 An acute, highly fatal viral disease of the central nervous system, caused by Lyssavirus, Type I.  Also known as Hydrophobia.

 20,000 Deaths, 17.4 million animal bite cases annually.  India accounts for 36% of the Global and 65% of the Asian human rabies deaths.

Agent Factors Causative Agent : Lyssavirus, Type I Family- Rhabdoviridae Bullet shaped Neurotropic RNA Virus  2 major Ag- G protein & Internal nucleoprotein Ag  G protein- Only Ag capable of inducing the formation of virus neutralizing Abs.

Street Virus-  Virus recovered from naturally occurring cases of rabies  Pathogenic to all mammals & shows a long incubation period(20-60 days)

Fixed Virus –  Serial brain to brain passage of the street virus in rabbits modifies the virus such that its incubation period is progressively reduced until it becomes constant between 4-6 days.  Used in preparation of anti rabies vaccine

Reservoirs of Infection-  Urban Rabies  Wild life Rabies  Bat Rabies

Source of Infection-  Saliva of rabid animals

Host Factors  Rabies in man is a dead end infection

Modes of Transmission-  Animal Bites  Licks  Aerosols  Person to Person

Incubation Period- Highly variable : from 4 days to many years. Commonly 3-8 weeks following exposure.

Pathogenesis  Rabies virus replicates in muscle cells and connective tissue cells at site of injury before it attaches to the nerve endings & enter peripheral nerves  Spreads from the site of infection centripetally via peripheral nerves towards the CNS.

 After that the virus spreads centrifugally in peripheral nerves to many tissues including skeletal and myocardial muscle, adrenal glands, salivary glands and skin.  Salivary gland invasion is crucial for transmission of the virus to another animal or human.

CLINICAL FEATURES Prodromal symptoms Headache Malaise Sore throat Slight fever Pain or tingling at the site of the bite (80%)

Sensory Intolerant to noise and bright light Aerophobia Dilatation of pupils Increase perspiration, salivation and lacrimation Motor Increased reflexes and muscle spasm

Mental Changes Fear of death Anger Irritability Depression HYDROPHOBIA Pathognomic of rabies Absent in animals

DIAGNOSIS  On basis of history and characteristic signs and symptoms  Antigen detection using immunofluorescence of skin biopsy  Virus isolation from saliva and other secretions

TREATMENT – No specific treatment  Isolate in a quite room protected from external stimuli  Relieve anxiety and pain by liberal use of sedatives  Spastic muscular contractions – use drugs with curare like action  Ensure hydration and diuresis  Intensive therapy in the form of respiratory and cardiac support  Precaution of nursing personnel

VACCINE-  Defined as fluid or dried preparation of rabies fixed virus grown in the neural tissues of rabbits, sheep, goats, embryonated duck eggs, in cell cultures and inactivated by suitable method.

 Louis Pasteur developed the 1st vaccine (neural tissue) against Rabies in  First cell culture vaccine was developed by T J Wiktor and H Koprowsky in 1965.

Types-  NTV : Govt. of India has stopped producing since 2004  Duck Embryo vaccine  Cell Culture vaccine- Human diploid cell vaccine and 2 nd generation tissue culture vaccine(PCECV )

Anti Rabies Serum  ERIG  HRIG

CategoryType of exposure PEP I- Touching & feeding of animals &Licks on intact skin None II- Nibbling of uncovered skin Minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding MinorARV III- Single/multiple transdermal bites or scratches Licks on broken skin. Contamination of mucosa memb. with saliva. Exposure to bats Severe ARS + ARV

Post Exposure Prophylaxis  Cleansing  Chemical treatment  Suturing  Anti rabies Serum  Antibiotics & anti tetanus measures  Observe the animal for 10 days  Vaccine Administration

Essen Regimen  Intramuscular Schedule  Days: 0,3,7,14,28 and booster on 90.  Dose: 1 or 0.5 ml into deltoid

Thai Red Cross Regimen  2 site intra dermal schedule ( )  Days: 0,3,7,28,90  Dose(one id dose):1/5 th of i/m dose/site

Updated Thai Red Cross Regimen The dose to be given on 90 th day is given on 28 th day itself.

8 Site intra demal regimen ( ) Deltoid, lateral thigh, supra scapular region, lower quadrant of abdomen

Pre –Exposure Prophylaxis Indications-  Laboratory staff working with rabies virus  Veterinarians  Animal Handlers  Wild life exposure

Dose : 1 ml i/m or 0.1 ml i/d on day 0, 7 and 28 Booster doses at intervals of 2 years.

Post–exposure treatment of previously vaccinated  If Ab titre is unknown or bite is severe,then 3 doses on day 0,3 and 7.  If titre >0.5 IU/ml and bite is not severe only 2 doses needed on day 0 and 3

References  Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 21 st edition 