days or months, retrograde axonal transport brings the virus to the
CNS, where it infects many brain regions. Negri bodies seen in infected
cells but little cell damage. Virus then spreads to other tissues via
sensory nerves.
- Treatment: Prophylactic antibody administration within 1 - 2 days,
followed by 5 - 6 rabies vaccine injections over the next 30 days; induced
coma (see link below)
- Immunity: 2 years
- Vaccine: yes
Links