Rabies Manifestations and Diagnosis

Abstract

All mammals are susceptible to rabies but there are variations in the disease manifestations among various animal species and even within the species. The animals may exhibit furious form of the disease or dumb/paralytic form. In general, rabies virus causes acute encephalitis with fatal outcome. The incubation period of rabies is quite variable in different cases as it is influenced by several factors. In humans, it is generally 1–3 months but may vary from less than one week to over a year. Because of the wide variation and non-characteristic signs, reliable diagnosis of rabies is based on identifying the virus or some of its specific components. Fluorescent antibody test (FAT) is the most widely used method for diagnosing rabies in animals and humans. Intra vitam diagnosis of rabies may require several tests; no single test is sufficient. Samples of saliva, serum, spinal fluid, and skin biopsies of hair follicles at the nape of the neck may be used for laboratory diagnosis. Serological tests are useful mainly to evaluate the immunogenicity of human and animal rabies vaccines.