Rabies in Animals

 Overview

• Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals.  The Rabies virus as usually transmitted through a bite.
• Animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons’ and skunks.  In developing countries, Africa and Southeast Asia, Stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.
• Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease nearly always causes death. For this reasons, anyone who may have a risks of contracting rabies should receive rabies vaccination for protection.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu and may lost for days.

Later signs and symptoms may include :

• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty swallowing
• Excessive salvation
• Fear brought on by attempts to drinks fluids because of difficulty swallowing water
• Hallucinations
• Insomnia
• Partial paralysis

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical care if you’re bitten by any animals or exposed to an animal suspected to having Rabies.  Based on your injuries and situation in which the exposure occurred, you and your doctor can decide whether you should receive treatment to prevent rabies. Even if you aren’t sure whether you’re been bitten, seek medical attention. For instance, a bat that flies into your room while you’re sleeping may bite you without waking you.  If you awake to find a bat in your room, assume you’re been bitten.  Also if you find a bat near a person who can’t report a bite, such as a small child or a person with a disability, assume that person has been bitten.

Causes

• Rabies infection is caused by the rabies virus.  The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals.  Infected animals can spread the virus by biting other animals or a person.
• In rare cases, rabies can be spread when infected saliva gets in to an open wound or the mucous membranes, such as the mouth or eyes.  This could occur if an infected animals were to lick an open cut on your skin.

Animals that can transmit the rabies virus

Any mammal (an animal that suckles into young) can transmit the rabies virus the animals most likely to transmit the rabies virus to people include.

Pets and farm animals

• Cats
• Cows
• Buffaloes
• Dogs
• Ferrets
• Goats
• Sheeps
• Horses

Wild animals

• Bats
• Beavers
• Coyotes
• Foxes
• Monkeys
• Reccoons
• Skunks
• Woodchucks

In rare cases, the virus has been transmitted to tissue and organ transplant recipients form an infected organ.

Risk Factor

Factors that can increase you’re risk of rabies include:

• Traveling or living in developing countries, where rabies is more common, including countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.
• Activities that are likely to put in contact with wild animals that may have rabies, such as exploring caves where bats live or comping without taking precaution to keep wild animals away for your campsite.
• Working in a laboratory with the rabies virus
• Wounds to the head or neck which may help the rabies virus travel to your brain more quickly.

Prevention

• To reduce your risk of coming in contact with rabies animals
• Vaccinate your Pets: Cats, Dogs and ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies.  Ask your Veterinarian how often your pets should be vaccinated.

Keep your pets confined

Keep your pets inside and supervise them when outside.  This will help keep your pets form coming in contact with wild animals.

• Protect small pets form predators

Keep rabbits and other small pets, such as guinea pigs inside or in protected cages so that they are safe form wild animals.  These small pets can’t be vaccinated against rabies.

• Report stray animals to local authorities

Call your local animal control officials or other local law enforcement to report stray dogs and cats.

• Don’t approach wild animals

Wild animals with rabies my seen unafraid of people.  It’s not normal for a wild animals to be friendly with people, so stay away from any animal that seems unafraid.

• Keep bat’s out of your home :

Seal any cracks and gaps where bat’s can enter your home.  If you know you have bat’s in your home, work with a local expert to find ways to keep bat’s out.

• Consider the rabies vaccine if you are traveling

If you are traveling to be a country where rabies is common and you'll be there for an extended period and time, ask your doctor whether you should receive the rabies vaccine.

This includes traveling to remote areas where medical care is difficult to find.

Read: Detection of Mastitis in Cattle at Field Level

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Dr. K. R. Shingal

B.V.Sc. &  A.H., M.V.Sc., N.D.B.P
Former Regional Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandary,
Government of Maharashtra state, India
Email Id: drkrshingal@gmail.com