|
|
|
Rabies
Rabies
has
the
highest
mortality
rate
of
any
human
disease
once
the
symptoms
have
fully
materialised.
It
occurs
in
most
animals
in
nature
from
dogs
and
cats,
to
horses
and
rats,
to
skunks
and
bats.
It
is
equally
fatal
to
animals
and
humans.
The
virion
is
RNA
containing
enveloped
particle,
rounded
on
one
end
and
flattened
on
the
other
to
give
the
appearance
of
a bullet.
|
The
virus
enters
the
tissue
during
a
bite,
skin
wound,
or
abrasion
from
an
infected
animal.
Though,
disease
associated
with
saliva,
the
urine,
lymph,
blood
or
milk
may
be
equally
infectious.
In
1978,
a
woman
died
of
rabies
in
Boise,
Idaho,
due
to
cornea
transplant
from
an
infected
person.
The
incubation
period
for
rabies
varies
according
to
the
number
of
virions
introduced
to
the
wound
and
the
wound's
proximity
to
the
central
nervous
system.
It
may
vary
from
six
days
to
one
year,
and
generally
shorter
in
children
than
in
adults.
The
virus
multiplies
in
the
muscle
tissue
and
then
spreads
rapidly
to
the
neural
pathways.
Early
signs
of
rabies
are
tingling,
burning
or
coldness
at
the
bite
site
along
with
fever
and
headache.
Later,
due
to
increased
muscle
tone,
patient
becomes
alert,
aggressive
and
show
unusual
behaviour.
|
Due
to
paralytic
effect
in
pharyngeal
muscles,
difficulty
in
swallowing
is
felt.
Salivation
becomes
profuse
and
saliva
drips
from
the
mouth
as
it
cannot
be
swallowed.
This
symptom
together
with
brain
degeneration
increases
the
persons
reactions
to
the
sight,
sound
or
thought
of
water.
Traditionally,
the
disease
has
been
called
hydrophobia,
meaning "fear
of
water".
The
paralysis
spreads
and
death
occurs
within
a
few
days
by
respiratory
inhibition.
Dogs
are
usually
infectious
for
ten
days
before
they
show
rabies
symptoms.
|
|
Due
to
this
a
dog
may
be
held
for
observation
after
a
bite.
If
ten
days
pass
without
any
event
it
may
be
assumed
that
the
dog
was
not
contagious
at
the
time
of
bite.
If
the
dog
dies
immediately
after
the
bite,
its
brain
tissue
sample
could
be
inoculated
to
laboratory
mice
that
should
show
symptoms
within
three
weeks
if
the
dog
was
rabid.
A
person
suffered
from
animal
bite
should
precautionary
treated
as
if
the
animal
were
rabid.
The
wound
is
flushed
thoroughly
with
soap
and
any
antiseptic
be
applied.
Serum
containing
anti
rabies
antibodies
should
be
injected
to
the
base
of
wound.
Thus
an
interferon
is
helpful.
A
tetanus
shot
may
also
be
given
if
not
given
during
last
ten
years
or
so.
|
|
|
A
combination
of
vaccine
and
antibodies
are
then
injected
to
neutralise
the
virus
before
it
reaches
the
central
nervous
system.
Early
vaccines
contained
viruses
from
chick
embroys
or
rabbit
nerve
tissue.
But
these
were
found
to
be
allergic.
Later,
a
vaccine
was
produced
from
viruses
cultivated
in
duck
embryo
tissue
inactivated
with
propiolactone. Duck
embryo
vaccine
(DEV) was
injected
into
the
abdominal
fat
at
a
45° angle
on
each
14
successive
days
or
more,
if
needed.
This
virus
is
absorbed
slowly
from
among
the
fat
cells
and
exposes
the
body
to
virus
for
a
longer
period.
|
The
injections
were
painful
due
to
the
sensitivity
of
abdominal
muscles.
Recently,
a
new
rabies
vaccine, Merieux
human
diploid
cell
vaccine,
is
shown
to
produce
high
amount
of
antibodies
after
only
three
injections
in
the
arm.
The
viruses
are
cultivated
in
human
embryonic
lung
cells,
and
since
human
tissue
is
used,
allergic
responses
are
minimum.
This
vaccine,
licensed
in
1980
in
U.S.A.
is
now
used
in
other
countries
including
India.
It
is
an
expensive
vaccine.
Rabies
in
animals
occurs
in
two
forms:
1. Furious
Form -.
Characterised
by
violet
symptoms
as
the
animal
becomes
wide
eyed,
drools,
and
attacks
anything
in
sight.
It
becomes
paralysed,
lapses
into
coma,
and
dies.
2. Dumb
Form
- Recognised
by
deep
lethargy
and
dies
suddenly
of
paralysis.
|
|
Submit Your College, Institute, Company, Products for FREE
