1/22/99

Microbiology II

 

Rabies

-rhabdovirus--bullet shaped virus

-zoonosis-animal carried-transmitted to humans

-other examples--Tularemia-Francisella tularensis

                    Palque--Yersinia pestis

-in the past dogs/cats as pets have transmitted to humans

-not really a transmitter today

-wild animals are a prominent source of rabies

-agent carried in saliva--transmitted through bites

-public health authorities have ID various areas in the country where wild animals are carriers--immunize animals using bait

-blood is invaded

-RNA virus

-travels through nervous system to the brain

-faster it gets to the brain, the faster symptoms manifest

 

Symptoms

-headache

-fever

-nausea

-partial paralysis near the bite

-persist for a few days until the long term affects

-trouble w/ gait

-shows fear of drinking of water b/c paralysis of muscles making it difficult to swallow

-fear of moving air b/c skin is hypersensitive

-coma and a time and dies

-after symptoms appear, mortaltity is 100%

-a few may have survived an attack as printed in books

-only way to save a person who has been exposed is through immunization

-Pasteur developed first vaccine, attenuated virus

-negri bodies--seen in the brain tissue to confirm rabies

-new vaccine--more effective--prepared by tissue cultured system by culturing human fibroblast